German WW2 Iron Cross First (1st) Class brass core

German WW2 Iron Cross First Class brass core

The above is the iconic German WW2 Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) first class. The Iron Cross consits of an iron core but this example has non magnetic brass core. It is said that this type was manufactured for the German navy (Kriegsmarine), as iron would oxidize when it came in to contact with the salty sea air. However this has never been proved.
The history of the Iron Cross goes back to the Kingdom of Prussia as a military decoration. It was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813 in Breslau, during the Napoleonic Wars. The recommissioned Iron Cross was also awarded during the Franco-Prussian War, the First World War, and the Second World War. The standard Iron cross in WW2 came in the following classes:
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Iron Cross 1st Class
The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle and other acts of heriosm on the battlefield. The 2nd class came with a ribbon coloured black-white-red-white-black. The 1st Class Iron Cross came with no ribbon but was attached either with a pin or a screw fitment (the screw variant being rarer). The 1st Class has a swastika in the centre with the date 1939 below. It is constructed from three pieces.

Rear of Iron Cross showing pin attachment

Closer view of front showing brass core under rubbed black paint

Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge British

British Machine Gun Corps WW1 Cap Badge

The Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 consisting of Infantry, Cavalry and Motor branches and and later in 1916 by the Heavy branch which later became the Tank Corp. Originally Machine guns were not appreciated by the British army and would be issued to sections of infantry Battalions and Cavalry regiments. However after a year of warfair at the western front  it was realised that machine guns, to be effective, most be used in large units with highly trained men. The Machine Gun Corps was formed. It went on to much front line action, sometimes fighting ahead of the troupes. The Cap Badge is made from brass with two crossed Vickers machine guns on top a kings crown. A slider fitment to the rear.

Imperial German Tank Crew Badge WW1

Imperial German Tank Crew Badge

After the post on the British Tank corp badge I thought I would show the Imperial German Tank Crew badge. The badge was not issued until 1922 and had to be privately purchased. The Main German tank during WW1 was the AV7 only 27 were used even though 100 were ordered. They did however use captured tanks from the allied side.

Reverse of the badge

Detail of Skull & Crossbones , hollow eyes and nose socket

Central detail, Showing WW1 tank rolling over debris

The badge is silver and of two piece construction. The interior of the badge is hollow. The back is pin backed. It was worn on the left breast.

WW1 Tank Corp Cap Badge

WW1 Tank Corps Cap Badge

The Tank Corps was formed with the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used in 1916 at flers in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. There were six tank companies all attached to the Machine Gun Corp (MGC) as the Heavy Branch. It was in 1917 that the Heavy Branch was by Royal Warrant was given its official statues as the Tank Corp. The tank crew were trained by experts, but it was a new field and so much knowledge was gained from the battle field. In general The crew of the Tank consisted of a junior officer and seven crew, three to drive (and would normally fire the Hotchkiss gun)and three gunners. The tank crew had to operate in almost complete darknesse and had to rely upon their periscope and alternatively on tiny holes drilled through the armour plating no more than half a centermeter in diameter. If they were caught under heavy fire the periscope was often lowered and the officer and men had to rely on the view afforded by these holes. They were therefor highly reliant on their maps and special tank compass. This brought about a new service in the Intelligence corp called reconnaissance. Before tanks would enter battler the reconnaissance staff were responsible for providing detailed maps and sketches of the proposed battle site . In these maps and sketches the route of every individual tank was marked out from landmark to landmark with assigned objectives and any obstacles likely to be found. By 1918 the system had been so highly effective that the infantry became to rely on their follow tanks for directions.  The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles.

Reverse of tank corps badge

The first tanks were the Mark 1s which took four men to drive it and they fought on the 15 september 1916 at the Tha Battle of the Somme. Most of the tank crew had never experienced battle before, not even heard before the artillery which fired around them. After this attack the tank had a big impact on the German moral.

Brunswick War Merit Ernst August Cross, second class

Brunswick Ernst August Cross War Merit
second class

I showed a Brunswick Ernst August First class in the previous post. The above is the War Merit Cross or also known as Ernst August Cross second class. Before the first class was instituted this was the only award of its type. It mirrors the statues of the Prussian Iron Cross second class but is rarer. In addition to the cross there was the frontline service clasp. This is shown to the right in the picture, a horse surrounded by oakleaves above crossed swords surmounted by a crown. To earn this clasp you had to be tough! The picture below shows the award documentation.

Award document for War Merit (Ernst August)
Cross second class

Brunswick Ernst August First Class War Merit Cross

Brunswick Ernst August First Class

The War Merit Cross also known as the Brunswick Ernst August Cross was instituted by Duke Ernst August on 23 October 1914. He was Duke of Brunswick from 1913 to to his abducation in 1918. The cross came in one class and was awarded regardless of rank. It was awarded for meritorious service to soldiers who were citizens of Brunswick or served in a Brunswick unit. On 20 March 1918 a first class was institutited and so the original cross became a second class. The Duchy of Brunswick consisted of less than half a million people, so makes the award relatively uncommon. The above is a first class cross with a rarer screw back fitting. The first class would usually be pin backed. The awards reflect the prussian Iron Cross which came in second and first class.

Reverse showing screw fitment

An award Document to The Brunswick war merit cross first class is shown below.

Award document for Brunswick War Merit Cross first class

Royal Ulster Rifles 1st glider Battalion cap badge

Royal Ulster Rifles 1st glider Battalion
cap badge

Reverse

Royal Ulster Rifles originally known as the Royal Irish rifles was a British army infantry regiment. The regimental history dates back to 1793 when two new Regiments of Foot the 83rd and the 86th were raised to contend with the commitments of the war with France. Under the Childers reforms,in 1881, the two regiments were almagamated to form the Royal Irish Rifles. The regiment fought in the Boer and Great war in 1921 it was renamed the Royal Ulster Rifles. During the start of Second World War the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles were serving in India, training in mountain warfare. When they returned, it was seen that due to the light scale of equipment they needed they could be converted into a glider bourne unit. They become part of the 1st airbourne division and saw action on D-day in Operation Mallard and also across the Rhine in Operation Varsity.

The above badge is an original cap badge for the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles. Not to be confused with the Royal Ulster Rifles cap badge. Two lugs to the rear in white metal.

25 Royal Frontiersman Fusiliers Cap Badge WW1

25 Royal Frontiersman Fusiliers Cap Badge

Roger Pocock an adventurer and author founded The Legion of Frontiersmen in 1905. It was originally intended to recruit ex-servicemen and adventurers to scout the Britsh frontier and report back to the war office. He placed an advert in the 'Times', asking for 1000 volunteers with horses to join. He persuaded the Earl of Londale to act as Patron and in April 1905 the Earl hosted the Inaugral Dinner. I was then that the Legion of Frontiersmen were born. The legion was a hark back to the days of the imperial world.

Reverse of badge

The  Frontiersman were the first British troops to see action during the First World War, fighting along side the Belgiums. They went on to form the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in 1915 and served in the East Africa campaign, wining numerous decorations.  By 1917 the battallion had been ravaged by desease and had sustained heavy casualties, it returned back to the UK and was disbanded. During Second World War no named Frontiersman unit was founded, Frontiersmen enlisted individually in all branches of the army and home guard. They were instrumental in forming the Local Defense volunteers later to become the Home Guard.

2nd Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

2nd Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

The above is the 2nd pattern FS fighting Knife. As with the 1st pattern it has a stilleto blade, but no ricasso. The crossguard is now straight with the grip remaining the same diamond etched pattern. The grip would have been nickel plated. But as can be seen from the above example it has worn off. This knife has seen a lot of use! The scabbard has also been modified. The 2nd pattern was manufactured between august 1941 to the end of 1943.

2nd pattern with FS FIGHTING KNIFE etching

2nd Pattern with WILKINSON SWORD etching

About 50,000 2nd pattern knives were manufactured. Prices range from £400 - £600.
www.heartsanddaggers.co.uk

1st Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife FS

1st Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife FS

The 1st Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai in 1941. It is a double edged stilleto knife designed specifically for thrusting. The F-S Fighting Knifes were designed exclusively for surprise attack and fighting, with a slender blade that can easily penetrate a ribcage. The commando's and later the SAS would use this knife effectively in hand to hand combat. The Wilkinson Sword manufactured the knife and on the the ricasso it is etched WILKINSON SWORD Co Ltd LONDON as seen below

1st pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife detail

The other side of ricasso of the knife will be etched as below with the text The F-S FIGHTING KNIFE.


1st Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife detail

The knife had an S shaped crossguard. The grip was made of brass and this and the crossguard were both nickel plated. The blades were ground by hand and then blued. The grip was cut with a diamond pattern again done by hand.This produces a dark ring effect around the grip not seen on the reproductions. The knife is probably one the most iconic knives around. The 1st pattern commands a high retail price of around £1200 -£1600.

Intelligence Corps Cap Badge WW2

Intelligence Corps Cap Badge WW2

There had been previous attempts at intelligence gathering around the turn of the 19th century was originally thought to be under hand and not playing by the rules. Later in 1909, intelligence gathering was better understood to the point that they created a counter intelligence organizantion, MI5. The first Intelligence Corps was created in 1914. The Royal Flying Corp was formed to monitor the ground and provided aerial photographs for the corp to analyse. After the First World War the unit was rapidly shrunk and later disbanded in 1929

 On 19 June 1940 a new the Intelligence Corps was created. The Corps had its operatives sent to RAF Ringway for Parachute training. They were then dropped over France as part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The SOE was tasked by Winston Churchill to 'set Europe ablaze' through acts of  sabotage behind enemy lines. Intelligence Corps officers were involved in forming the highly-effective Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), and the Corps officer Lt Col Peter Clayton was one of the four founders of the Special Air Service (SAS). Around 40% of the staff at Bletchley Park were in the Intelligence Corps.

The cap badge as seen above is solid brass with a slider to the rear. A badge consists of a Tudor Rose between laurel branches and surmounted by a Kings crown.

Parachute Regiment Cap badge Plastic 'Economy' WW2

Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge Reverse

Plastic Cap badges were introduced in 1941 during the World War 2, as a result of shortages of metals due to the demands of the war effort. They were mostly made from Bakelite. They were only manufactured during World War 2 so are, in general, rarer than other brass/bi-metal badges of the period. Being made from old plastics they damaged easily and the soldiers did not like to wear them so they would be discarded for pre war badges this also adds to their rarity.
The Parachute Regiment 'economy' badge is silvered and has two brass prongs to the rear as can be seen from the example above. Plastic Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

The Parachute Regiment Cap Badge

Parachute Regiment Cap Badge 1942-

Rare 1st pattern Parachute regiment badge 1941-

The success of German airborne operations at the begining of WW2 prompted the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to direct the war office to invetigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5000 parachute troops. On June 1940, No. 2 Commando was transfered to parachute duties and on 21 November, re-designated the 11th special Air Battalion, with a parachute and glider wing. The Battalion took part in the first British Airbourne operation, Operation Colossus, on Februaury 1941. The Battalion was later re-designated the 1st Parachute Battalion in September and was asssigned to the 1st Parachute. The Army Air Corp was created as the command formation of the Parachute Regiment and the Glider Pilot Regiment.
The Parachute regiment badge consists of a parachute with a pair of wings either side. A Kings crown is fixed above the parachute and this is summonted by a lion statant gaurdant. The badge is of white metal and is attached to a beret with two lugs. The 1st pattern badge has a voided crown and legsof the lion. The 2nd pattern is not voided. This badge is far more common. The Parachute Regiment Badge was worn on a maroon coloured beret. Major-General F.A.M. 'boy' Browning who had been appointed General officer comanding Airbourne Forces in November 1941 was responsible for the adoption of the maroon coloured beret.

The Glider Pilot Regiment Cap Badge

WW2 Glider Pilot Regiment Badge

In 1940 the German military were pioneers in Glider and Parachute operations. The Allies, impressed by this decided to form there own  airbourne formations. Of these the Central Landing Establishment was formed 1n 1941 tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was also directed to investigate the possibilities of using gliders to transport troops into battle. It had been decided that the the RAF and the army would work together on forming the new airbourne establishment.
Volunteers were sought from the army and had to pass RAF selection precedure. The first part of training lasted 12 weeks and this qualified them as pilots on light aircraft. After this they then went on to do their glider pilot training which lasted a further 12 weeks. The troops also went under more military training as they would be expected to fight alone side their fellows.
By 1942 the Glider Pilot Regiment come under the arm of the Army Air Corps along with the Parachute Regiment and the wartime Special Air Service (SAS).
Well known operations were:
Operation Freshman
Operation Turkey Buzzard
Operation Ladbroke
Operation Fustian
Operation Deadstick
Operation Tonga
Operation Market Garden
Operation Varsity
Operation Dragoon
The Glider Pilot Regiment Badge is shown above. It stamped out of white metal and has two lugs to the rear.

German War Merit Cross 2nd class with swords

War Merit Cross 2nd Class
with swords

Reverse

The German War Merit Cross (Das Kreigsverdienst kruez) was created by Adolf Hitler in 1939. It was to replace the non-combatant Iron Cross. The award came in same grades as the Iron Cross Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd class. Two variants existed. The first with swords given to soldiers who showed execption service in battle above and beyond the call of duty, but were not worthy of the Iron Cross. The second variant came with out swords and was awarded for meritoriuos service behind the lines and could also be given to civilians.
The War Merit Cross was bronze plated and constructed from a wide range of metals including zinc. Later war variants were made with inferior materials and tend to lose their bronze wash over time. The ribbon of the War Merit Cross is red-white-black-white-red, the red and black being the reverse of the ribbon of the WW2 Iron Cross.

WW2 Army Air Corp

Army Air Corps Cap Badge

In 1942 prime minister Winston Churchill announced the establishment of the Army Air Corp, which was to be a new  branch of army aviation. The corps initially comprised of the Glider Pilot regiment and the Parachute Battalions (later the Parachute Regiment). One of the most successful missions of the AAC was the Operation Deadstick the attack on Pegasus Bridge on 6 june 1944 prior to Normandy landings.
The AAC badge as seen above is of white metal. It has two lugs to the rear. The originals like the one above have a flange that runs along the top of the eagles head, the restikes don't. Also this badge is very rigid as expected from all original badges.

5th Don Cossack Badge

5th Don Cossack Badge

The 5th Don Cossack were the first complete Russian unit to fight for the Germans in World War 2. Comanded by Oberstleutnant Ivan Kononov. The badge was awarded for membership and service.

The badge consists of a Cossack cross with two crossed swords and a dark blue and red shield,for the 5th Don Cossack. On  top is the  numeral 5 to donate the 5th Don Cossack regiment. The date the unit was formed at the bottom and the name of the commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kononov, across. Made from aluminium and with a steel pin to the reverse. The edges are slightly vaulted. Now considered to be a rare badge. Click to view 5th Don Cossack Badge