Hi All, Saturday I picked up a auction lot which was entered by a veterans son. KENNETH. G. GIBBONS. Who served with the 190 field regiment royal artillery 15th Scottish. And D battery royal horse artillery 7th armoured division. A nice lot with BD’s, Medal’s, Badges, Book’s, Scrap book and a few nice bring backs. I have no clue on the fez type hat any idea’s please. Also which is the best way to store the battle dress. Many Thanks Andy.
Not a direct answer to your question but I always find it quite sad when immediate family dispose of such items; it's denied a grandchild (?) of part of their family's legacy but then, such is life. Incidentally I like the Rosenthal Fire Police arm badge. I guess some of the other items were also gathered along the way such as the 50th Northumbrian Division badges and some look quite new. Nice little collection though.
Certainly a shame when a family dispose of such items, I don’t know much about the police badge, I am slowly trying to research my find all the small items were in a very old box the ss book and cloth patches are in V.G.C also the chain which I think would have been for a political leaders gorget. The BD’s are 1943 and also I like the uncut Desert rat patch’s and the France book, I am certainly pleased with this find.
I have no clue on the fez type hat any idea’s please. Many Thanks Andy. Andy It's a 'Boy's Brigade' pill box hat from the 50's + 60's, should have a silver Battalion No. cap badge on the front. A bast--d to Blanco up & a horrible thing to wear 3 evenings a week,& on parade in the 60's Best Rob
Thanks Rob, It’s great to learn something new each day, I was getting all sorts of guesses from friends.
Good pick up of a lot of stuff. A shame the family did not want it, but we would not be able to buy it if they all kept it. The BD with the "Rats" is very nice to see.
Hi Jerry, Certainly a shame they don’t keep such items in the family but there maybe a good reason. I was told the son was elderly and took them to the auction thinking there was very little value. It looks like all the small items were in the same box since 1945, did you notice the pair of uncut Jerboa’s I have never seen a uncut pair before, I also liked some of his bring backs the ss item’s and the political leaders chain. My Dad just brought home a flag and a few spanners.
As you say,many reasons why these items get sold. I also have never seen an uncut pair of "rats", very cool items and the insitu pair on the BD is also very nice and not so often seen on a wartime BD. I have a 46 pattern with it's original "rats" on it and they are the wartime pattern, which is always nice to see. They appear to be original to it, though look more worn than the BD and I assume he kept them from the war and put them on his post war BD before the Div was disbanded in 48 (and before it was resurrected in 50). Jerry
Hi Jerry, I only have some of his paperwork it looks like he went from the 15th Scottish to the 7th Armoured in 1945, the only thing I have to go on is a xmas card in his scrap book to mum & dad love Ken , there is a picture in the card of a row of gun’s with “Five Minutes to Go “ Victory Salute-Berlin. The BD’s are 1940 pattern made by ULMANS (wyke) LTD 1942. I have seen Desert Rat BD's make silly money the estimate of this lot was £800 to £1200 + 15% far to much for me so I just left a bid for £520 it was the only bid am I missing something ?. I have just noticed he has signed his book Desert Rats a short History December 1945 to August 1946
A good price these days IMHO. Maybe because he was arty and not tankers kept the price down and also money is tight for many these days. Are the BD trousers 40 pattern, and do they still have a label on them or do they have the WD arrow with a letter code? They go for anywhere between £150-250 these days, depends on the label and the date/condition, but they look in good condition. The SS cap skull and eagle might be worth what you paid for the lot on their own if they are original, I can't tell from these pics and I am not an expert on SS items. You might be advised to take some good high res pics of the German items and post them somewhere where "experts" can respond. PM for ideas on that if you want.
The two round wheel flashes were from North West District until NWD was disolved by the fact that the only unit left is Fulwood barracks Preston and HQ TA North West. The side cap has an RA badge but is also the colour of the RAMC side cap.
Very impressive collection , Thanks James, I thought it was a nice genuine lot at another local auction rubbish was making silly money, I can not believe no one else bid on this lot. I bet our Veterans think we are mad for what we spend on this stuff.
