POST YOUR BEST FINDS OF 2023 !!!!

[Home Guard]

Very nice grouping David 191!!!

Terry

[billy]

Just a few but Nice!

*36th Ulster Division, Silver with Gilt hand (not touching it!) too find out depth of Silver (plating??

*Royal Dublin Fusiliers Officers OSD

*Officers Royal Irish Fusiliers

*WW2 Royal Armoured Corps Economy badge, in BROWN !! am chuffed to find this and only recently!
Have placed it by a Gold coloured badge, and presume there must be a Silver version? which I don’t have so if anyone has one could they mention it so as to confirm that thought of mine! Both have maker mark to bottom and “1-A” the amount of pictures of this badge tells how chuffed I am with it!

All the best Billy

[41st]

For me this year added these items to my collection:-
1. Officer’s 1868 Shako plate for Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry. Whilst in relic condition it’s a great complement to my later 1869-78 plate. It is missing the bugle horn from the bottom of the star.
2. The centre piece from an Officer’s shoulder belt plate for West Glamorgan Local Militia circa 1808-16.
3. Shako plate for 1st Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers circa 1875. The badge depicts Bando sticks. Bando was a very popular & violent game played in Glamorgan up until the late 19th Century. The Margam Bando Boys followed their team captain, Theodore Talbot, local gentry,into the 1st Glam RVC.

[Luc]

A 1943 Kangol made maroon beret.
A 1922 Enfield made MkVI service revolver.
A private purchase 1950 pattern Firmin made silver GPR cap badge.
A UK made Prinses Irene brigade shoulder title.

[Tiger Pete]

My best finds this year include: two pouch belt plates to the 2nd Sussex RVC (one is silver/ SP); a 1st VB Royal Sussex Regiment W/M shoulder title; and some Sussex Imperial Yeomanry badges.

[Marcus H]

This year, aside from a few British items, I’ve added a selection of predominantly armour-related South African and Southern Rhodesia items to the collection.

1. A locally made 7th Armd Div formation badge awarded as a battle honour to the personnel of the 4th (SA) Armoured Car Regiment.

2. An early 7th Armd Div solar topee flash.

3. 6th (SA) Armd Div epaulettes – thanks to Alex Rice.

4. A battle honour flash for the SA Corps of Signals attached to the 8th Army.

5/6. 4th (SA) Armoured Car Regiment beret badges.

7/8. A sheet metal badge made by Keays the Jewellers and a cast brass version worn by the Southern Rhodesia: Reconnaissance Unit, Reconnaissance Regiment and Armoured Car Regiment.

9. Southern Rhodesia Medical Corps.

10. Southern Rhodesia No. 1 Signal Company ORs cap/collar badge.

11. Southern Rhodesia Reconnaissance Unit shoulder title.

Best,

Marcus

[kingsley]

This badge does not have ornate heraldry, but I have waited for several decades to find one. I have a photo of my father wearing it in 1918 at age 15 when he was a Senior Cadet during Australia's compulsory training period from 1911 to 1925.
Australia was organised in 1911 into 95 military areas from Cape York to Tasmania, which were issued with a distinctive brass number. There is a brave member of the Forum who is attempting to collect all 95, but over the years I have only ever had about ten of them, and don't like my chances of finding the other 85. At last I found number 32 a couple of weeks ago.
In 1911/12, besides compulsory training for all males between 12 and 25, the ships of the new RAN arrived, staff colleges were established for the army and navy, and the Central Flying School was established. All this was just in time for WW1.
Because the Australian government issued uniforms with numerals and rising sun badges only, about forty of the numbered area regiments paid for their own distinctive insignia. These are now among the rarest Australian badges. Regiments in Victoria competed with each other to design the most attractive heraldry, and many enamelled badges were worn by all ranks. Area 32 in Sydney's inner west was among those who were content with the number and rising sun.

[Investment]

Kingsley, well done, I'm sure having a numeral 32 brings you a lot of joy and a connection to your father's past, as well

[billy]

Congratulations!

(somewhere out there to be found is a bucket full of these all marked as unknowns!)

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by kingsley

This badge does not have ornate heraldry, but I have waited for several decades to find one. I have a photo of my father wearing it in 1918 at age 15 when he was a Senior Cadet during Australia's compulsory training period from 1911 to 1925.
Australia was organised in 1911 into 95 military areas from Cape York to Tasmania, which were issued with a distinctive brass number. There is a brave member of the Forum who is attempting to collect all 95, but over the years I have only ever had about ten of them, and don't like my chances of finding the other 85. At last I found number 32 a couple of weeks ago.
In 1911/12, besides compulsory training for all males between 12 and 25, the ships of the new RAN arrived, staff colleges were established for the army and navy, and the Central Flying School was established. All this was just in time for WW1.
Because the Australian government issued uniforms with numerals and rising sun badges only, about forty of the numbered area regiments paid for their own distinctive insignia. These are now among the rarest Australian badges. Regiments in Victoria competed with each other to design the most attractive heraldry, and many enamelled badges were worn by all ranks. Area 32 in Sydney's inner west was among those who were content with the number and rising sun.

I had thought that these numbers were worn by the Indian Army prior to 1922. Although of the same design, my 105 is too high a number to be Australian.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=199402

[Rob Miller]

I've had a few nice finds this year but this is one of my favourites, a large Officers quality silver plated Motor Volunteer Corps button.

Rob

[Alan O]

I have only few gaps in my OTC album and was had to fill the Rydal space with a genuine badge of this widely faked badge. Now if only I could find an Army School OTC one..............

[Fatherofthree]

This is the second example only I have seen of seen of this pattern badge, the other being in white metal with a QVC Crown; but I do have a picture showing an identical badge, but with the shield in white metal.

It feels and looks right and is constructed correctly and as I believe this to be a genuine, OR’s probably Glengarry, badge, and an extremely scarce item to The East Essex Rifles Militia, this my find of the year.

East Essex Rifles Militia ORs GG.jpg

Regards.

Brian

[BROOKIES]

Afternoon all.

Two of my best purchases of the year (a bloody expensive one mind you !!).

We have a Royal Monmouth Light Infantry Officer Hobnail Helmet Plate c.1855 - 1861.

Monmouthshire Rifle Volunteer Officer Pouch Belt Plate H/M for 1865 by Robert Garrard (even the nuts are stamped with the passant lion).

Ta

Jonathan

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[royston]

Rare 1WW Women's Royal Naval Service items obtained in 2023 and added to the collection.