Popski's Private Army - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

natal01 · #1 09-07-08, 10:03 AM

I wonder if anyone could help me to verify this PPA badge. It is hallmarked silver and numbered. Suspect that it was made post war for some sort of reunion. Any ideas ?

wright241 · #2 09-07-08, 10:07 AM

I recall that Bosleys had one of these for sale fairly recently - this year or at the end of last year - and (I believe) it went for more than 1000. You might
want to try and get an image or at least try and find out the HM date.
I personally have only ever seen non-wartime issued badges and restrikes (they look as if they have been etched rather than cast or die-struck).
David

#3 09-07-08, 10:27 AM

The Popski badge was made in 1977 by the London Badge & Button Co. They were made supposedly for the veterans who were still alive & only 100 were to be made but you can clearly see this one says 117. The badge itself is not worth a great deal, may be £30 or £40. The one that went through Bosley's was an unmarked, cast-silver variation that was made in North Africa & was grossly overpriced.

#4 09-07-08, 03:54 PM

Peter is absolutely right. However, the hallmark on your badge IS Birmingham 1977 which brings it into line with the so called 'veterans' striking. The highest numbered veterans badge I have seen was number 143 so, presumably, more than the planned 100 were struck - yours being another example of that. The unit was very small indeed and accoutrements were few and far between. Hugh King had 2 variants of the original badge (one was die struck, the other rough (North African) cast. Bill Dear's collection, sold in the mid 1970s had one die struck example. The badges which seem to command the highest price at auction these days are the rough cast versions - I know of no die struck examples appearing in a salreoom in recent years. If one did, it would be interesting to see what it made. Regards. David

natal01 · #5 09-07-08, 06:25 PM

Thanks very much for the info. I guess that an original issue badge is probably out of reach. At least this one is nicely made and will fill a gap until a "real" one comes along.

Diehard · #6 09-07-08, 07:52 PM

Hi All,

Thought this might be of interest. In Popskis book, it says he based the badge design on a book plate he owned of an astrolobe."I took my book plate to a jewish silversmith off the Shareh El Manakh and got him to cut in brass a reduced and simplified design..........the first badges were cut and engraved by hand; they turned out rather too equisite for the roughness of our manners; later we had a die cut and made the badges of silver, which takes the stamp better than brass." quote Vladimir Peniakoff (Popski)

Later in the war, he states, the badges were made by a silversmith in Rome.

There can't have been many produced. The original unit was made up of 5 officers, 3 NCOs & 15 privates.

Just thought it was topical.

Will

Peter Brydon · #7 09-07-08, 08:12 PM

Can I just recommend" Popski`s Private Army " to anyone who has not read the book,it is great read and what an unlikely hero he was.

P.B.

I wonder what happened to the die ?

ard-ri · #8 09-07-08, 08:16 PM

5 officers, 3 NCOs & 15 privates.

More like Popski's Private Squad

Cheers, Michael

Diehard · #9 09-07-08, 08:19 PM

P.B,

I second that, one of the best regimental histories I've read - its got lots of detail you don't get in the more general histories. He must have been a real character.

Will

Peter Brydon · #10 10-07-08, 09:10 AM

Nice little piece from the MHS Bulletin No1 of August 1950 when Popski applied for membership.

I wonder how many people actully did write to him asking for a badge.

P.B/

saumua · #11 12-07-08, 02:39 AM

I believe this to be a genuine one ....... Peter Taylor seems happy with it at least.

RAChD · #12 10-09-08, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8thfoot

Nice little piece from the MHS Bulletin No1 of August 1950 when Popski applied for membership.

I wonder how many people actully did write to him asking for a badge.

P.B/

Sadly, not many people would have had the chance to write to him and get a reply, since he died about 6 months after the MHS Bulletin was sent out.
Shame he died so soon after the end of the victory he helped to fight for.

#13 27-11-10, 10:03 PM

hi, i know of two original PPA silver die struck badges which were hallmarked by the Cairo assay office (set up by the british) there are 3 parts to the hallmark.
1st indicates cairo and silver purity, 2nd is the cat for egypt and the third is an arabic letter corresponding to the date. i'd also highly recommend popski's book, 1953 printing from £4 on amazon. hope this is of interest, martin