1 Commando salamander

[HamandJam]

The Richmond Herald at the College of Arms originally designed this badge. Interestingly the colour of the green beret adopted in 1942 is inspired on this stunning badge - the salamander going though fire- when looking for a suitable colour they looked at is colours in it yellow (flames), red (crimson) and green (salamander). Yellow not suitable ,red used by the despised MP, the only obvious choice was green. No 1 commando was the first to wear the green beret and issued prior to operation Torch the landings in North Africa. Cheers JB

[Tanker Mike]

Thanks for the info, being in the frozen artic of Canada we don't see too many salamanders, lizards or other cold blooded varmints, except snow snakes, and they only eat prarie oysters.

[arnhem2280]

Out of interest did anyone get the details of the vet this badge is claimed to have come from. I haven't seen them on the forum and wondered if they may have been provided by pm. If so I would like to know them for my own reference if nothing else than to give some provenance or otherwise to this style of salamander.

Cheers

Arnhem

[HamandJam]

Hi Arnhem, I did not. The ones I have seen from vets eg Arthur Horner No 1 cdo and SBS and Maurice Brown no 1 cdo are of the other pattern I am reffering to and believe to be the only correct pattern unitil proven otherwise. Cheers JB

[Mike Jackson]

I have just come across a note to the effect that the following Imperial War Museum images show the 1 Cdo salamander flash being worn (without the associated title):
H20419 and H20394

I don't have the images, so cannot vouch for their quality.

[SAS1]

I dont know much about these badges as they are not my field, but the one at the start of the post looks awful. The flames dont look like flames and the Salamander doesnt look like a Salamander. I agree with HamandJam about the one he has linked to.

Here is one in the IWM Collection, which is a right one and of the same pattern.

[HamandJam]

Agree 1SAS, attached is a pic showing 3 members of No1 commando. You can clearly see the high thin flames of the pattern as also posted by 1SAS (IWM)

The person on the right is Idris Jones, he is still alive , think his is 91 or 92 and one of the few No1 cdo vets alive.

CheersJB

[CftD]

I see that the Salamander on ebay made £150.00 or so. That seems quite a low price for an item guaranteed by a reputable seller as genuine. I had thought it would have made more. David

[HamandJam]

David, I think the reason is that there a doubts that this pattern is a good one, the last price I have seen of the other pattern as sold by Bosleys was 700. Cheers JB

[CftD]

Originally Posted by HamandJam

David, I think the reason is that there a doubts that this pattern is a good one, the last price I have seen of the other pattern as sold by Bosleys was 700. Cheers JB

JB - I'm not convinced that this is a fake - in fact I believe that it is not. I sometimes wonder if debating such items deters bidders who might otherwise have a go, especially when opinions given aren't supported by evidence. I rather suspect someone has bought a bargain with this one. David

[arnhem2280]

Of course it is also possible if you had identified the veteran you stated you bought your Salamander from it would have given it some provenance and might have given it a better chance of reaching what you beleive was its proper price level. Just ignoring the question you were asked might have just done the badge and the seller a diservice. Of course if you were happy with it you could have bid on it with a view of buying it for your stock. After all you were happy to buy the one you said came from the 1 Commando vet which you later sold on to Peter and this one was according to you apparently identical.

Cheers

Arnhem

[CftD]

Originally Posted by arnhem2280

Of course it is also possible if you had identified the veteran you stated you bought your Salamander from it would have given it some provenance and might have given it a better chance of reaching what you beleive was its proper price level. Just ignoring the question you were asked might have just done the badge and the seller a diservice. Of course if you were happy with it you could have bid on it with a view of buying it for your stock. After all you were happy to buy the one you said came from the 1 Commando vet which you later sold on to Peter and this one was according to you apparently identical.

Cheers

Arnhem

How do you know that I didn't buy the salamander on ebay ? As for the source of my purchases, I buy in confidence and respect that confidence. I don't believe that personal information is for public consumption. David

[HamandJam]

Hi Arnhem NBit was not stated he bought it from a 1 cdo vet but from a north humberland vet,I am not convinced at all that this one is good. JB

Originally Posted by arnhem2280

Of course it is also possible if you had identified the veteran you stated you bought your Salamander from it would have given it some provenance and might have given it a better chance of reaching what you beleive was its proper price level. Just ignoring the question you were asked might have just done the badge and the seller a diservice. Of course if you were happy with it you could have bid on it with a view of buying it for your stock. After all you were happy to buy the one you said came from the 1 Commando vet which you later sold on to Peter and this one was according to you apparently identical.

Cheers

Arnhem

[Tanker Mike]

Here is a set I picked up a while ago.

[pieter]

I hope you do realise that these are not genuine?
Cheers,
Pieter