Hate Belt

[Ralph A]

How do you like my Hate Belt?

I believe as many of you do that this is a misnomer. "Souvenir Belt" would be a better description.

[Ralph A]

What German...

...would have had motivation, opportunity and time to collect all this from bodies and prisoner-of-war cages? No, I believe an Allied soldier traded cap and rank badges, buttons and insignia amongst his mates from the Dominions, etc. - and one Yank and a couple "Poilu's" - as you will see.

But it may not even be original to the period - does anyone see anything badly out of place i.e. WWI and II mixed?

I welcome your comments.

[Ralph A]

The closeups.

I would especially like to know a little about the belt, if possible.

Nationality?

It is exactly 50mm in width.

[Ralph A]

More...

"Original" or not, it is quite beautiful, I think.

[Ralph A]

Yet more...

In the post above you find the French pieces. In the next you will see the U.S. piece. For now, enjoy this segment with the NZ-Pioneer badge. Awesome!

[Ralph A]

Redux

This bad bad boy deserves a closer look. Magnificent.

Gaze upon and admire same, gents.

[Ralph A]

Last segment.

Is that last piece collar insignia?

There is a subtle balance to the belt, in the way its component pieces are stitched to it (with one exception it's in a 1-5-1-5... etc. badge-to-button format), and in the general motif of said components, how they are grouped, and in other things.

Whoever pieced it together had the soul of an artist and an eye for what works with what. I'll bet there are other subtleties, that I cannot discern.

[Craigob]

Thats a nice "hate" belt Ralph, I had one a few years ago and was a mix of both german and american/brit buttons and badges. - I see more allies Items on your belt and a couple of german buttons

C.

[Ralph A]

Finally,

...a peek at the back. Obviously it was put together all at one time. Whoever made it collected the pieces and then stitched them to the belt in one sitting.

The extra slashes in the leather are a mystery to me, as are the button-shaped impressions - but it certainly looks like it was put together on this side at one time.

Real to period or fantasy? You decide for yourself. Either way, it's a great collection of some old accoutrements, that displays nicely.

Thanks for looking. Comments welcome.

[Tony Farrell]

I don't know about a 'hate' belt, but most kids put this sort of ensemble together during the war years - what with the influx of foreign & Commonwealth troops. I've heard for several people that they possessed such items that they'd collected as children.

[ROBB]

Looks like a nice WW1 hate belt. I have had a few and sold them all ,but they are very attractive pieces ,I love that NZ pioneer badge .Rob.

[SHEARING-CROSS]

HIYA ,i have not heard the term " hate belt " before ,can you tell me the meaning please ?
thanks Michael.

[Adam H]

An interesting piece...can't really comment other than to say all the Canadian insignia looks to be ticky-boo!

Cheers!

Adam

[Craigob]

Soldiers in the Great War made up trench art belts, called "hate belts" by adding buttons taken from the dead or captured, attaching to an Army issue belt.

HIYA ,i have not heard the term " hate belt " before ,can you tell me the meaning please ?
thanks Michael.

[DJT]

Nice belt, thanks for posting it Ralph I guess alot of these got dismantled over the years by badge collectors?