Author Topic: WW2 Cap badge identification  (Read 1111 times)

Offline salt

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WW2 Cap badge identification
« on: Thursday 20 May 21 11:47 BST (UK) »
I'd be grateful if someone could identify the cap badges on this group of 3 unidentified WW2 soldiers.

Thanks, Salt
BRE: Price, Williams
CMN: Lewis, Smith, Coslet, Morris
GLA: Glasbrook, Lewis (of Gorseinon)
GLS: Wooles, Phelps, Beard, Broadstock, Burgum, Prothero
HUN: Bird, Chester, Dunmore, King, Read
MON: Wooles
ERY: Smith, Bell, Woolf, Sutton
USA (Utah): Read (Smithfield), Lewis (Goshen); Kansas: Lewis
AUST (Victoria): Lewis

Offline Ruskie

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 20 May 21 14:17 BST (UK) »
A couple of suggestions:

Middlesex Regiment:
https://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/products/middlesex-regiment-bronze-officers-cap-badge.html

The crown might be too large on the East Lancashire Regt GVIR badge but the shape looks similar to the ones in your photo:
https://www.mycollectors.co.uk/Image-Viewer.aspx?ProductID=1113

Suffolk Regiment looks similar too:
https://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/products/ww2-suffolk-regiment-cap-badge-7.html

Offline MaecW

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 29 May 21 02:19 BST (UK) »
I'm not sure these are British troops or, if so, that the period is WW2.
The tunics with pleated pockets and shiny buttons, the leather belts, and the thin cross-strap on the revolver holster don't look right to me for the period, not does the small "purse" (ammunition pouch?) on the belt with the revolver.
Happy to be corrected by our resident experts, but I wonder if these are pre-war uniforms, or possibly, Allied troops ? Polish comes to mind but I am not sure why !  :)

Maec
Baron (of Blackburn), Chadwick (Oswaldtwistle), Watkins (Swansea), Jones (x3 Swansea), Colton (Shropshire), Knight (Shropshire/Montgomery) , Bullen (Norfolk), White (Dorset)

Offline Ruskie

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 29 May 21 08:52 BST (UK) »
You might be onto something there Maec.

 As an aside, I think the chap on the left looks Eastern European.  ;)


Offline ShaunJ

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 29 May 21 09:35 BST (UK) »
I am thinking possibly Irish Army.
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Offline cliffkinch

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #5 on: Friday 04 June 21 17:16 BST (UK) »
Greek maybe?
South Shields, London - Stobbs, Winfield
Banham - Limmer
Wilts, S.Wales - Comley
Oxfordshire - Kinch, Gomm, Probbitts

Offline MaecW

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #6 on: Friday 04 June 21 23:21 BST (UK) »
Agreed.

From Wikipedia it seems in 1908 the Greek Army adopted a new uniform, including a near-copy of the British four-pocket tunic of the time, in olive green wool cloth or serge. The previous black equipment was also replaced by a natural-brown leather set. This pattern for other ranks in khaki wool remained virtually unchanged and was the uniform issued en masse to the troops that were deployed in the Greco-Italian War of 1940 and the brief Battle of Greece.  In 1938 a new pattern of forage cap was also introduced which was similar to the contemporary British, but with the Greek royal cockade in metal.
That description seems to fit the men in the picture.

Maec
Baron (of Blackburn), Chadwick (Oswaldtwistle), Watkins (Swansea), Jones (x3 Swansea), Colton (Shropshire), Knight (Shropshire/Montgomery) , Bullen (Norfolk), White (Dorset)

Offline Viktoria

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Re: WW2 Cap badge identification
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 05 June 21 14:44 BST (UK) »
To me the trousers look to be black,or a very dark colour.
The seams just above the breast pockets, ?
Just something about the whole uniform seems just a tad off British.
Again willing to be corrected.
Viktoria.