New Zealand Broadcast

[cymro]

I've justed added this sign to one of my albums, but does anyone know what unit it may have been worn by - presumably a NZ film/journalist unit...
Has anyone seen one before?

Best
Jon

[atillathenunns]

I sadly have no information on your badge, but I do have several WW2 photos of different members of the NZ Broadcasting Unit, all are wearing the brass War Correspondents title on green cloth backing.

J Force also had their own Broadcasting Unit, I have no information or pictures of them, so possibly your patch might be related to J Force, but I am leaning that J Force would also have green backings as was the norm for all Public Relations Units. (When wearing the lemon squeezer they would have worn green puggarees)

The following picture was taken in Italy, 25 April 1944, it shows Archibald Curry, of the NZ Broadcasting Unit.

NZ Broadcasting Unit Archibald Curry, of the NZ Broadcasting Unit, holds the microphone. Photogr.jpg

[grey_green_acorn]

I wonder if this is more to do with propaganda than public relations? Part of the Political Warfare Executive / SOE

See Indian Field Broadcasting Unit for their operations in Burma

https://soeinburma.com/2021/07/12/in...ng-units-ifbu/

Tim

[Phill Lockett]

Hi Jon

Well done on a very rare NZ Broadcasting Unit "patch"c 1940.

Unsure if you would call it a slip on title or sewn on to epaulette.

Here are several images in use.

Here is an article on NZBC Unit.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/progr...years-of-radio


Phill

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Phill Lockett

Hi Jon

Well done on a very rare NZ Broadcasting Unit "patch"c 1940.

Unsure if you would call it a slip on title or sewn on to epaulette.

Here are several images in use.

Here is an article on NZBC Unit.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/progr...years-of-radio


Phill

Most interesting, the photo taken in Egypt 1943 shows Norman Johnston seated left and Noel Palmer holding the microphone, but I am of the opinion both men are wearing brass War Correspondents titles on green cloth backing with black and white New Zealand shoulder titles, like the one pictured below dated July 1943.


NZ Broadcasting Unit at Maadi Camp in Egypt during World War II. Photograph taken on 16 July 194.JPG

The 1940 photo is not one I have seen before, and I concur, Norman Johnston on the left is wearing the same title that Jon has presented. This would suggest that the title was made in New Zealand and would have only been worn by the three men pictured, all of which sailed with the 2NZEF 3rd Echelon attached to Base Headquarters.

It seems the Broadcast patch was in use for a very short time (1940 to 1941?). The following picture dated May 1942 shows Noel Palmer wearing the brass title.

NZ Broadcasting Unit Mr Palmer in the broadcasting van of the Broadcasting Unit at Maadi Camp in.JPG

[Phill Lockett]

Yes you are correct, below is a larger image.

I had seen the NZBC insignia years before and paid no attn then, so at least we now know it was used early c1940-41.

Phill

[cymro]

A (very) belated thank you to you all for responding to my request for info on the broadcasting badge. I'm very sorry to say that I missed your invaluable contributions.

Its nice to know that theres some research material out there to draw on and that its quite a scarce one. It was bought with an old collection of War Correspondent badges, and there were some real rarities there - Dutch, Japanese, Australian etc...

Thanks again
Jon