First badge . . !

[Sonofacqms]

I would be very interested in what the first badge any forum members acquired and what the consequences were . . !

My first cap badge was one that I found in a drawer in my Grand parents house (actually it was a pub) was my Father's Royal Engineers cap badge (GviR), it had a stain to the 5 O'clock and I wore it to school in my jacket buttonhole.

Other pupils followed my idea and with little exchanges for sweets etc, I acquired others, the die was cast.

With hindsight I would love to have that first cap badge, I cannot remember who I exchanged I with, so if you have an RE GviR cap badge with a stain at 5 O'clock I would love to do an exchange or buy.

Regards Rob

[slick_mick]

I guess it would be this one. It was issued to me when I joined the regiment in 1988.

Mick

[Sonofacqms]

Mick.
That is a great looking badge, I have never seen that badge before being mainly interested in UK items, however, what a good starter with personal connections.

Rob

PS. I do have a few from down under . . !

[Home Guard]

Always a fun topic. I consider two possibilities. The first was not me really seeking badges, but from having a love and fascination with the RAF. My father, a career Air Force pilot brought me back from a TDY in the Azores an RAF wing (unpadded, and yes, I still have it), and I have treasured it ever since. Then because it was RAF, and now because he brought it to me. I was 16 at the time, so maybe the real first?

Then, a little over 30 years ago I was on my way to get a haircut and across from my barber shop was the city center, and I noticed a sign that said "Military Show". So doing the right thing I went on and got my hair cut!!! But afterwards I went straight to the show, paid my entrance fee, and thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I spent the entire afternoon till closing just walking around and looking. Then I saw a WWI German pilot's badge, and being interested still in aviation and more specifically WWI aviation I stopped to enquire about it. Ended up buying it for waaaaay too much because as I soon learned it was sooooo bogus. But the dealer took me and I learned a great lesson. And yes, I still have it. I think it is Luke H who often advises - buy the badge, not the story, i.e. that seller knew it was fake and told me it was a good one, so shame on me.

But, not sure which to consider the first, but the German Pilot badge started me collecting, while the RAF wing was just treasured.

Terry

[kingsley]

Rob, I suspect that your two open topped INF badges are Canadian rather that Auistralian.

[Sonofacqms]

Kingsley,
Many thanks, I put them on the board without thinking, put it down to whiskey drinking

Rob