1st Battalion Parachutists "Belgium"

[billy]

Hi all, and wish you all a good New Year, better than last and hopefully back to normal soon!!!

Would like some information on this badge, it is Belgium 1st Battalion Parachutist it comes in Brass, Silver (2nd Battalion? ) and Bronze.

I have this badge in Brass european fixings to rear (little strips of wire) easy to break off! and is Die stamped, Also in White-metal (unfortunately not Silver on loops? surprisingly also Die stamped) and now this one, no way to tell age though looks used, means nothing could this be the Bronze? Solid badge no sharpe edges save a ding to right wingtip, discolouration to where lugs are, have these been added recently? remainder of badge has a nice Patina to the rear apart from where lugs attached!

Am hoping someone may have seen the like of this before, am happy to find it is an Officer's badge rather than a copy! Also realise there was an earlier S.A.S. badge to this pattern and am not thinking this to be one - nice if it was though! Would like your thoughts and hope its good, ??

Have added the Brass and White metal pictures but no rear shots, have better badges to these now also, somewhere?
Many thanks billy

[ianh67military]

I'm sure it is a rank thing.
Gold for officers
Silver for NCOs
Brass for soldiers.
The quality has deteriorated over the years. Good solid cast with copper loops, stamped in thick gauge metal with loops, now tinfoil thin with tiny bits of wire!

Regards,
Ian H

[JON188]

Hi Billy,
Nice bits.
I traded some of mine recently with a Belgian who suggested colour is rank related.
KR
Jon

[Colin S]

These are all Belgian badges for their now disbanded 1st Para Bn. As already stated, gold is for officers, silver for NCOs and bronze for enlisted. The Belgian badges can be found with both the flimsy bendy fixings and with the loops and pin fixings. None of the badges have any connection with the British SAS, save the historical roots of the Belgian 1st Para Bn from the WW2 Belgian SAS Squadron.

[billy]

Many thanks folks appreciate your imput, "Gold" might find one? All the best billy