A couple of Polish pieces.

[GregK]

The Man Himself.

Last but not least...the man himself. I have more from my maternal grandparents. I'll have to post those another time.

Bye for now.

[BadBob]

What are the Polish medals BTW?

[BadBob]

A remarkable family collection Greg. And so more rare than the German stuff we chase. Again I'm impressed by the badge designs.

[J Howland]

I know that these badges were made by S.A. Picchiani & Barlacchi, Firenze but this one has a nut on it from F.M. Lorioli , Milano - Roma. Probably changed out at some point after having lost the original. Who knows?

The "F.M. Lorioli , Milano - Roma" marking on the nut is the best thing to find on the back of Polish Second Corps unit badges worn in Italy at the end of WW II. It might be best to avoid badges with nuts that lack the manufacturer's name; one should definitely avoid WW II Italian campaign badges maked with the names of Polish manufacturers or cities - they are almost guaranteed to have been made in the 1970's or later and are frequently not made in the same size as the originals. At all costs, avoid Polish Italian campaign badges that have nuts with little circles pierced and turned up like mickey mouse ears. The nut, by the way, on an original badge should turn smoothly w/o resistance.

[GregK]

Short answer.

Rob,

I know that you know what "ours" are but I'll list them off left to right.
Cross of Merit w/Swords, Army Medal, Monte Cassino Cross, '39-'45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star.

J Howland,

I know that Lorioli was a prominent maker of these badges but everything I have read states that they didn't make these. That lead me to believe that someone had replaced the nut at sometime. Panasuik marked pieces are the ones to run away from. Last I heard they were still punching awards out at an alarming rate.

[GregK]

Matrenal Grandparents.

Hello all,

Here's the medals from my maternal grandparents as promised. First shot is of the three as a group.

[GregK]

Cross of Merit 3rd Class

.

[GregK]

Partisan Cross

.

[GregK]

Medal of Participation in the War of Defense

.

[GregK]

That's about it.

Well that's about it. I have another piece inbound from Poland. I promise to post it whan it gets here.

Thanks,
Greg

[J Howland]

Rob,

I know that you know what "ours" are but I'll list them off left to right.
Cross of Merit w/Swords, Army Medal, Monte Cassino Cross, '39-'45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star.

J Howland,

I know that Lorioli was a prominent maker of these badges but everything I have read states that they didn't make these. That lead me to believe that someone had replaced the nut at sometime. Panasuik marked pieces are the ones to run away from. Last I heard they were still punching awards out at an alarming rate.

The perils of writing too quickly on a topic that you haven't thought about for years! I just looked at a 5th KPD divisional badge in my collection and its Lorioli nut is much bigger than the one in your pix-roughly the size of a nickel. The nut on the back of your badge is closer to ones I've seen on the mini-badges ("collar dogs") that Lorioli made for various Polish units... For the record, there is a guy the Polish city of Torun making copies of Italian campain badges. I know because I saw one his copies at a show, thought it said "Turin" and bought it by mistake. I don't think that he rivals Panasiuk for sheer quantity, but he does seem to make a number of Government in Exile Italian campaign badges. I've seen badges for troops based in Scotland that match the photos in reference books but are quite different in size when compared to originals.

[Dawes]

Scots made one...

Here's a Scots made one (in Glasgow 1940 if I remember correctly)...

[GregK]

Nice one.

Dawes,

Great piece you have there. Just to let you know (in case you didn't) it's for the 2nd Rifle Battalion (2nd Grenadier). It was made by Lawrie and Co. in Glasgow. Nice to see with a piece of tartan still attached.

Cheers,
Greg