Fake LRDG Tunic

[popskipa]

This battledress tunic has been shown on another forum. See: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=959277


The more I look at the BD tunic the greater my opinion it is fake.

Let me explain why:

The common insignia looks original, but the rarer insignia of SAS wings, LRDG titles and Land Forces Adriatic formation signs all appear hand made and probably recently attached to the uniform. Yes early LRDG titles were handmade but not in this style, similarly the LFA formation signs and these SAS wings are made differently to known originals.

Research has shown the LRDG were attached to Land Forces Adriatic but not part of LFA and would not have worn LFA formation signs.

Also, the ribbon on the BD for the Africa Star has a silver rose emblem on it and not the number 8. During the campaign in North Africa the LRDG served in the Eighth Army and would have worn the Eighth Army Clasp on their Africa Star or number 8 on the uniform ribbon bar. The silver rose was worn by RAF, Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and Army to denote the award of the North Africa 1942-43 clasp.

I have contacted the owner for more detailed images or to arrange to view but my requests have been ignored.

So, in conclusion I strongly suspect this original battledress tunic has been doctored by the addition of handmade fake insignia to make it rare and desirable. Furthermore the person doing the doctoring has limited knowledge about the LRDG and the mistakes show the tunic for what it is.

I would be pleased if the owner posted images or provided provenance to refute my assumptions.

In the meanwhile prospective buyers beware...

Keith

[Ashantee]

Well said, and to add grist to the mill, here is a photo of my Grandad wearing the 8 on his medal ribbon. He served with LRDG from about 1941 onwards and was their CQMS, ex RTR (black beret). This photo is dated September 1945 and taken in Newcastle upon Tyne from where he came.
Cheers
Ashantee

[popskipa]

Ashantee as superb photograph, thank you for sharing.

Keith

[jdr]

Quite correct Keith, a put together blouse
Although the SAS wings could stand a chance IMO

[Alex Rice]

Surely also, the sgt's stripes would be positioned symmetrically, not one higher than the other because there is no badge above it? Looks totally wrong to me.

[MH331]

The wound stripes are also the wrong size and style for WW2. They look to be the 2inch pattern from WW1 but made of a single thread rather than Russia braid. The WW2 version is 1.5 inches in length and normally in gilded metal.

[popskipa]

An old friend has just shown up. Prospective buyers beware...

[dumdum]

Originally Posted by Ashantee

Well said, and to add grist to the mill, here is a photo of my Grandad wearing the 8 on his medal ribbon. He served with LRDG from about 1941 onwards and was their CQMS, ex RTR (black beret). This photo is dated September 1945 and taken in Newcastle upon Tyne from where he came.
Cheers
Ashantee

I have an Africa star ribbon bar with the "8" appearing to be made of a small piece of aluminium (crashed Bf-109, anyone?) and used to own a similar piece with the 8 formed from copper wire that had been soldered to close the loops.

No LRDG provenance for either, unfortunately....