Large badge collection, help with identification needed.

[ninajonez]

Hello everyone

I am posting on behalf of my family. During world war 2 our aunt who was a nurse for the Queen Alexander’s in North Africa collected badges and sewed them onto her nurses cape. We have had it for some time and would love to find out more about the badges. Any help you could offer would be fantastic. Many thanks Nina

[Bill A]

Hello ninajonez, welcome to the Forum. Your account is active and open for posts.

[Roy]

Hello Nina,

Welcome to the forum.

I will kick off this rather large task with commenting on the patch lower right - at the center of my screen shot. This looks like a patch to the Royal West African Frontier Force (R.W.A.F.F.). See my attached photograph of my example.

Some wonderful badges. Perhaps some larger images may be of interest?

Cheerio,

Roy

[ninajonez]

Thank you Roy. Please find attached some more close up images.

[Alan O]

Fascinating thread. Lots of of the war medals and patches date from post 1946.. There is a mixture of NW Europe units and also some from the Far East so has been assembled post WW2.

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Fascinating thread. Lots of of the war medals and patches date from post 1946.. There is a mixture of NW Europe units and also some from the Far East so has been assembled post WW2.

Also some from the Italian campaign. Anglo-American 5th Army, US 6 Corps, 3rd Polish Div, 8th Indian Division etc.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VI_Corps_(United_States)

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Fascinating thread. Lots of of the war medals and patches date from post 1946.. There is a mixture of NW Europe units and also some from the Far East so has been assembled post WW2.

I would add that in my opinion about 50% of the signs on this outstanding cloak relate to the Campaign in Italy 1943-45. My detailed analysis will follow but some of the very best items (in my opinion) include two (two!) ultra-rare titles LOVAT SCOUTS, a 1st SAS title and SAS wings, the Armoured Delivery Group, an RAMC 1 Inf Div sign and, near the hem in the 6 o'clock position in the first image a very unusual NZ flash - which I can't identify. Mike

[ianh67military]

That's a stunning cape. British, Commonwealth inc India and NZ, German, Italian and a good few US badges too. Cloth and metal.
The US bits include common bits including air Forces and a very rare Greek elections monitoring force ( the fully embroidered goggle eyed owl with a Greek tab above it) .
The Brit bits include an SAS title (1 or 2?), SAS wings, Parachute Regt title, Pegasus, wings, Yeomanry titles like Lovat Scouts and a Rough Riders, Armoured badges, brigade badges etc.
If you can photograph smaller sections I'm sure the forum can ID most if not all of them.

Ian H

[grenadierguardsman]

The very best item on the Cape of course, is the Grenadier Guards shoulder title (cloth).
Andy

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by ninajonez

Hello everyone

I am posting on behalf of my family. During world war 2 our aunt who was a nurse for the Queen Alexander’s in North Africa collected badges and sewed them onto her nurses cape. We have had it for some time and would love to find out more about the badges. Any help you could offer would be fantastic. Many thanks Nina

Nina,

While you have not said that the family might sell the cape you should be aware that it does have a potentially very high value at a specialist auction. There are many badges that could individually be worth three figures or more.

However, do not be tempted to remove and sell any individual badges as this will effect the overall value and of course the historic integrity of the cape.

Forum members will certainly be able to identify most or all of the badges and give a timeline of their use.

Tim

[grenadierguardsman]

I do fear we will see items of this cape for sale on other means.
Andy

[Artynut]

I would agree with grey green acorn and add :- 1) It is such a valuable piece of family history that it should never leave the family. 2) It should be valued and insured. 3) It should NEVER be “stripped”, taken apart or physically changed in any way. 4) If the rightful owner/s need it’s monetary value, please DO have a reputable Auction House who are proven Militaria auctioneers involved. As other forum members have said, some stunning, rare and valuable pieces there, and as “they” say, “If Only It Could Talk”! Good Luck, Regards, D.J.

[Alex Rice]

I imagine that 'BASUTO' badge and title could be quite scarce, never seen that before. Amazing cape and piece of history!
Cheers,
Alex

[ninajonez]

Again many thanks for all your input. I can assure you that the cape will not be sold. It’s a cherished piece of our families history and will be handed down through the generations. But we are keen for it to now be insured and also create a record of all the badges. So your help in this matter is wonderful and we are so glad we came across the forum. I am going to take some higher quality close up photos today.

[Frank Kelley]

That is a particularly nice example, a quite surprising number of these were made during the war by their owners, but, far less still exist today, it's value is as a single entity.
They do make a really superb display piece, I managed to buy an example fifteen years ago, if you intend to keep it, if I were you, I would have it framed and glazed, after dealing with any issues.
The problem you have, once people know you have it, is simply that you end up being pestered by regimental collectors who will want to buy a particular badge, I must admit, as a regimental collector, I was very tempted to remove a couple of badges, but, I resisted and left mine as found.
Again a super thing, I hope you will enjoy it for many years to come.

Originally Posted by ninajonez

Hello everyone

I am posting on behalf of my family. During world war 2 our aunt who was a nurse for the Queen Alexander’s in North Africa collected badges and sewed them onto her nurses cape. We have had it for some time and would love to find out more about the badges. Any help you could offer would be fantastic. Many thanks Nina