Came across this great photo, Italy 1944.   A group of Officers, one of which is Army, the one Paratrooper has the Divisional Shooting Star Insignia of the 4.Fallschirm Division in metal form on his cap.

I am just happy to see he received them. I am waiting for my late father’s replacement medals from the U.S. government. They told me there 12,000 folks in front of me.

Hi All, British made tunic to Jean Emile Van Den Bosch.  From what I can see he was captured in the fall of France in 1940 but was able to escape to Spain and eventually to the UK where he joined the Free French Army and earnt his jump wings at Ringway in 1943.  I believe he served time with the FFL paratrooper and also the SAS. Is it possible to find any additional service and if he took part in any operations during the war? The uniform is a beautiful British made piece with British made wings and even gaunt made buttons. The cap is just a filler till i can find a correct one. Thanks,  Jason

I have now seen this on more than one occasion in the last couple months.  British WWII veterans receiving replacement medals and being presented to them out of order.  I had to double check to see if the photos were reversed.  Man, if you are going to honor their service, do it right for Pete's sake...   -Ski

From the 2005 British  TV miniseries Colditz.   3rd Inf Div patch there on actor Tom Hardy as 2nd Lt. Jack Rose, we guess it's supposed to be in 1940???

Thank you Baseplate.   Doesn't really look like her LOL, looks like an older person, not too old mind you, what about all those ribbons?   This spurred me to Having another look online in a detailed search and found her, it is in fact Princess Mary, the ribbons certainly now match up now, though I don't know how she earned them right, as she wasn't in the Army in the Great War, she apparently was a Nursing Sister, stating her training in the summer of 1918, but did not go on active service as it were after training. Yeah would these be Royal Family  type awards?   she was   "Controller Commandant of the ATS in 1941, a largely ceremonial but vital role that greatly raised the service's profile and morale through her extensive tours and support. Controller Commandant"      . Princess Elizabeth was a captional error for sure. 

I'll add too that Bill Shea has 3 books out (The Stories behind the treasures of World War II, "The making of a collectorholic") The blog he wrote only scratches the surface of the Dachau hoard of items that Bill has been able to obtain over the years. Volume 3 of his books has some remarkable photos and testimonies from those who were at Dachau and how Bill was able to obtain huge lots of the hoard from veterans and their families. Some stunning photos of the thousands of pieces of insignia some of the Soldiers brought back.   I see too that your location is Connecticut. Bill is just up the way in Massachusetts... A great guy, have talked with him and his son many times over the years.    Leigh 

Also looking through some reference books on the Foreign Volunteers of the Third Reich, these shields were made and in one reference it mentions that they were used however a second reference does concur the shields were manufactured but the author doubts they were worn. Of course, we are always looking for photographic evidence from the period to substantiate the claims.. There are numerous photos of the Italian SS sleeve eagles being worn but I have not yet found the shield being worn...    The search continues..   Leigh  

Good info, thank you!

Is this nva flag original? I know a lot of fakes exist but most fakes are only single sided. This one is double sided and it certainly looks original but people can fake the age too.

Think you'll find that that is an image of the (then) Princess Royal, Princess Elizabeth, dressed as the Honorary Commandant of the ATS.