Hi guys. What do you think about this FSSF patch. Is it an original, or a post war made one? I know nothing at all about these, so...
I have no view of the back for now.
JL
I have no view of the back for now.
JL
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<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Appears to be the Italian-made version. The reverse should be very white. Nice patch.
Kurt
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OK, thanks. Any other opinions. This patch was sent to me recently by a FSSF vet, and this is what he said about it:
"Hi Jean - Loup:
I was so glad to hear that the letter arrived safely, I was starting to worry that maybe it had got lost annd that patch can not be replaced. That is the patch that I wore in Italy and France. It is one of the last batch of those patches to be made. They are very rare as the wewe the only ones to be made in Italy in 1944."
He sent me the patch after I sent him information about the mass grave of German soldiers killed by the FSSF that I discovered in southern France. I was afraid he may have confused his original patch with a copy given out at a reunion after the war.
He sent the patch to France, and I am in Croatia, so havent seen it with my own eyes yet. It looks to me like it is mint, but I dont collect badges, so am not used to judging this.
Does it look worn to you guys, as the vet claims that he wore it in Italy and France, but I dont know if he means this particular patch, or this model. I much perfer worn items myself, so hope it is worn...
The funniest thing is, it turns out the vet lives in the same small town as one of my mothers cousins; and in fact it turned out that my mother was a councelor for the vets daugther for a summer camp in the late 60's, and my mother remembered the vets daughters name, and vice versa, although they were only in camp for one week! Its a very small world!Last edited by Jean-Loup; 02-26-2007, 09:42 AM.Comment
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<TT> Here is some more information about the vet. I took out his name and caracteristic</TT></PRE>
<TT> info for obvious reasons:</TT></PRE>
<TT> "When I joined the Force Iwas in 1st Company 3rd Regt and took all my training there, I then took acourse as a radio operator and when I completed that I was transferred toHeadquarter Detachment but that didn't mean we were behind the front lines,to the contrary we were up in the thick of things all the time. The othertroops liked to stay away from us radio operators because when we weretransmitting the enemy would pick up our signal and zero in on our positionwith Mortar and Artillirary fire.When we landed in Southern France the objective of the 3rd Regt was tofollow the coast line to the east till we reached the Italian border. Whenwe reached the border we set up our headquarters in Menton and stayed theretill early December 1944 when the decision was made to disband the Force. Wewere moved back to Villeneuve Loubet and that is the first time I saw thetown. It was there on December 5th 1944 where the official break up tookplace, we were formed up on parade when the command came "Canadian Fall Out"and everybody looked around to see who was falling out because we didn'tlook at one another as Canadian or American, we were North Americans. A verystrong bond was formed among the member and that bond still exists today.After the war we formed the First Special Service Force Association so wecould keep in touch and we still have a reunion every year, it is held inCanada one year and the U.S. next and it is held in a city anywhere from theeast coast to the west coast that way it gives everyone a chance to get to areunion without having to travel too far as the members came from everystate in the U.S. and every Province in Canada although the distance doesn'tbother us too much now that we are all retired and we make it our annualholiday, it is one big family reunion now as it includes children andgrandchildren so you can see how the bond that existed in the Force stillexists.I'm sorry I can't give you anymore details about the activities of the Forceat Villeneuve Loubet but it was the 2nd Regt that went through there and Iwas in a different sector and only got there when the unit disbanded. Iwould like to hear something about yourself, I gather you must havesomething to do with peace keeping as you are in Croatia at the presenttime. Hoping to hear from you again soon.Sinceely"</TT></PRE><!-- toctype = X-unknown --><!-- toctype = text --><!-- text -->Comment
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One last thing, by curiosity only, as I will not sell this of course. How much is a patch like this worth?Comment
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Jean-Loup,
The patch is exactly as the veteran stated. It is Italian made and 100% original. If I were looking to sell one of these patches, I would be looking for around $300 for it.
The fact that yours was given to you AND attributed makes it priceless in my eyes.
AllanComment
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And it is priceless in my eyes as well. But do you think it looks like it was worn on a combat uniform for several month like he says? I will ask my mother back in France to send me a scan of the back.
This is my first FSSF specific item, and I am very happy to have it. It was rather frusterating to have nothing from them after the research I have done into their role in France, especialy when I live in the village that they were deactivated in.
JLComment
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Jean-Loup
I completely agree with Allan, the patch is an original Italian made version of the FSSF patch, the value stated is also in the approximate range if it was offered for sale on Ebay. Considering the circumstances in which you attained it I wouldn't think you would ever want to sell it, it should be one of the center pieces of your FSSF collection.
GerryComment
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Italian Patch
Hi Jean Loup
This is def Italian made and is actually the patch being worn by Andrew Dutchyshin in my book on page 234. I had three of these at one time and I could not get more than 180-240$ Cdn for them. I sold two on e-bay. I still have a couple from vets. They are not rare. There is a misunderstanding about these. They were purchased in Naples and meant as a filler until US made examples could arrive. They were poorly made and the dye was weak causing the red to bleed into the white lettering. So when the US types arrived, they stopped giving these out. The original Force Association President had bags full of these and gave them out at reunions after the war. I know this because several vets told me. I know one vets son that had a dozen of them. They are made in different sizes and some look like US made types in photos because they are taller than the stubby one you have. Regardless, they were worn in Italy and Southern France. Replacements in June after Rome got them first then they were available to all. I still think the orginal US types are rarer because they rarely come up for sale. The stuff on e-bay is mostly late -war or post war made patches. In this case you are guarenteed it was made during the war. Whether the vet wore it or not? Looks like another unused exmaple. Still it belonged to him and its a part of their history.
Regards Ken
Originally posted by Jean-Loup View PostComment
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Hi Ken
I didnt see your answer untill know. Here is a view of the back of the badge. It indeed looks unworn, though there are some loose threads, but I cant see if these are from the badge contruction, or if they are from having been sewn to a uniform... To bad it looks unworn, as I infinitly perfer used items...
Can someone post a similar badge for comparison? My main question is still if it looks like it was ever worn or not.
JLComment
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To bad it looks unworn ???Originally posted by Jean-Loup View Post
Don't be sad, an original patch as a gift from the vet who wore these patches is more than someone could wish for.
Great Patch, and Jean, you deserve it !!
Regards,
StephanComment
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Hi Jean-Loup,...Here is another one
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Thanks for posting. Yours also has the threads, and yet looks unworn, so I guess mine is also unworn. (remember I havent held it in hand yet, I can only see the two scans my mother sent me, like you guys.)
Oh well, too bad, but I will be keeping this present preciously anyhow.
JLComment
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I am back at home for easter, so got to see the patch in person. Here is how I am displaying it, between two pieces of glass, and out of direct sunlight. Do you think that is a safe way to display it?Comment
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