New British Free Corps Photograph

[Johnny R]

I would love to see pictures of those two items. I have never heard of a surviving tunic.

[oldflagswanted]

How many in BFC ???

I would love to see pictures of those two items. I have never heard of a
surviving tunic.

JR:
Was wondering how many we were talking about, found this list
as cited from a 27 March 1945 MI5 report. So not many uniforms.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Cpl. COURLANDER, RN; New Zealand Army
2) Cpl. MATON, FP; RA and Commandos,
3) COOPER, T; a civilian.
4) Sgt. MacLARDY,F; RAMC; pre-war District Secretary of BUF.
5) MINCHIN, A; Seaman POW; one of the first to join.
6) Sgt. WILSON, J; believed to entered BFC maybe under duress.
7) Pte. MARTIN, E; Canadian Army.
8) LEWIS, J; Seaman POW.
9) Pte. BRITTON, K; BUF member.
10) 'REID' - an alias, unidentified POW; Luckenwalde recruit.
11) 'DAVIS' - an alias, a Battalion Signaller; a Luckenwalde recruit
12) 'LANE','Sandy', unidentified POW; recruited at Luckenwalde
13) 'ROGERS' - an alias; picked up by Germans in Austria
14) 'FRAZER' - an alias. South African; came with 'ROGERS', linguist.
15) 'Aussie No. 1', Australian POW; recruited at SCHWERIN
16) 'Aussie No. 2', Australian POW; same as Aussie No. 1).
17) 'Aussie No. 3', Australian POW; came with 'ROGERS'.
18) 'BARKER' - an alias; Australian seaman POW
19) BERRY, K. Ships Boy POW; taken prisoner at age of 14.
20) 'CAMERON' - an alias.
21) PLEASENTS; civilian; recruited by MINCHIN.
22) LEISTER; civilian.
23) Sgt. ROSE, N; Regular soldier POW; recruited Luckenwalde.
24) 'BROWN' - an alias. Regular soldier POW.
25) 'The International Brigade Man'; identity unknown.
26) 'The New Lad'; identity unknown.
27) 'Sailor'; identity unknown.
28) 'Ukraine Joe'; identity unknown.
29) 'COWARD' from Marienbad; identity unknown.
30) Gnr. NIGHTINGALE, H; RA; joined September 1944.
31) RUSSLER, Wilhelm.
32) Lieu. SHEARER, WAW; the only Army Officer recruit.
33) SCHMETTERLING; British; origin unknown; joined voluntarily.
34) PHILLPOTTS, Joe; British; reported to have joined voluntarily.
35) 'The Corps Tailor'; nothing known about him.
36) STURMER; German; presence unexplained.
37) Pte. JACKSON, E; POW; nothing further known.
38) Pte. MILLER, W; POW; joined like No. 20 to avoid punishment.
39) Lieu. PURDY, W; RNR, POW; now seconded for radio duties.
40) Sergeant CHAPPLE, Arthur, RASC.
41) Corporal COURLANDER, RN, NZ Forces.
42) Pilot Officer FREEMAN, BRM: RAF
43) Rifleman HOSKINS, C: KRRC.
44) Sergeant HUGHES, RD: Royal Air Force.
45) Corporal MATON, FP: Commandos - as for COURLANDER above.
46) Lieutenant PURDY, W: RNR
47) Lance-Corporal SPILLMAN, R: King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC).
48) Guardsman GRIFFITHS, WH: Welch Guards.
............ OLDFLAGSWANTED ............

[oldflagswanted]

BFC Tunic ???

I would love to see pictures ...never heard of a surviving tunic.

PS/ JR:
Saw this one online, but don't know if it is a real example or not ?
............... OLDFLAGSWANTED ................

[KM-NZ]

amazing find !
Theres the good old kiwi Courlander. Well British born I believe.

Thanks for sharing !

[Beau Brummel.]

There is a uniform jacket and Soldbuch here in NZ from this unit,

Chris

Wasn't that proved to be a put together Chris? As far as I know, and I'm sure Adrian will be kind enough to correct me If I'm wrong, there are no examples of BFC uniform or Insignia extant with the possible exception of a union flag.

Many of the Uniforms and much of the Insignia which pops up were commissioned by Adrian for his documentary.


Yours, Guy.

Sorry, I meant to say, Incredible photograph Adrian!

[Basil]

Wasn't that proved to be a put together Chris? As far as I know, and I'm sure Adrian will be kind enough to correct me If I'm wrong, there are no examples of BFC uniform or Insignia extant with the possible exception of a union flag.

Many of the Uniforms and much of the Insignia which pops up were commissioned by Adrian for his documentary.


Yours, Guy.

Sorry, I meant to say, Incredible photograph Adrian!

The uniform jacket went missing in the 60s. It was probably the Feldbluse that appears in this photo, but with a runes collar patch (there's another picture of Courlander wearing it). The Soldbuch may still be sitting in Courlander's court martial papers but, as far as I'm aware, nobody has seen it in years; a Union Flag patch may be sitting there with it.

This untersturmfuehrer uniform is a 'put together' repro: nothing to do with me. We had about 20 sets of insignia made for the documentary which were given to the re-enactors who took part.

[Beau Brummel.]

The uniform jacket went missing in the 60s. It was probably the Feldbluse that appears in this photo, but with a runes collar patch (there's another picture of Courlander wearing it). The Soldbuch may still be sitting in Courlander's court martial papers but, as far as I'm aware, nobody has seen it in years; a Union Flag patch may be sitting there with it.

This untersturmfuehrer uniform is a 'put together' repro: nothing to do with me. We had about 20 sets of insignia made for the documentary which were given to the re-enactors who took part.

Thank you for the clarification. I know the tabs turn up from time to time and the finder thinks he Is off to Brazil for his dotage.

I wonder If the feldbluse will ever turn up? One has to hope that a serious collector ended up with It after It went walkies. Out of Interest how, where did It dissapper from?

Yours, Guy.

[Basil]

I wonder If the feldbluse will ever turn up? One has to hope that a serious collector ended up with It after It went walkies. Out of Interest how, where did It dissapper from?

Yours, Guy.

It disappeared from the New Zealand armed forces archives. It was loaned out for an amateur dramatic production and never came back! I have a strong suspicion that it probably wound up being dyed, re-tailored and re-badged as a Ruritanian Grand Admiral's dress uniform before ending its days on a scarecrow, or in a landfill, or something of the sort...

[Beau Brummel.]

It disappeared from the New Zealand armed forces archives. It was loaned out for an amateur dramatic production and never came back! I have a strong suspicion that it probably wound up being dyed, re-tailored and re-badged as a Ruritanian Grand Admiral's dress uniform before ending its days on a scarecrow, or in a landfill, or something of the sort...

You took the thoughts straight put of my mind. The kind of thing that could be stolen as a jape and then end up an embuggerance as it were. These things have a habit of ending their days ignobly, sad.

[Johnny R]

The uniform jacket went missing in the 60s. It was probably the Feldbluse that appears in this photo, but with a runes collar patch (there's another picture of Courlander wearing it). The Soldbuch may still be sitting in Courlander's court martial papers but, as far as I'm aware, nobody has seen it in years; a Union Flag patch may be sitting there with it.

This untersturmfuehrer uniform is a 'put together' repro: nothing to do with me. We had about 20 sets of insignia made for the documentary which were given to the re-enactors who took part.

Was the "Brits Who Fought for Hitler"?

[Basil]

This is the second Courlander pic Guy Walters found. Taken just before he was recaptured by the British in Brussels. It looks like there is the trace of a circular stamp in the top left. This picture has been seen before in a very low quality version; this, btw, is definitely the tunic lost by the NZ Archives.

[Basil]

And a better quality version of the 1st pic:

[Johnny R]

Very nice images. I am sure you were thrilled to be involved in uncovering these. NARA is a goldmine as well but the organization is dismal. I think when the War ended things were shoveled into loose subject organization groups under topic headings that are too vague to be useful.

[DaveG]

This is the second Courlander pic Guy Walters found. Taken just before he was recaptured by the British in Brussels. It looks like there is the trace of a circular stamp in the top left. This picture has been seen before in a very low quality version; this, btw, is definitely the tunic lost by the NZ Archives.

Is it the photo enhancement that makes the collar insignia look more pronounced than most of the rest of the picture or is it simply unique to the original photo? Probably just the angle but the SS tab looks to be sewn over the collar tresse. The BFC is always a fascinating topic. I bought Adrian Weale's book Renegades: Hitler's Englishmen back in 1994. Time to dust it off and read it again.

Dave

[John Pen.]

I love this place(WAF), sometimes I can learn 10+ new things in one day!! just fascinating stuff.
Jp