Adlermilitaria - Top
Display your banner here
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Ex SOE members badges

Article about: Hello, at last a forum wherin there might be some answers! A good family friend has his fathers badges, medals and photo albums. His Father passed around 10 years ago and it seems said littl

  1. #1
    ?

    Default Ex SOE members badges

    Hello, at last a forum wherin there might be some answers!

    A good family friend has his fathers badges, medals and photo albums. His Father passed around 10 years ago and it seems said little about his wartime career-there is however photo evidence of him in the 8th Army and El Alamein. Some things he also mentioned were SOE and Arnhem. All seems very coherent and correct as I'll detail.

    The photo albums are fantastic-the wartime albums are only of the desert campaign and include loads with German and Italian tanks and aircraft. Unfortunately there are none of his later war service. The postwar shots clearly show his battledress and on his right shoulder is title Royal Engineers, SAS para wings and then Direct Reporting to War Office formation badge. He is seen defusing bombs across several locations including Hampton Court Palace, Hull and in Channel Islands. He got the MBE for all this work. In the collection are disarmed fuses -I presume one of these is from a Herman as he did defuse a few of these (one at Hampton Court). He even had the odd TV appearence in the 50s!

    Medal ribbon-there are 2 of these-full size and miniature. Ribbons include MBE (awarded postwar for his work in bomb disposal), MM awarded for something he did wartime, Desert campaign (8th Army) and the other usual ribbons you would expect.

    Extant medeals- the MM and MBE

    Extant badges-this is where it gets VERY interesting. I can't provide photos as the badges aren't mine. Hopefully a description will suffice.

    Badge 1- very small, thin brass/bronze-looks almost like it was made by a craftsman. The badge features a dagger with the knuckle duster-I'm thinking ME Commando?

    Badge 2- uppointing sword, surrounded by a wreath. Badge is again very thin brass sheet. I thought it might be Greek Sacred Squadron?

    Anyone any thoughts on whether its likely that these are the badges as I'm thinking, any idea on rarity and insurance? The owner is thinking of their long term future and we're thinking of a suitable museum but we'd like to get some research done first so that there's a full story to tell and then it doesn't just get pushed into some drawer and forgotten.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Ex SOE members badges

    Pictures of the badges would help, afterall if you can describe them then why ncannot you post pictures. The Greek sacred sqn. badge is a heavy solid badge. It would appear from your post that this man was in the Royal Engineers, on bomb disposal. How this would tye in with operating with the SOE is very strange. John.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Ex SOE members badges

    Andy I agree with John in that it would be good if you can upload some photos of said badges, medals, photo album, and fuzes.

    Regards to all, Simon.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Ex SOE members badges

    im guessing by the description of the first badge its one of these

    ps....sorry about the awefull pic
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture Ex SOE members badges  

  5. #5
    ?

    Default Re: Ex SOE members badges

    Yes thats the first badge Lee, thanks. I'll have to get permission to get some photos done.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Ex SOE members badges

    Quote by AndyT View Post
    Anyone any thoughts on whether its likely that these are the badges as I'm thinking, any idea on rarity and insurance? The owner is thinking of their long term future and we're thinking of a suitable museum but we'd like to get some research done first so that there's a full story to tell and then it doesn't just get pushed into some drawer and forgotten.
    Speaking as someone who used to help run a Regimental Museum, seeing loads of Badged BD's in racks, Drawers full of Capbadges etc being forgotten. I wouldn't donate anything to any museum unless your relative had at least Major General Rank or was a famed Regimental personality. Your lovely family heirlooms would be cataloged, numbered then put in storage with countless other similar albums, uniforms, flags, files, and insignia. Of which 95% is never seen by anyone let alone the public. The thought of a nice little window display in the Regimental museum / Imperial War Museum showing the varied strange career of Lt.Col Family-Friend MBE RE is a nice thought but it wont happen. Keep it in the Family or if you really must due to family fighting, sell them to a collector who'll cherish them and use the money on a project close to the Mans heart ...

Similar Threads

  1. Polish Regimental Badges WW2

    In Polish Armed Forces in the West (Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie) 1939-1947
    08-13-2023, 06:54 PM
  2. Types of SA-Sportabzeichen

    In Orders & Decorations of the Third Reich
    11-09-2022, 12:59 PM
  3. 03-27-2022, 06:06 PM
  4. DRL, DRA Sports badges.

    In Orders & Decorations of the Third Reich
    05-11-2020, 06:14 PM
  5. Air Raid Precautions membership badges

    In Insignia, Flags and regalia
    03-20-2015, 11:10 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Lakesidetrader - Down
Display your banner here