Sold Gallery
These pages display a number of the rare items that I have had the pleasure of selling. To view more details and a larger photograph please click on the thumbnail picture.
ATS Chief Commandant rank badges.
WW2 Gilt coronet and pip representing the rank of Chief Commandant of the ATS. The ATS had a unique rank structure and these devices represent those used between February 1940 and June 1941. Uncommon.
WWII Paratroop / SOE Knee Pads
An excellent, original, 1943 dated pair of knee pads,this pattern modelled on those used by the German Fallschirmjager and issued to early British Paratroops and SOE parachutists. Clearly dated and sized ( Large ), elastic is flexible as is the foam pad. Wool, moth free with quick release lanyard present and undamaged. Excellent exampleswith some storage marks.
'Get Tough' Capt.W.E.Fairbairn.
American edition of Fairbairn's seminal work 'All in Fighting'. Renamed for the US market and published in 1942 the book contains instructions on the use of the FS knife, Smatchet and various hand to hand combat moves from the 'back break' to the Japanese Stranglehold'. This edition with a new preface. Minor marking to oilcloth covers otherwise in good condition.
WW1 RFC Officer's silver cap and collar badge set.
Pair of cast silver RFC collar dogs by ' J.R.Gaunt, London ' accompanied by a silver plated die-struck RFC cap badge. Silver RFC Officer's insignia is very uncommon and all items are in excellent condition with minor rubbing to high points of the cap badge.
1960's 12/13 Parachute Battalion uniform grouping.
A particularly clean and impressive grouping of uniform items to a Capt Smith who served with the 12/13th Parachute Battalion. The group consists of ; a size 3 1963 dated ' Smocks Denison Airborne Troops ' with rank, jump wings and DZ patches to sleeves,a size 5, 1955 dated 1949 Patt battledress blouse with printed Airborne sleeve insignia, jump wings, embroidered Parachute Regiment shoulder titles and Parachute Regiment collar badges, unissued 1961 dated and manufacturer marked red beret, 1955 dated '49 Patt BD trousers, named 37 Patt belt, 1955 dated shirt and a 1955 dated pair of denim overall trousers. All the items are in excellent, clean condition particularly the denison, BD and trousers.
'49 Patt Parachute Engineer's BD.
1955 dated '49 Patt. BD blouse for a Sgt. Instructor of the Royal Engineers in the Airborne Division. Facing pair of embroidered Airborne formation signs with parachute qualification wing to right arm. Size 11, up to 5' 10" and chest 38" to 39". In excellent, clean condition with no moth damage. Good example of a post-war airborne tunic.
WW2 German Panzer officers' breast eagle.
A fine example of a Panzer officers' bullion breast eagle. Silver wire embroidered onto black fine wool backing with a tissue paper backing. Clear evidence of having been removed from a uniform but in excellent, unoxidised condition.
No.2 Commando Officer's beret badge.
Superb and very scarce bullion officer's badge for No.2 Commando. Silver bullion wire woven onto a black woollen backing showing two ' S ' letters ( symbolising their ' Special Service ' battalion provenance ) either side of a FS dagger. These badges were either worn as a beret badge or on the shoulder of the SD uniform. This example in excellent condition with the bullion having acquired an attractive darkened patina and a pencilled number to the reverse.
SOE code silk.
Highly uncommon, wartime enciphering key printed on silk as used by SOE and other clandestine forces. Using the one-time pad system of encription this key was used for encoding and decoding messages and was printed on silk for it's durability and ease of concealment, particularly in clothes. This particular example 40cms x 27cms approx is in good, used condition with some marking and staining.
WW1 MILITARY MEDAL GROUP OF 4. BEAUTIFUL. OUT THE
Directly from the relatives of this WW1 soldier, a super WW1 MILITARY MEDAL, 14-15 STAR, WAR MEDAL AND VICTORY MEDAL. All named to 15381 PRIVATE EJ KIMPTON ESSEX REGT. MM is marked KIMPTON 1/ ESSEX REGT. (Ist batallion). Private Kimpton lived in Leyton, London E11. His award was gazetted on 21st OCTOBER 1918. I have yet to do any further research, so do not know what the medal was awarded for. Medals are mounted as worn in two pairs and have never been in a collection or offered for sale before. In untouched, unpolished condion. With the centenery of WW1 coming in 2014. British militaria, especially WW1 gallantry medals will continue to be a good investment.