WW1 Trophy Belt

[MH331]

I bought this today it has an AIF theme possibly a Gallipoli campaigners souvenir.

Mark

[Sonofacqms]

A nice belt, but I don't think it is one from the Gallipoli campaign as this is an Imperial German belt with what appears to be two Russian badges on it.

Rob

[badgecollector]

hi mark
very nice belt with some nice badges attached.
if not gallipoli then middle east
well done
bc

[Jackhr]

Very nice pickup and some interesting badges on the belt.Would be hard to say if he served on Gallipoli but you never know but Middle East more likely.Any name or markings on the back of the belt and could you show a couple of photos of the back please.

Thanks

[slick_mick]

Couple of very nice badges there. The 2nd MG Company one is really hard to find and the 5th Light Horse badge is also quite scarce.

Mick

[Mike Jackson]

A superb item. Are not the "Russian" badges actually Turkish? And were there not German officers and specialist "trainers" serving with the Turkish Army at that time? Mike

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

A superb item. Are not the "Russian" badges actually Turkish? And were there not German officers and specialist "trainers" serving with the Turkish Army at that time? Mike

Definitely Turkish! Hence the crescent in the badge!

Mick

[Sonofacqms]

Apologies, of course there were Germans fighting with the Turks and my mistaking Turkish for Russian was a complete nonesense.

Yes, it could have been created at Gallipoli or in the Middle East and what a nice collection of badges, a great find.

Rob

[leigh kitchen]

The enamelled star is the Ottoman War Medal, nicknamed "the iron crescent", " the Gallipoli star", the Button with eagle is a Prussian, used as aa NCOs rank button on the collar (possibly other uses?).

[GTB]

Beautiful!
What a find. The 2 badges in question are indeed Ottoman - in fact the white and red insignia is actually a Turkish Gallipoli Star, also awarded to Turkey's allies, i.e. Germans serving during Gallipoli campaign. The brass badge looks to be a splendid piece of Ottoman militaria, never seen it before.
I think the belt originally belonged to a German soldier. The button may be a German corporal's collar rank button, larger than normal-sized uniform buttons, but one would need to know its size to be certain.

The British and Australian badges also link the belt with Gallipoli. All in all, a find to be proud of, and I would leave as is. Thanks for sharing.

GTB

[Hoot]

I don't think the 1st/20th or 2nd/20th London Regiment served in Gallipoli or the Middle Eastern theatres so maybe he served on the Western Front as well.

[MH331]

Thanks for your kind comments. I think the badges on the belt span two theatres, Gallipoli and France/Belgium. The Australian soldier connection is tenuous but possible.

regards

Mark

[leigh kitchen]

1/20 Londons served in europe. 2/20 served in europe, Salonika, Egypt and Palestine.
The Turkish y/m badge - I can't make out the shields at the bottom, but they remind me of the crests of Austria-Hungary, of the component states of the old Juogoslavia.......
The belt buckle is Prussian.

[GTB]

The 'rank' button was worn by Sergeants (large format) and Corporals (smaller format) of the armies of Prussia, Baden and Oldenburg.
The small shields at bottom of the Turkish badge appear to be the component nations of the Central Powers: Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Prussia

GTB

[leigh kitchen]

Would the Baden NCOs button not be the Griffin rather than the Prussian eagle, and Oldenburg perhaps wear their own variation of the Prussian insignia?