Why do we collect?

[Bill A]

Why do you collect badges? What inspired you to start accumulating these bits of brass, white metal, wool, etc?

[bgpipes]

I had a copy of Fred Tripps early badge book and a 2/10 Dragoons badge, I was fascinated with Canadian military history in general. The farther I chased this fascination,the deeper I got, it has gotten out of control at this point. Being a WW2 kid, I have tried to limit my collecting to that era.

[boots and saddles]

Much like pipes above,(maybe it's because I play them). I was very interested in Canadian military history & read everything I could get my hands on, It is not that they are especially beautiful,If I wanted to collect something beautiful I'd collect officers field service caps. I was never interested in numbered units therefore no interest in WW1 badges, or Regiments of foot. I was more interested in territorial connections and thats what Canadian WW2 era military is about & why its so sought after. The British regiments are much like that , of course like ours amalgamation is taking care of that. I have just found out that there is a Royal Regiment of Scotland,sounds like the Royal Regiment of New Brunswick,(OH! the powers to be)I have never heard much about US regiments except for numbered regiments of a division. But the divisions themselves were territorial linked. Different divs. were from different states,and I would like someone from down there to describe the US organization during WW2 for us. Any takers on this forum?

Ray

[bgpipes]

At first,I tried to score 1 each of all of the badges shown in Tripps book (how naive is that eh?) but it grew to Mazeas 1920-1953 series,caps,collars and titles (both metal and cloth) but,I havent done badly. I am aware that over the years I have been burned with my naivete a few times,but,I refuse to let that drive me out of the hobby.

[Pylon1357]

For me it was somewhat a progression. I was given a few badges and insignia as a young lad but was not really into them all that much. I started collecting WWII firearms at age 16, my cousin and father kept them for me til I was of age. Then as the firearm laws changed, I gave up on firearms and started to collect medals. I wanted to collect a sample of each WWII star and medal. Other than the gallantry awards, I did that. Then tried my hand at the Badges and insignia of Regiments and units that served overseas during WWII. I have done fairly well but still hunting for the odd one.

[mufasa]

Here's where this comes my recent passion for the cap badge from Canadian (I live in Rimini on the hill Covignano called by the Canadian San Fortunato)…… this is the list of badges to my interests !!!!!

[Bill A]

A common theme seems to be running through these posts. All of us have an interest in history, and the badges are a material reminder of the history and actions of those who have served.
I still remember the first badge I "collected". It was an administration night at the local armouries, and as a senior nco in the army cadet unit, I was in the building doing some sort of paper work. Going down the stairwell, an juniour nco from the medical company asked me if I wanted a couple of badges. He gave me a qc RCAMC cap badge and a battledress Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps flash. They were put in my pocket and then sat in the top drawer of my dresser for years. Gradually other badges and titles ended up in the pile. Little did I know that this was the beginning of my collection.

[mufasa]

Originally Posted by Bill A

All of us have an interest in history, and the badges are a material reminder of the history and actions of those who have served.

.... exactly......

[Bantam]

Hi,
My story is that when I was young my father had some bits and pieces which he had brought back from serving in WW2.I also had an uncle still serving in the Royal Navy who would send me his old insignia.Most of the Royal Navy badges my mother sewed onto an old jacket which was my pride and joy.Of course as I grew older I began to have other interests and I lost track of what became of them.
Then update to about 25 years ago when I thought it would be a good idea to make up a frame to keep my fathers campaign medals together and to include in it the three Regiments he had served with, namely The South Wales Borderers,Royal Army Service Corps and The Welch Regiment.That done and pleased with the results I thought I would do the same with my father in laws medals and there you are that was it,well and truly hooked.
Regards
Bantam
p.s. I also love history.

[Pylon1357]

Originally Posted by mufasa

Here's where this comes my recent passion for the cap badge from Canadian (I live in Rimini on the hill Covignano called by the Canadian San Fortunato)…… this is the list of badges to my interests !!!!!

Rimini??? WOW I would trade places with you in heartbeat. Sure were a lot of Canadian units, and others, stopping the Daisey's around your parts.

[regimentalrogue]

A few years ago I was posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was tasked to work with the Nova Scotia International Tattoo as a researcher and advisor on historical uniforms. Working with a fellow officer, who is a long time collector and militaria dealer, we had the task to research and dress 94 volunteer actors to portray the 94 Canadian VCs, each in period dress. One aspect was ensuring correct badges when the uniforms called for soft caps. The badges we used for the uniforms were plastic casts of ones from his personal collection. One of the VC winners represented my own regiment and the CEF badge we used to make a stage replica was spare to his collection and passed into my hands. From there I started to collect badges to The RCR as I found them. Today I have in my personal collection twice as many different cap badge variations as the regimental museum has in its badge display. And I still look for and occasionally find new ones. I've also branched out into shoulder titles, collar badges and medals, all to The RCR. The badges and the medals are my start points to conduct ongoing research on the Regiment and our soldiers.

[mufasa]

Originally Posted by Pylon1357

Rimini??? WOW I would trade places with you in heartbeat. Sure were a lot of Canadian units, and others, stopping the Daisey's around your parts.

... ciao Pylon1357.... there were Canadians who have broken through the Gothic Line .... Twice in a row, first in Montecchio (Pesaro) and in San Forunato (Rimini ).... And are one of the people who most care of their war cemeteries and the take care the memory to the younger generation ...

[Voltigeur]

If I may add to this.It all stated about 20 some odd years ago when I was given the three 2ndWW Histories of the Canadian Army (Victory Campaign and al) and I wanted to know who were the RCR, the Patricia's, the Queen's Own Rifles, and all the others. A friend started me with a few badges then but I could restrict myself to badges an cloth titles. I also learned France's geography with names like Caen, Falaise,Beny-sur-Mer,Authie, Abbeye d'Ardennes.
Jo

[guest_000]

You guys got it all wrong it is a virilant virus one badge one book one medal
then it speads and it spreads and it SPREADS

[DavidS]

yabut, I can quit anytime... honest. No, really!

I'd agree 100% with Paulbear's 'starts one badge at a time' sentiment. I started with WW2 armoured corps badges, because my eyes were getting too old to build decent Canadian corps armoured models. Getting those was pretty easy -- even fluked into a bona fide 1st APC Regiment for peanuts -- so I thought "well, I should do the 1st/5th Divisions since Dad was in Italy." When those were almost done, it turned into, "Well, maybe just the other 3 overseas divisions", then "what the heck, may as well do the 6th & 7th Divisions, then "what's this Mazeas book? Maybe just 1920 t0 1950."

So far I have resisted the urge to stray outside those bounds... almost. But I can quit any time.