SAS badges

[rubicon]

Hello,

Does someone can help me to identify if these badges are original and if they are original at which period they were issued? Thanks for any help. Regards.
J-F

[HamandJam]

Hello J-F,

They look original to me , Post ww2 issue Sure others will know more exact era.

JB

[johanwiegman]

hi,

The beret badge is definitely original and post war, from the seventies or eighties or so, hard to be more precise.

The wings: I have never seen that pattern before. They are unusual as the background of the wing is not dark blue felt, but some kind of cotton twill.
They appear to be well made, not by hand but by a machine. There always have been a great many variations in SAS wings, but these do not appear to be official British issue.

Is it possible they were made in France for SAS veterans?

Are there any Forum members who have seen that pattern earlier?

Cheers,

Johan

[Farang]

Hi Johan,

I agree with your assessment of the beret badge.

I have seen a similar twill backing but with a different wing shape on one which came out of France. Possibly an Association or reunion badge.

Andy

[cw2311]

Hello Johan,

It appears you have a good grasp of SAS stuff and have obviously handled your fair share of it. Do you know of any good books that show the various years of SAS badges and what to look for?

Here is picture of an SAS beret badge. You’ve already seen this one but it’s probably nice for others to see it as well. Your comments are welcomed.

Cheers

[johanwiegman]

Hi Coogan,

As far as I know, no such comprehensive book exists, not for the British SAS at least. There are some books that cover parts of what you ask.

Bragg & Turner, Parachute Badges and Insignia of the World

SAS Rhodesia, great book by Jon Pittaway and Craig Fourrie

LRDG Rhodesia, same authors

Anzac Elite, by Julian Tennant. Excellent book on Australian and New Zealand Special Forces.

Some talk of private armies, by the late Len Whittaker

I am a member of Chute & Dagger UK. They have a very good Newsletter. You can join them if you want.

Apart from the actual badges and insignia, I also collected documentation through the years. That helps a lot to identify original items.

Cheers,

Johan

[HamandJam]

Hi I have not seen this pattern, but there are so much variations, it could be ww2 or Malayan era may be?

What is the date of the beret? It may be the picture but it looks like a concentric weave that is seen on post war berets?

Cheers,
JB

Originally Posted by cw2311

Hello Johan,

It appears you have a good grasp of SAS stuff and have obviously handled your fair share of it. Do you know of any good books that show the various years of SAS badges and what to look for?

Here is picture of an SAS beret badge. You’ve already seen this one but it’s probably nice for others to see it as well. Your comments are welcomed.

Cheers

[cw2311]

Johan,

Thank you very much for all the literature advice, greatly appreciated!


Hello JB,

There are no markings remaining in the beret and quite possibly never was. I suspect this was a private purchase beret. This beret also came with a very nice BD and trousers out of France. The group is WW2 and attributed to a gentleman from the French SAS.


Cheers

[HamandJam]

Nice acquisition, was the gentleman with 3rd or 4th SAS?


I think 4th SAS wore the beret in the French way with the badge over the riight eye and pulled to the left.

I have seen French SAS maroon berets standard British issue Kangol Wear Limited but everything is possible , the beret looks very floppy.


Could you share pics of his uniform?

Cheers,
JB


Hello JB,

There are no markings remaining in the beret and quite possibly never was. I suspect this was a private purchase beret. This beret also came with a very nice BD and trousers out of France. The group is WW2 and attributed to a gentleman from the French SAS.


Cheers[/QUOTE]

[cw2311]

Hello JB,

This was a very nice group with the fellow’s service number inside both the pants and BD. I have since sold the group as it was out of my area of collecting. This being said, I do feel I probably should have hung on to this one.

Here is a picture of the BD.

Cheers

[cw2311]

JB,

Here are a couple more pictures.

Cheers