WW2 medals insignia and memorabilia
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:37 pm
When my brother and I were young, the war was still pretty fresh in folk's minds, and- of course, the Korean war was in progress (I only vaguely remember it ending).
It seemed that my Grandfather, and his surviving sibling, (who lost a leg in action) had no interest in the medals they received for service in WW1, in which two other brothers had been killed. There was also a certain indifference among WW2 survivors, including my Dad and his brothers (Army and RAF) towards medals, and so- we were allowed to play with the medals and other souvenirs from WW2: iron cross, inflationary 100,000 (Papiermark) Mark note; stripes, a riding crop (WW1)- and more.
Sadly, all these bits and pieces vanished over the decades. Dad died thirty years ago. The Germans failed to kill him, but the tree he and and his car encountered, down in Ayrshire- did. Had he lived longer, perhaps, like many other veterans, he would have welcomed the new appreciation that has manifested itself in recent years for the sacrifices made by servicemen- except- shamefully for Bomber crews, that is- until they'd almost all passed their expiry date. ... he might even have worn his medals.
Anyway, I though perhaps members could add pics of WW2 medals, badges and memorabilia here, as a reference source. Anyone painting tank German and Russian tank figures will need to show them sporting awards and campaign cadges, for instance. Even British troops had medal ribbons on their battledress tunics, I believe.
I've just bought replicas (from a great dealer down in Edinburgh) of the medals my Dad was issued in 1950. I also have the (genuine) cap badge of the Recce unit he and his older brother were in. The cap badge went on the black Armoured Corps berets adopted by the Reconnaissance Corps, when its regiments were integrated into the Royal Armoured Corps, during the War. The motto of these elite recce units was: 'Only the enemy in front'...for obvious reasons. They were the first to be shot at.
Do post any interesting bits you might have, and any stories attached to them. Two of the three medals were only issued to soldiers who'd seen action in a theatre of operations (i.e. Europe)
and a bit of the letter I received from the Ministry of Defence with details of the award:
It seemed that my Grandfather, and his surviving sibling, (who lost a leg in action) had no interest in the medals they received for service in WW1, in which two other brothers had been killed. There was also a certain indifference among WW2 survivors, including my Dad and his brothers (Army and RAF) towards medals, and so- we were allowed to play with the medals and other souvenirs from WW2: iron cross, inflationary 100,000 (Papiermark) Mark note; stripes, a riding crop (WW1)- and more.
Sadly, all these bits and pieces vanished over the decades. Dad died thirty years ago. The Germans failed to kill him, but the tree he and and his car encountered, down in Ayrshire- did. Had he lived longer, perhaps, like many other veterans, he would have welcomed the new appreciation that has manifested itself in recent years for the sacrifices made by servicemen- except- shamefully for Bomber crews, that is- until they'd almost all passed their expiry date. ... he might even have worn his medals.
Anyway, I though perhaps members could add pics of WW2 medals, badges and memorabilia here, as a reference source. Anyone painting tank German and Russian tank figures will need to show them sporting awards and campaign cadges, for instance. Even British troops had medal ribbons on their battledress tunics, I believe.
I've just bought replicas (from a great dealer down in Edinburgh) of the medals my Dad was issued in 1950. I also have the (genuine) cap badge of the Recce unit he and his older brother were in. The cap badge went on the black Armoured Corps berets adopted by the Reconnaissance Corps, when its regiments were integrated into the Royal Armoured Corps, during the War. The motto of these elite recce units was: 'Only the enemy in front'...for obvious reasons. They were the first to be shot at.
Do post any interesting bits you might have, and any stories attached to them. Two of the three medals were only issued to soldiers who'd seen action in a theatre of operations (i.e. Europe)
and a bit of the letter I received from the Ministry of Defence with details of the award: