My mixed bag collection (mostly British for a change)

[tubist73]

And a couple of shots showing the famous flash at the back of the collar. In this case it is not removable (a little strange on a tropical tunic with removable buttons) and is stitched all the way under the collar.

Matthew

[Bond]

You have some nice Welsh items there, Jerry. I like the printed Welsh Division patch with Royal Signals arm of service stripe. I haven't seen one like that before. I know that most collectors tend to go with a theme and I have a weakness for certain Welsh items, just because of my birth certificate!

Here is a Captain's RWF khaki drill jacket. Unfortunately, it is not named and only the bottom row of medal ribbons were attached. Given the Mons star and a tropical uniform, maybe it would be possible to narrow down some potential names? I'm assuming it would be from the 1st or 2nd battalion who served in India, Burma etc.

I don't have an officer's cap badge for the RWF yet, so I had to throw on an OR badge temporarily.

Matthew

Matthew.

I have alot more including uniforms from the RWF with the flash on them, all named with in a few cases well known history, including one from a major who served with 4/RWF and then with 2/RWF in the far east.

I have one up on you then as I have a few RWF officers OSD cap badges from both wars and the RWF officers sidecap I showed was made in India in 1937/8 for an officer with 2/RWF. I also have a named Colonels forage/dress cap to the RWF and his mess jacket and the flag of one of the companies he commanded.

That tropical KD tuinic with the flash is superb, a shame its not named. There would have been too many Captains to narrow down to whom it belonged I think.

[tubist73]

Jerry, it sounds like you are well up on me with Welsh items. But then you have an unfair advantage, living right in the middle of things! I must admit, trying to follow themes as a collector, especially when living abroad, can be challenging and expensive at times. I suppose it all adds to the fun.

Another area I collect is items from the Guards Armoured, as my grandfather served with them in the RAMC from Normandy onwards. Here is a battledress blouse belonging to a Royal Artillery Sgt. in the division.

Matthew

[tubist73]

The blouse and trousers are both dated 1944. Printed RA titles but the rest are all embroidered, including the cannon insignia.

[tubist73]

A quick update with a setup for a RAMC officer in North Africa, around the time of the Western Desert Force and the creation of the 8th Army. All items are dated 1941 or earlier. The webbing belonged to a Captain in the RAMC and most items are named.

[tubist73]

An original RAMC officer's SD cap (not named) with bronze badge still firmly attached. And the final shot is some typical footwear used in North Africa and Italy - hose tops and ankle gaiters. All held in place over two whisky tubes - pretty handy solution without a full mannequin! Although it does sometimes remind me of the invisible man......

[Arthur Kullmer]

What a brilliant varied collection & as said previously took a lot of time money & effort to find all the correct pieces, worthy of its own museum, I will be using them as a reference point for any future ones I collect, thanks for showing them all.

[paddywhack]

And now another named RAMC uniform but this time from the Great War. This SD jacket and cap belonged to a Captain who joined up in his 50s, moving from his job as a GP to help the war effort. Although he was in the RAMC he was initially attached to the Royal Bucks Hussars in the UK.

The uniform also came with his large kit bag, spurs, medical tools and a couple of pictures. Everything was held by the family for many years and so is all in excellent condition.

Could you post his name as I collect RAMC and might be able to find more info on hin!

[tubist73]

Thank you for the comments again. It's nice to hear that others find this field interesting as well.

Paddywhack - I'm sending you a pm with what details I have to the RAMC officer. I have the usual basic details, partly from his family and partly from my own research, but if you could find out any more information that would be great. If you specialise in the RAMC you might have other avenues to investigate.

Matthew

[tubist73]

And another quick update of an early-war British officer. The weather hasn't been too helpful lately for pictures in natural light.

Here is a Royal Artillery 2nd Lt. in the 2nd Infantry Division, recently returned from Dunkirk. He has the early model of battledress, with higher pockets, metal wire buckle and no button on the trouser dressing pocket. He is now wearing the newly introduced arm-of-service stripes on each shoulder. This uniform came together from the same officer, both items in very large sizes, and is in excellent worn condition. Most of the brass buttons are still intact as well as the tabs on the bottom of the trousers.

Matthew

[tubist73]

The Mk II helmet has an original 2nd ID flash on one side and a green camouflage pattern roughly applied over the top. The green blancoed webbing set is all dated 1938 - 1940, although not all from the same source. There is a nice first pattern binocular case without the side buckles, dated 1938.

[Lewis Bunker]

Would make for a great photo to see them all together.

Guess you don't have enough stands.

Great collection though!

[tubist73]

Thanks Lewis. Yes, it would be nice to set up a group display but, as you guessed, it's not very easy with limited space and mannequins. Apart from everything else, each uniform is a different size and needs to use a specific body. I think most collectors who have permanent displays build their items around a particular mannequin then leave it all together. I have to pack everything up each time, back into boxex and cupboards!

Here is a representation of a Cpl. in a Beach Recovery Section, from D-Day onwards. The blouse is NZ-made and belonged to a REME artificer. It came with a small photo of the owner and a couple of medal ribbons. Everything else is added for this display. The trousers are also New Zealand issue - almost identical to the early-war British battledress (except the buttons).

Matthew

[tubist73]

I have tried to show things as they might have looked during a hard day's work. The full webbing set has been ditched, apart from the water canteen, and the blouse is being worn open. This gives a view of the standard undershirt and a 1903 Pattern leather belt (dated 1939) that was often worn through the belt loops. Also note the large pocket knife (also 1939) worn around the waist on a string.

The helmet is a combination of an original 1943 shell with beach group stripe and a 1939 dated liner. The two have been together a very long time, almost welded together inside by light rust, dirt and general dust. Looking at the colour of the chin strap this helmet was heavily used.

[tubist73]

And finally a couple of shots of the tunic insignia. Original REME shoulder titles, a brass artificer's badge on the right sleeve (backed inside with thick cardboard) and, on the left, a cloh marksmanship badge and what looks to be a homemade brass wound stripe. Possibly made using the skills of a REME artificer?