Hi all!
I have been having a pair of locally made, "Indian pattern" wings in my collection for some years now and I have been wondering if they could have been made in North Africa or Italy, rather than in the Far East.
Up to date, I had just seen two such examples, on an ex-Sacred Band officer's BD blouse, owned by a Greek dealer and fellow collector and a portrait of the first para-trained Greek, Themis Marinos.
Some days ago I found out some photos of the first para-trained woman of the Greek Royal Army Middle East, Sonia-Sophia Stefanidou and her uniform, which is on display in the War Museum of Athens.
All of them seem to have quite a similar appearance and my question is if these are "just" a Greek "adaptation" of the Indian pattern or if there are any such examples of locally made wings which have a confirmed connection to the N. Africa, Italy or Mediterranean theatres and have been period used by the British or other Commonwealth nations.
Best regards,
Giorgos
First, a photo of the wings. It seems that they have been sewn on a uniform at some time.
The photo of the NZ made, 1943 dated BD blouse of a Captain. The man served in the Sacred Band as a 2nd Lieutenant and later as a Captain in the 30th Inf. Brigade. The BD still has the Civil War era formation patch on the right shoulder.
A period portrait of Themis Marinos. Note the colour of the wings' background and their distinctive "arch".
Portrait of Stefanidou and photo of her uniform, bearing this "Indian pattern" patch.
I have been having a pair of locally made, "Indian pattern" wings in my collection for some years now and I have been wondering if they could have been made in North Africa or Italy, rather than in the Far East.
Up to date, I had just seen two such examples, on an ex-Sacred Band officer's BD blouse, owned by a Greek dealer and fellow collector and a portrait of the first para-trained Greek, Themis Marinos.
Some days ago I found out some photos of the first para-trained woman of the Greek Royal Army Middle East, Sonia-Sophia Stefanidou and her uniform, which is on display in the War Museum of Athens.
All of them seem to have quite a similar appearance and my question is if these are "just" a Greek "adaptation" of the Indian pattern or if there are any such examples of locally made wings which have a confirmed connection to the N. Africa, Italy or Mediterranean theatres and have been period used by the British or other Commonwealth nations.
Best regards,
Giorgos
First, a photo of the wings. It seems that they have been sewn on a uniform at some time.
The photo of the NZ made, 1943 dated BD blouse of a Captain. The man served in the Sacred Band as a 2nd Lieutenant and later as a Captain in the 30th Inf. Brigade. The BD still has the Civil War era formation patch on the right shoulder.
A period portrait of Themis Marinos. Note the colour of the wings' background and their distinctive "arch".
Portrait of Stefanidou and photo of her uniform, bearing this "Indian pattern" patch.
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