WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century
Genuine WW2 Royal Tank Regiment Cap Badge. Formerly of Sapper Mumby R.E.
Royal Tank Regiment. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps. . The official regimental motto is Fear Naught; while the unofficial motto (signified also by the colours of the tactical recognition flash) is “From Mud, Through Blood to the Green Fields Beyond.” The formation of the Royal Tank Regiment followed the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. At that time the six tank companies were grouped as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions (still identified by the letters A to H) and designated the Heavy Branch MGC; another seven battalions, I to O, were formed by January 1918, when all the battalion were changed to numbered units. On 28 July 1917 the Heavy Branch was separated from the rest of the Corps by Royal Warrant and given official status as the Tank Corps. The formation of new battalions continued and by December 1918, 26 had been created though there were only 25 battalions equipped with tanks, as the 17th had converted to armoured cars in April 1918. The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles. The Corps saw much action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.
At the outbreak of World War II, the regiment consisted of 20 battalions, 8 regular and 12 territorial. Regular Army Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt): 1st RTR & 6th RTR 1st Heavy Armoured Brigade: 2nd RTR, 3rd RTR & 5th RTR 1st Army Tank Brigade: 4th RTR, 7th RTR & 8th RTR Territorial Army 21st Army Tank Brigade: 42nd RTR, 44th RTR & 48th RTR 23rd Army Tank Brigade: 40th RTR, 46th RTR & 50th RTR 24th Army Tank Brigade: 41st RTR, 45th RTR & 47th RTR 25th Army Tank Brigade: 43rd RTR, 49th RTR & 51st RTR During the course of the war, four “hostilities-only” battalions were formed: the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th. 11 RTR formed part of 79th Armoured Division (a specialist group operating vehicles known as “Hobart’s Funnies”), initially equipped with “Canal Defence Light” tanks, it converted to “Buffalo” (the British service name for the US Landing Vehicle Tracked) not long after D-Day and participated in the assault crossing of the Rhine. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was ferried across the Rhine in a Buffalo from ‘C’ Squadron, 11RTR. The Regiment’s numerous units took part in countless battles in World War II, including the Battle of Dunkirk, El Alamein and D-Day. Field Marshal Montgomery would frequently wear the regiment’s beret, with his Field Marshal’s badge sewn on next to the regimental cap badge, as it was more practical whilst travelling on a tank than either a formal peaked hat or the Australian slouch hat he previously wore.
Formerly the three badges of Sapper Mumby R.E. who was assigned to the Guards MGR, the MMGS & The Tank Corps {possibly 3rd battalion}. We also have his trio of medals {named}, all are to be sold seperately. His tank Badge was WW2 issue.
The last photo in the gallery is a poster of all the types of tanks and armoured vehicles used by the British Army in WW2 read more
Trio of WW1 Service Medals of Sapper Mumby Royal Engineers. He Was Attached to Machine Gun Regiments, And We Also Have His Badges as Well. All Offered For Sale Seperately
Formerly the three badges and trio of Sapper Mumby R.E. who was assigned to the Guards MGC, the MMGS & The Tank Corps {possibly 3rd battalion}. We also have his trio of medals {named}, all the medals and badges are to be sold seperately. His tank Badge was WW2 issue
Sappers and the Machine Gun Corps (MGC)
The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was a specialized unit within the infantry that operated heavy and light machine guns.
While the MGC was focused on the use of machine guns, the engineering efforts of the Royal Engineers (Sappers) were indispensable to the overall effectiveness of the MGC, the Tank Corps and other infantry units.
Therefore, sappers worked in conjunction with MGC units, providing the necessary engineering support to enable their operations, especially in trench warfare read more
1st Army WW2 Hampshire Regiment 5 Medal Group With Territorial Named Medal
1939-45 Star Afrika Star 1st Army Bar, Defence Medal War Medal and Territorial Efficient Service Medal named Hampshire regiment with post 1953 cap badge.
The British First Army was reformed during the Second World War. It was formed to command the American and British land forces which had landed as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, in Morocco and Algeria on 8 November 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth Anderson. The First Army headquarters was formally activated on 9 November 1942 when Anderson arrived in Algiers to assume command of the redesignated Eastern Task Force.[3]
The First Army initially consisted of American and British formations only. After the surrender of French forces following the German abrogation of their armistice agreement with Vichy France, French units were also added to the First Army's order of battle. It eventually consisted of four corps, the US II Corps, the British V Corps, British IX Corps and French XIX Corps.
After the landings, Anderson's forces rushed east in a bid to capture Tunis and Bizerte before German forces could reach the two cities in large numbers. They failed. Following that lack of success, a period of consolidation was forced upon them. The logistics support for the First Army was greatly improved and bases for its accompanying aircraft greatly multiplied. By the time General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army approached the Tunisian border from the east, following its long pursuit of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel's forces after El Alamein, the First Army was again ready to strike.
Supported by elements of XII Tactical Air Command and No. 242 Group RAF, the First Army carried the main weight of General Sir Harold Alexander's 18th Army Group's offensive to conclude the Tunisian Campaign and finish Axis forces in North Africa off. The victory was won in May 1943 in a surrender that, in numbers captured at least, equalled Stalingrad. Shortly after the surrender, the First Army was disbanded, having served its purpose read more
170.00 GBP
Group of 5 Medals for Soldier of the 1st Army Group; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army Bar. Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal
Very good group. 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army Bar. Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal
The British First Army was reformed during the Second World War. It was formed to command the American and British land forces which had landed as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, in Morocco and Algeria on 8 November 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth Anderson. The First Army headquarters was formally activated on 9 November 1942 when Anderson arrived in Algiers to assume command of the redesignated Eastern Task Force.
The First Army initially consisted of American and British formations only. After the surrender of French forces following the German abrogation of their armistice agreement with Vichy France, French units were also added to the First Army's order of battle. It eventually consisted of four corps, the US II Corps, the British V Corps, British IX Corps and French XIX Corps.
After the landings, Anderson's forces rushed east in a bid to capture Tunis and Bizerte before German forces could reach the two cities in large numbers. They failed. Following that lack of success, a period of consolidation was forced upon them. The logistics support for the First Army was greatly improved and bases for its accompanying aircraft greatly multiplied. By the time General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army approached the Tunisian border from the east, following its long pursuit of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel's forces after El Alamein, the First Army was again ready to strike.
Supported by elements of XII Tactical Air Command and No. 242 Group RAF, the First Army carried the main weight of General Sir Harold Alexander's 18th Army Group's offensive to conclude the Tunisian Campaign and finish Axis forces in North Africa off. The victory was won in May 1943 in a surrender that, in numbers captured at least, equalled Stalingrad. Shortly after the surrender, the First Army was disbanded, having served its purpose. read more
195.00 GBP
A Fabulous Group Of 6 WW2 RAF Medals With Two Campaign Bars.The 1939-1945 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Italy Star, The Africa Star with the 1942-3 bar, the Burma Star With The Pacific Bar {most rare}, And The War Medal.
With the campaign medals of; The 1939-1945 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Italy Star, The Africa Star with the 1942-3 bar, the Burma Star with the Pacific bar {most rare}, and the War Medal.
Awarded to a WW2 RAF officer, 6 medals, and just one medal short of the maximum amount of campaign medals any man serving in the Army, Navy or RAF could have been awarded for the entire war.
This is an incredible symbol of an extraordinary service career in the war. read more
260.00 GBP
A Stunning British Royal Horseguards, Blues and Royals and Lifeguards Officer's Mint Condition Helmet Plate in Enamel and Fire Gilt One of The Most Beautiful Helmet Plates Ever Designed and Worn
Worn upon the Albert pattern dress helmet of a mounted cavalry officer of Her Late Beloved Majesty Queen Elizabeth IInd's mounted bodyguard.
This fabulous quality officer’s helmet plate, in use since the Queen’s coronation in 1953, was used by an officer of the Queen’s mounted bodyguard, from either the Blues and Royals or the Life Guards regiments, that combined, make up the Royal Horseguards. The helmet plate is identical for both helmets, only the colour of the yak hair plume was different, white for Life Guards, red for Blues and Royals.
The Albert helmet is the current ceremonial headgear of the British Army's Household Cavalry, for both the Life guards regiment and the Blues and Royals regiment, known collectively as Horseguards.
This pattern has been changed for the design designated for His Majesty King Charles lII. The crown has changed to the single domed crown of all the kings since Edward VIIth. The domed crown is called either The King’s Crown or the Imperial State Crown. The late Queen’s crown, is known as St Edwards Crown. However, officer's that previously served her late beloved majesty will still be permitted to wear the Queen's Crown helmet plate upon their helmets.
The Albert pattern helmet was introduced by Prince Albert in 1842 and adopted by the Household Cavalry the following year. In 1847 the helmet was introduced to all heavy cavalry regiments. It remains in use as the full dress headgear of the two remaining Household Cavalry regiments, the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards. The magnificent helmet remains in use with the two current Household Cavalry regiments, the Blues and Royals with red plume and the Life Guards with white plume. These regiments are amalgamations of the four earlier regiments. The Life Guards retain the white plume and the onion from the 2nd Regiment, the Blues and Royals retain the red plume of the Royal Horse Guards. Blues and Royals officers wear a yak hair plume. Farriers in both regiments wear different plumes, the Life Guards farrier wear black and Blues and Royals farrier red.
The regiments also differ in how they wear the helmet's chin strap. The Blues and Royals wear it under the chin while the Life Guards wear it under the lower lip. The helmet is now in white metal for all ranks and the same helmet plate is worn by both regiments (they were different historically).
The Albert helmet is only worn in full dress review order, guard order and front yard order by other ranks and in full dress, levee dress and ceremonial rehearsal dress by officers. Medical and veterinary officers do not wear the helmet, instead wearing a cocked hat.
The other ranks of the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry wear the helmet in full dress (with the plumes of their parent regiments), except when parading in the presence of the royal family, when they wear state dress with jockey caps. Band officers wear Albert helmets on both occasions.
Its condition is considered by us as mint. A complete Horseguards officer’s helmet from the 1953 coronation period, in mint condition, will cost today somewhere between £6,500 to £10,000.
Photo in the gallery of royal Horseguards officers and men; Credit MOD read more
950.00 GBP
Himmler's Third Reich Police Service, An 18 Year Long Service Silver Polizei Medal "FUR TREUE DIENSTE IN DER POLIZEI"
Adolf Hitler instituted 3 classes of Police Long Service Awards in 1938, in order to recognize police personnel for their loyal service to the Third Reich and the Fuhrer.
The medal featured here is the class, for 18 years of service, struck from an alloy and finished in a silver plate. The reverse reads "FUR TREUE DIENSTE IN DER POLIZEI" (For Loyal Service in the Police).
Himmler and Heydrich wanted to extend the power of the SS; thus, they urged Hitler to form a national police force overseen by the SS, to guard Nazi Germany against its many enemies at the time real and imagined. Interior Minister Frick also wanted a national police force, but one controlled by him, with Kurt Daluege as his police chief. Hitler left it to Himmler and Heydrich to work out the arrangements with Frick. Himmler and Heydrich had greater bargaining power, as they were allied with Frick's old enemy, Goring. Heydrich drew up a set of proposals and Himmler sent him to meet with Frick. An angry Frick then consulted with Hitler, who told him to agree to the proposals. Frick acquiesced, and on 17 June 1936 Hitler decreed the unification of all police forces in the Reich, and named Himmler Chief of German Police. In this role, Himmler was still nominally subordinate to Frick. In practice, however, the police was now effectively a division of the SS, and hence independent of Frick's control. This move gave Himmler operational control over Germany's entire detective force. He also gained authority over all of Germany's uniformed law enforcement agencies, which were amalgamated into the new Ordnungspolizei (Orpo: "order police"), which became a branch of the SS under Daluege. The Ordnungspolizei was separate from the SS and maintained a system of insignia and Orpo ranks. It was possible for policemen to be members of the SS but without active duties. Police generals who were members of the SS were referred to simultaneously by both rank titles during the war. For instance, a Generalleutnant in the Police who was also an SS member would be referred to as SS Gruppenfuhrer und Generalleutnant der Polizei. In addition, those Orpo police generals that undertook the duties of both Senior SS and Police Leader (Huhere SS und Polizeifuhrer) gained equivalent Waffen-SS ranks in August 1944 when Himmler was appointed Chef der Ersatzheeres (Chief of Home Army), because they had authority over the prisoner-of-war camps in their area.
Heinrich Himmler's ultimate aim was to replace the regular police forces of Germany with a combined racial/state protection corps (Staatsschutzkorps) of pure SS units. Local law enforcement would be undertaken by the Allgemeine-SS with the Waffen-SS providing homeland-security and political-police functions. Historical analysis of the Third Reich has revealed that senior Orpo personnel knew of Himmler's plan and were opposed to it.
Overall good as worn condition, with very slight edge plate wear read more
225.00 GBP
A Very Good Original, WW2, Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery Combat Badge Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie FLL 43 – Friedrich Linden of Lüdenscheid
An original Kriegsmarine Coastal artillery badge by by FLL 43 – Friedrich Linden of Lüdenscheid constructed in zinc with nice silvered finish, and gilt outer wreath. A zinc produced piece with a great amount of silver finish remaining.
The Kriegsmarine maintained a large ground force, organized along the same lines as the German Army, which was known as the Marine-Infanterie . Kriegsmarine naval artillery and anti-aircraft crews were considered as shore personnel. Artillery units were organized into either regiments or sections while flak units were maintained in brigades and regiments. Both types of units were assigned to various ports and harbors and thus were under the direct operational authority of both the port commanders as well as the commander harbour security forces. During actual invasion of coastal regions by enemy forces, these units became part of the sea defense zones.
The Naval Artillery War Badge or War Badge for the Coastal Artillery (German: Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to the crews of Kriegsmarine land-based marine artillery and anti-aircraft units. It was presented to personnel of coastal defense units, and anti-aircraft units. The award was instituted on 24 June 1941 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder to reward the actions of both individuals and crew members. It was also awarded to those killed in action in said units.
The medal was designed by Otto Plazeck from Berlin and has been produced by various manufacturers. The medal consists of a wreath made up of 8 sets of 2 oak leaves each with a knotted ribbon at the bottom. The top of the medal shows an eagle with folded wings, holding a small swastika in its claws. The central motive is a heavy calibre gun, deployed in the dunes and trained upward to the left. In the background, on both sides of the barrel, some waves ar visible, emphasizing that this is a medal.
To become eligible for this award, the following requirements had to be met:
- having shown extraordinary leadership within the guncrew,
- any action showing exceptionally courageous conduct not meriting any other award,
- in case the recipient was wounded or killed in action against the enemy,
- as soon as any member of the guncrew had earned 8 points.
Crews of searchlights and listeningposts were also eligble for the medal and for them, each discovery of a hostile aircraft equalled half a point.
The following system was set up for guncrews:
- Downing of a hostile aircraft without the help of another gun, 2 points,
- downing of a hostile aircraft with the help of another gun, 1 point. read more
Silver WW1 1915 German Christmas Medal, By Karl Goetz - August von Mackensen - {AKA The Last Hussar} Christmas on the Battlefield
WEIHNACHT IM FELD 1915 (“Christmas in the Field 1915”).
Anton Ludwig Friedrich August Mackensen (ennobled as von Mackensen in 1899; 6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945), was a German field marshal. He commanded Army Group Mackensen during World War I (1914–1918) and became one of the German Empire's most prominent and competent military leaders. After the armistice of 11 November 1918, the victorious Allies interned Mackensen in Serbia for a year. In 1920, he retired from the army. In 1933 Hermann Göring made him a Prussian state councillor. During the Nazi era (1933–1945), Mackensen remained a committed monarchist and sometimes appeared at official functions in his World War I uniform. Senior Nazi Party members suspected him of disloyalty, but nothing was proven against him. read more
160.00 GBP
