1st Can Para Beret

[Infanteer]

Received the name Hockin from the seller today and found this info online... Private Douglas F. Hockin (#H18487) died in 1993. This info came from some fellow forum members (thank you very much!): He did his jump course in Shilo in 44 and was promoted to Sergeant at some point. Served with B company, 5 platoon in Belgium, Holland and Germany. I also was quite pleased to find a photo of Private D.F. Hockin in the National Archives. He is the second man from the left.

[Infanteer]

Hey guys, well, after having this tunic for a few months now I think I may see if I can find some insignia to replace what was removed. Any thoughts on whether this would be a good / bad / indifferent idea? Regardless, it would be nice to have an original set of insignia to display with the tunic even if I don't sew them on. So the problem is (of course) finding some good insignia. Does anyone have any spare 1CPB shoulder titles or Pegasus patches?

[JEROEN1944]

Dont sew any on it, leave it like it is. When you restore it, it wil always been a "messed with" tunic. If you know what i mean. But thats only my humble opinion.

Jeroen

[Infanteer]

Hmmm, lots of people have been telling me the same thing. So I guess I am looking for insignia to display along side the tunic so that people can see what is missing.

[Mons 1914]

I'm with Jeroen on this, if you add insignia to this blouse it won't have the same appearance/condition/wear as the others...


Scott

[Infanteer]

I understand the points brought up, but my intention was only to add the insignia temporarily so that it would display better and remove it again if I ever part with the tunic. Of course this was all to be for my benefit but displaying the insignia in a frame next to the tunic would be an acceptable alternative. Of course this is all just empty talk if I can't even find some insignia to start with.

[1stcanpara]

A nice, minty canvas shoulder title just sold on ebay for $530 US. It would be very, very difficult for you to find a matched pair of these titles and it would cost you an arm and a leg as well. If you could find a single title, it would look great in a display case and not mess with the integrity of the BD. It would also save you a few bucks...

Gary

I understand the points brought up, but my intention was only to add the insignia temporarily so that it would display better and remove it again if I ever part with the tunic. Of course this was all to be for my benefit but displaying the insignia in a frame next to the tunic would be an acceptable alternative. Of course this is all just empty talk if I can't even find some insignia to start with.

[Infanteer]

I was watching that shoulder title and was shocked at the final price. A slightly used (and more desireable title IMO) sold today for a little over $400. Wow! But I don't believe that Ebay is a true reflection of the collector's market. The prices that pieces sell for is just simply way too inconsistent to use it as a means of determining current value for any particular item. I mean I picked up a great brass 1CPB cap badge on ebay for $50... and I know they are valued much more than that. A couple of weeks later another brass badge sold for something like $450.... more than what it would have sold for at a militaria show or shop somewhere. But I shall keep searching for some good insignia and make up a nice frame.

[1stcanpara]

This past winter I sold a matched pair of canvas shoulder titles to the Battalion for just over $1000 CAD, for a matched pair, you can name your price becuase they are very rarely offered for sale. ebay can certainly be funny. A couple of months ago there was a double layer Canadian made Battalion shoulder title up there with an opening bid of $250 with no reserve and no one bought it. The next week there was a similar patch up there in worse condition and it went for over $300. It's very hard to predict, but good stuff will always fetch top dollar if it's in the right category.

Good luck with your search...

Gary

I was watching that shoulder title and was shocked at the final price. A slightly used (and more desireable title IMO) sold today for a little over $400. Wow! But I don't believe that Ebay is a true reflection of the collector's market. The prices that pieces sell for is just simply way too inconsistent to use it as a means of determining current value for any particular item. I mean I picked up a great brass 1CPB cap badge on ebay for $50... and I know they are valued much more than that. A couple of weeks later another brass badge sold for something like $450.... more than what it would have sold for at a militaria show or shop somewhere. But I shall keep searching for some good insignia and make up a nice frame.