Your favorite item

[jubilationtcornpone]

Is there any one item in your collection which is your favorite? Having seen a few collections on the forum I thought I'd share the oldest item in mine. It was given to me by my oldest uncle, a WWI vet, who saved it from a bar when it closed. This is what started me collecting military insignia which in turn led me to be bitten by the British cap badge bug which, in turn, has led me here.

This is a lithograph produced about 100 years ago and distributed as a promotion by a famous American brewer. The original was given to the 7th US cavalry but was lost when the officer's club at Ft.Bliss Texas burned to the ground. The battle, for those not familiar with western American history, occurred in June, 1876 in what is now the state of Montana. It is roughly comparable to the British battle of Isandlwana though the US casualties were fewer. Lt Col George Custer and his 7th US cavalry attacked a large camp of Sioux and other Indians. Custer and the force he led were wiped out. Several motion pictures have been made of this battle, none, unfortunately, as good as Zulu or Zulu Dawn, IMHO. I am aware of several paintings done of the Zulu campaign but am unaware if any of those were reproduced in the same manner as this one which I am sure at one time was hanging behind a bar.

Sorry about the quality of the photo. I could take some lessons from Dave2c.

If anyone would care to share their favorite item, I, for one, will appreciate it.

Don

[Tinto]

Great picture, and story, Don! Thanks for showing it.

Here is my favourite item although it was a difficult decision to make.
The Hastings Rifle Volunteers existed between 1901 and 1911 when it became part of the 9th (Wellington East Coast Rifles) Regiment.
This particular badge was acquired originally by my father as a boy, from a First World War veteran, then swapped for a quantity of more common badges much to his regret later, but happily obtained many years later when the badge came on the market.
Cheers, Tinto

[jubilationtcornpone]

Tinto,

I am again struck at how attractive many of the New Zealand badges are that I have seen on the forum. Maybe I have a thing for birds in general and kiwi's in particular but they do make for an appealing badge.

Thanks for sharing,

Don