Palestine Volunteer Force

[Eddie Parks]

The Palestine Volunteer Force was raised during the Second World War in Palestine and recruited from British, Arab and Jewish residents of the mandate. Conventional wisdom says that it was a Home Guard type of organisation designed to free up regular army units for employment in North Africa. However there is evidence that some at least of it’s personnel were trained in sabotage and guerilla tactics. It may well have been envisaged as filling a similar "stay-behind" role to the Auxiliary Units which also hid under Home Guard cover in the United Kingdom. It was disbanded after the threat to Palestine from North Africa disappeared with the defeat of Rommel.

The badge is well made but of rather flimsy, thin blackened brass, 125 mm across. The striking is crisp and detailed. It shows St George killing the dragon with a well aimed lance thrust through the eye. St George is much revered in the Middle East, at least by Christians and Muslims. He was a soldier of Arab descent serving as an Auxiliary in the Roman army.

The badge is also known in unblackened brass and as a sand-casting - these latter may not be authentic.

The sand-cast ones are good as well but must be blacken

peter

[Eddie Parks]

I would agree that legitimate sand-cast copies of many or even most Middle-eastern badges exist. After all I had some made in coinage silver of the Sultan of Oman's Artillery badge for my battery. They were certainly worn and thus are I suppose a legitimate if not official variation.

I'd love to see a sandcast PVF badge with provenance.

Eddie