Not a badge as such...Red Beret

[Belly]

A few interesting docs for you to enjoy!
(please don't steal them)

[Mike Jackson]

Fascinating. I wonder how they came by the beret sizing for Commando troops? More 6 7/8 than any other size - what does this tell us? Navy Blue for "Allied Troops" is new to me - I had always assumed that they were a post-War innovation for all Army units not entitled to wear anything more exotic.
Mike

[silverwash]

A & J Gelfer of Glasgow supplied dark blue, virtually black, berets to the Polish forces in exile

[SAS1]

There is one in HamandJam's album that doesnt appear (from the photo anyway) to have the circular weave. 1945 dated.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=69648

Plus a 45 dated Kangol Marine without pattern

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=72795

There are other examples in members albums.

[seebee1]

Unsure about the question of weave pattern, an example I will post does not I believe have this. Unfortunately it is un-dated, although has a Kings Crown Badge, but this could be after WW2 of course. The neat thing is that it has a pair of identity discs that belonged to the owner in 2 Para, also a brass disc, with the same service number, as a back plate for the cap badge. Regards, Clive.

[fougasse1940]

Clive your badge is a fake with the infamous 'blob' under the left wing, square feathers and pointy wing ends. Belly thanks for posting those documents.

Rgds,

Thomas.

[seebee1]

I had not spotted that Thomas. Just wonder if the ID Discs and the Brass Disc behind the Cap Badge, also the actual Beret, are wrong as well? Regards, Clive.

[Belly]

Can't see the two little vent holes which would suggest 'late' postwar

(Not sure when they stopped using the wartime pattern but I think it was into the 50s)

[ASR142]

Originally Posted by Belly

Can't see the two little vent holes which would suggest 'late' postwar

(Not sure when they stopped using the wartime pattern but I think it was into the 50s)

The last prodution of the beret to my knolage was in 1949 as I have an example which was issued to the SAS which is 1949 dated in my albums, The airborne forces where in charge of the SAS when they reformed in 1948-9 and where issued red berrets as descussed in other threads as the example below has a bulion badge which was issued in 1950 which has a faint 1945 date and makers mark so this example is SAS but NOT A WWII EXAMPLE . I do know that the smaller post war berets where being issued in 1950 going by the post war black examples and RAF berets being issued and turining up regular.
( http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=985)
OTHER INFORMATION
The pattern should be in a spiral starting in the center and moving out to the brim this is not visable with very good examples how ever can just been seen on them when held in the hand .
this circular sprial is made as the berets where made from the center thus making a small not which should be felt on them and moveing in outwards motion on each turn the beret would have an added nit holes about 4-5 on each turn at period points on the berret these would make lines ( sprial shape )when looked at . The process would be reversed to create the brim and the size of the beret thus the lines would start going in the opersite direction or become straight . The ridges can be felt though the pill of the beret when handled and once you have handled a few and look at all of the war time made berets on the market place you will be able to look a photo and look for the good signs in a WWII beret all ways look for a retached leather band etc steve

[Belly]

Cheers ASR142

Some nice info there. Are we talking about the same spirals here?! The trait I’d not seen before are the thick looking concentric circles on Grip’s original images and what looks almost like a single join line from the centre of crown to the edge? Your images look like mine with what look like multiple segments joining at the centre of the crown, which as you say you can only see on worn berets when the nap’s gone.

Love your 44th Indian Airborne stuff, you hit a real gold mine there! Makes mine look a bit meagre!:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bellywe...eat=directlink

[ASR142]

Originally Posted by Belly

Cheers ASR142

Some nice info there. Are we talking about the same spirals here?! The trait I’d not seen before are the thick looking concentric circles on Grip’s original images and what looks almost like a single join line from the centre of crown to the edge? Your images look like mine with what look like multiple segments joining at the centre of the crown, which as you say you can only see on worn berets when the nap’s gone.

Love your 44th Indian Airborne stuff, you hit a real gold mine there! Makes mine look a bit meagre!:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bellywe...eat=directlink

Hi belly
I am on about in my post how the beret is made which is shown in my post and not grip's post I do not like the look of Grip's berets which he has shown and if offerd I would not purchase them but that's my personal experience making me cautious of them I would like to see a better photo of his airborne title though Steve

[grip]

Originally Posted by ASR142

Hi belly
I am on about in my post how the beret is made which is shown in my post and not grip's post I do not like the look of Grip's berets which he has shown and if offerd I would not purchase them but that's my personal experience making me cautious of them I would like to see a better photo of his airborne title though Steve

The Airborne titles are copies,I have them to remind me what they look like. As for the berets they are 100% genuine,if you wouldnt buy them then you would miss out on 2 lovely genuine berets.I appreciate the banter and that everyone is entitled to their opinions.
Grip

[ASR142]

Hi grip well that's sorted them out then cheers Steve

[buckiebeetle]

What do you experts think of my hat dated 1945, some very small moth nips, B.D. jacket dated 45 with trousers marked 49 patt dated 51 Smock no date as patch is clear. Have studied it and weighing up the evidence I reckon it is a time modified 1st pattern with added pops to back.& not a 51 patt.The full length zip was the favourite mod. Helmet is ccl 1955, oversmock is somewhere buried under gear.cheers, John.

[grey_green_acorn]

That smock looks more like an unmodified but worn 1959 or 1972 pattern see page 2?

The BD jacket is 1949 pattern looking at the pocket and collar detail.

Tim