Dutch or Belgian: WWII badges? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

loupie1961 · #1 20-01-11, 01:46 PM

I've been offered a lot of mixed badges, some of which are completely unknown to me.... I guess that those badges that are not obviously British are either Dutch or Belgian, but could anybody confirm and eventually let me know something about their vintage? thank you in advance!

HamandJam · #2 20-01-11, 02:12 PM

Hi Loupi, they are Belgian I think, certainly not Dutch. Cheers, JB

loupie1961 · #3 20-01-11, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamandJam

Hi Loupi, they are Belgian I think, certainly not Dutch. Cheers, JB

any hints about the formations they should represent? Is ti possible that the Belgians had a corps called RASC?

BWEF · #4 20-01-11, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loupie1961

any hints about the formations they should represent? Is ti possible that the Belgians had a corps called RASC?

I think they did. not that RASC means anything in French or Dutch.

The Belgians in exile copied the British - Royal Army Service Corps.

loupie1961 · #5 20-01-11, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWEF

I think they did. not that RASC means anything in French or Dutch.

The Belgians in exile copied the British - Royal Army Service Corps.

OK, then, but ... did the Belgian Army in exile have a RASC on their own?

Alan O · #6 20-01-11, 03:54 PM

The first photo has a british post 1953 Royal Artillery Cap badge and a 3rd Dragoon Guards (3DG) shoulder title.

Alan O · #7 20-01-11, 03:55 PM

the 2nd has a British 11th Hussars badge with their Treu und fest motto and a Malta Artillery cap badge.

Alan O · #8 20-01-11, 03:56 PM

3rd has a British 15/19th Hussars cap abdge and a British Notts and Derby regt cap badge.

loupie1961 · #9 20-01-11, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan O

the 2nd has a British 11th Hussars badge with their Treu und fest motto and a Malta Artillery cap badge.

Thank you Alan: as a matter of fact I had already identified the British/Commonwealth items coming with the lot, only that were some inconsistencies: the seller maintained that the 3rd Dragoon Guards titles were dug up in Italy, as well as the RA cap badge! I guess that the Royal Malta Artillery adopted the QK exactly as the RA did, in 1953?

fougasse1940 · #10 20-01-11, 04:25 PM

RA adapted the QC in 1956.

Rgds,
fougasse1940.

Voltigeur · #11 20-01-11, 04:32 PM

First pic. upper left: Belgian Field Artillery cap badge.1949 to present.
Second pic. bottom right: looks like the Belgian Army Lion cap badge.

Jo

BWEF · #12 20-01-11, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loupie1961

OK, then, but ... did the Belgian Army in exile have a RASC on their own?

I believe that they did.

Certainly, once Belgium began to be liberated more Belgian RASC Companies were formed:

"On 17 December GT companies began to be formed from Belgian military personnel. These units were to be placed at the disposal of HQ 21 Army Group after an initial period of training in UK. On their return they were to release the personnel of seventeen GT companies, loaned by the War Office to 21 Army Group, and take over the equipment. Although this pool of transport was to be operationally controlled by 21 Army Group, the Belgian authorities would be responsible for all problems of personnel, pay and discipline. A small staff, headed by a lieutenant-colonel, was formed at the end of December in order to control these units, and to act as a liaison HQ. Simultaneously a start was made in forming fourteen more Belgian and nine Netherlands GT companies for work under the direction of Civil Affairs."

http://truxmodels.co.uk/page16.html

Voltigeur · #13 20-01-11, 05:50 PM

Third pic,bottom centre: Belgian Army Service Corps, 1947, beret badge.

Jo

loupie1961 · #14 20-01-11, 10:00 PM

Thank you gentlemen: so it looks like even the Belgian badges are not what they are supposed to be, i.e. WWII, but post war.... I guess I'll have to give the whole lot up!

Brigade Piron · #15 30-01-11, 09:02 AM

Top Left Photo 1 = Artillery
'RASC' rarer (but definately early 50s NOT WARTIME) = troops de 'genie', logistics. It is more common to see this badge with 'victoriam alo' written on it.
Photo 2 bottom R = is similar to, but ISN'T, the BAIUK beret badge (which has a squarer mussel and hoops at the back) so is either infantry school, or, well a whole host of other regiments.
Photo 2 bottom L = if this is belgian, it could well be pre war, I don't know 1940 badges!
Photo 3 bottom = shoulder emblem (and beret badge?) of the early version of the RASC badge.

Also, I have never seen belgian badges in that hue. Methinks someone has corroded them on purpose to make them look older - especially the lion badge which should be bright golden.