Book report: BRITISH ARMY CAP BADGES of the SECOND WORLD WAR, by Doyle & Foster

[dag]

Recently picked this book up, as a collector of British (almost exclusively Scottish) badges (as well as Scottish buttons and other Scottish militaria). There are LOTS of books out there on this collecting area, from very small with only a few examples, to large multi-volume works with most every known example. But this is the only one I'm aware of exclusively for World War II units/badges.

 

Have to admit I enjoyed this book very much. Read the entire book in one weekend. Full color examples of a badge from each British unit involved (does not contain Canada nor others of the British Commonwealth). Does not contain variations, but does contain a brief, though very interesting passage, that explains about the unit's history pertaining to the design of the badge itself. Also lots of period pictures of soldiers wearing examples of some of the badges discussed.

 

Not a book necessarily for advanced collectors, but an interesting volume about this collecting area with the history behind each badge design.

 

Enjoyed it so much I ordered the book on the First World War by the same authors.

 

 

[dag]

A picture of typical pages from this book, showing how they have a picture of a unit's badge, and a description/badge history with it.

 

 

 

 

[patches]

Yes very good I got this one and it's WWI Companion book.

[patches]

I wish they made a set on Canadian Cap Badges.

[Custermen]

On 2/8/2019 at 6:57 AM, dag said:

A picture of typical pages from this book, showing how they have a picture of a unit's badge, and a description/badge history with it.

I had been a member of a FaceBook group who only allowed you to post British Commonwealth badges for evaluation of authenticity---no sales, not even estimated values.  

 

I discovered that many of my British cap badges were Fakes or "Re-strikes".  These guys had the reference books that identified how the hangers were attached and how the bi-metal pieces were also attached.  It showed examples of the font in the letters and such things as the details of the feathers that made a Parachute Regiment badge a fake.  

Generally, you really need to see the back of a badge to determine if it is real in almost all the cases.  The details on the front may look good as an original but the back will not have the details of the impression that it should.  

Anyway, I thought I would pass that along.

 

Anyone want to buy some questionable cap badges??   🥴