Belgian Army in the UK Cap Badges

[Brigade Piron]

Hello,

Are these the type actually produced in the UK?




And these?




The bottom lug on the right badge has broken off.

BP

[Peter Brydon]

I have the attached badge amongst my spares, it has a bronze finish and what looks like a single pin fitting at the top put on to enable the badge to be displayed by a collector rather than for fixing to a cap BUT I cannot see signs of any previous fittings on the badge.

Anyone any thoughts please ?

P.B.

[Brigade Piron]

Ah... Are you sure it IS bronze? I may well be wrong, but the shape of the muzzle (rounded) and the pin (the other would have been attached to the back) says to me that is one of the c.1960-1980s ones that has been artificially aged to make it look older.
It is perfectly possible that I'm wrong, but that's my 1 Belgian Franc's worth!

I have heard back from a collector about some of mine:

1: Belgian 1935-40 Issue
2. German Reparation Production (1945-50?)
3. British Production 1941-44

BP

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks BP,

The badge is part of an old collection I bought and I am pretty certain it does not date to the 1960`s to 1980`s more likely at least as old as WW2.

It is not bronze metal but has a osd type bronze finish.

Is there any relevance in the fact that ( if I am correct in my understanding of what you have been told ) the 1941 onwards examples have the protruding tongue ?

P.B.

[Brigade Piron]

What is OSD?

As far as I know, all examples have a protruding tongue (the tongue of my no.1 above has snapped off).

What I meant is that in WW2 + V. Early P/W badges, the muzzle is shaped like \ at the end, whereas modern ones (and pre-war ones) have a more rounded ( shape.

BP

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks BP,

I did not realise that one of the badges had the tongue broken off.

OSD bronze ( offficers service dress ) are bronze badges or badges finished with a bronze coloured coating worn by officers that do not require cleaning.

P.B.

[rubicon]

Hello

Here is a picture of some memorabilia given by a veteran of the Piron's Brigade to the Merville Battery Museum (you can see them and many other memorabilia in the "Piron's Bunker"). A nice grouping of original items including a war time Belgium cap badge. J-F

[elwe23]

Hi all re-opening the thread as well.

What do you think of those guys ?
For me they are probably both post war. The silver one is an NCO, and the other one seems like a plastic economy one. Pretty rare to see one.

Are the WW2 UK made ones had only those types of lugs ? (last photo)
I noted two types. The green back photo has the two lugs types on one badge, probably a repair.
I agree with Luc, for me the golden round wire lugs are definitely not UK made ones. Could they be belgium made pre-war ? I think they probably post war as it's the most common lugs type and they were 50000 belgium volonteers end of 44-45, most probably wearing this type.

Cheers

[Mike B]

I am still searching for a bladed Officer Service Dress version of this Generic Belgian Free Forces headdress badge (as third and fourth images in post 23 by elwe23 above) - any help appreciated

I have a bronzed version not on blades that looks OK

I hear Robin had a display patents Yellow lion on Red rectangle, with yellow border printed/painted? badge - described as Belgian Headdress badge - in his recent auction. Not heard of this before - has anyone else any record?

[Luc]

Mike, I was the underbidder of Robin's auction, I had not heard of or seen this pattern before.

[Luc]

Originally Posted by elwe23

the other one seems like a plastic economy one.

No, for officers in bronze as Mike says. The plastic economy pattern is Belgium post-war.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Luc

No, for officers in bronze as Mike says. The plastic economy pattern is Belgium post-war.

Good to hear from you Luc - I now have images of the mystery Belgian badge

[Luc]

The Belgian army in the UK was short on cap badges when a number of units were raised in Northern Ireland around 1945, the Wellington college badge was used instead. Perhaps this printed badge was another stopgap?

[elwe23]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Good to hear from you Luc - I now have images of the mystery Belgian badge

Never seen this one before but I will ask the member of Piron association.

[stef]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Good to hear from you Luc - I now have images of the mystery Belgian badge

Not related to the Belgian forces in UK

It is the badge of the Belgian ww2 resistance group "Partizanen leger" or in French "armée partisans"
Normally worn on a white or blue armband.