Armies in Exile buttons. 1940-45

[High Wood]

I don't think that these are rare or unusual but it is nice to find British made buttons for the Dutch Army in Exile and the French Air Force. Both buttons were made by J.R. Gaunt & Son, London.

[Lazio]

Polish Free Forces in exile. I think most of all of these shown are quite easily obtained.

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by Lazio

Polish Free Forces in exile. I think most of all of these shown are quite easily obtained.

I am sure that that you are right but I do not find them very often, probably because I don't look for them. I certainly see more of the Dutch Army in Exile cap badges than I do their buttons, which is surprising when you realise that there is only one cap badge but there are twelve buttons on each uniform.

[btns]

Gaunt won many post WWII Dutch Army contracts until German factories managed to make cheaper "pseudo spun back" buttons.

[Frank Kelley]

Given the buttons were not worn on battle dress I do not find it at all surprising, how many of the cap badges you mention are actually die cast OSD or gilt?

Originally Posted by High Wood

I am sure that that you are right but I do not find them very often, probably because I don't look for them. I certainly see more of the Dutch Army in Exile cap badges than I do their buttons, which is surprising when you realise that there is only one cap badge but there are twelve buttons on each uniform.

[High Wood]

Good point, it is obviously the O.R.'s cap badges that turn up more frequently but with O.S.D. the ratio still stands. I should in theory find another 10 O.S.D. buttons before I find an O.S.D. cap badge