RFC Pilots Wing WW2 Issue Royal Flying Corps

 These wings were manufactured during the Second World War for pilots who served in the Royal Flying Corps and continued to serve with the Royal Air Force during the Second War. They are stitched with an oatmeal coloured thread and are padded  

WW2 RFC Wing

Reverse of WW2 RFC Wing

WW1 Officers Tank Corps Badge Made by J.R.Gaunt London

 This is a lovely badge. Similar to the Tank Corps badge but with a silver tank in the centre and the rest of the badge is bronze. The reverse has the usual two lugs and is stamped J.R.Gaunt. I think these were badges that officers could purchase from J.R.Gaunt.

WW1 Officers Tank Corps Badge

An image of the reverse:

Reverse of Tank Corps Badge showing J.R.Gaunt hallmark

Lovat Scouts Officers Silver Forage Cap Badge

Lovat Scouts Officers Silver Forage Cap Badge

 The above is a Lovat Scouts Officers Silver Forage Cap Badge. Hallmarked for 1970. The Lovat Scouts were first formed in the Second boar war as an Highland Yeomanry Regiment. The scouts became the first snipers then known as sharpshooters

Reverse

Tank Corps Cap Badge with Colours of Corps

WW1 Tank Corps Cap Badge

 This is a nice First World war officers bronze Tank Corps cap badge. The officer who had this badge drilled two holes in it and on the reverse stitched cloth with the Tank Corps colours.

The colours typified the struggle of the Corps - 'From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond'. This most apt interpretation of the colours was suggested by Colonel Fuller. The flag is flown with the green uppermost The story goes that just before the battle of Cumbrai in 1917, General Elles wanting a distinguishing mark for his tank, went into a shop to buy material for a flag. Supplies were short but he came out with a length of green, red and brown silk. He stitched this together and flew it from his tank "Hilda" which he led the corps into battle.



Reverse with Tank Corps Colours

The South Staffordshire Plastic Economy Cap Badge

The South Staffordshire Plastic Economy Cap Badge

 Above is The South Staffordshire Regiment War Time plastic Cap Badge. These badges were introduced during the Second World War when metals became more strategic materials. You can see from the picture below that there should be two blades, one of which has broken off. The South Staffordshire Regiment were involved in glider operations during D-Day. Also operated as part of operation Market Garden in Arhnem.

Reverse, one of the blades is missing

WW1 Silver War Badge

WW1 Silver War Badge

 The above is the WW1 sliver war badge. This badge was issued to UK service personnel who had been honorably discharged due to wounds or sickness. The badge was worn on the right breast whilst wearing civilian clothing. It became common practice for women to hand out a white feather to men not wearing a uniform  So this badge was introduced to prevent this from happening. Each badge is numbered on the reverese as can be seen on the picture below.

Reverse

After a small bit of research online. I used ancestry.co.uk, I came up with his silver war badge record shown below and from that found out his name and number and used that to find his Medal index card. Also shown below.

Recipient of above silver war badge

 He's name was Spr James Childs and was in the Royal Engineers. He was wounded 26 June 1918 he was entitled to the Victory medal and British war medal. His medal index card shows his entitlement to the Silver War Badge.

James Childs Medal index card

Junior Parachute Company Wing

Junior Parachute Company Wing

 The above is the Junior Parachute Company Wing. This is an early one. I got this wing from a friend who was in the Para's. He tells me they used to chase the Junior Para's and cut there wings up. This means that this badge is pretty rare nowadays


Junior Parachute Company Wing

The Junior Parachute Company was part of the Parachute Regiment and consisted of boys aged between 15 and 17. All hoping to become Para's by the age of 18. The company no longer exists. It was formed in 1961 and disbanded in 1993.