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 Posted by plbramham » Thu May 03, 2012 6:27 pm
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 General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
The brass “Border” title is probably the most familiar type– and very hard to date as it was issued for a long time, but it’s the WW2 cloth badges which are rare and can be very valuable. A pair of titles with yellow lettering on green with purple edging has just sold for £360! & the black on green which were only issued for about a year are even rarer. I guess, like the economy WW2 plastic cap badge, cloth titles were not valued and just got thrown away or wore out.
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| Posted by plbramham » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:11 pm
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
A replica of the rare WW2 cloth badge with yellow stitching on green and purple background.
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| Posted by mrhasto » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:59 pm
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.png) Private Registered user Posts: 3 |
| I have my Great Uncle's shoulder titles does anyone know if they are worth anything?
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| Posted by plbramham » Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:09 pm
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
 mrhasto wrote:I have my Great Uncle's shoulder titles does anyone know if they are worth anything? My God Yes they are!!!! I've seen the scare yellow lettering on green with purple background type sell for over £100,and a pair sold for £360. However, the black on khaki are exceptionally rare as they were only issued for a very brief period. I've only ever seen one for sale, and I forget how much that fetched. For a pair you must be looking at several £100s! Cloth badges simply do not survive because they rot/fray/wear, or people just throw them away thinking "It's just a scrap of material". I guess unlike a bit of brass or white metal they are just have not been valued as items. Good job I'm honest or I could have said "I'll give you £30 for the lot" and I bet you'd have been dead chuffed with that! Best Wishes (enviously!) Paul. P.S. You will note from the posting above yours that I have settled for a copy of the yellow lettering on green with purple background type as I can't afford an original |
| Posted by mrhasto » Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:07 pm
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Private Registered user Posts: 3 |
| Thanks Paul for that. I don't suppose you could recommend a place to sell them where I would get a fair price or is ebay a good bet? |
| Posted by plbramham » Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:07 am
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| Hi,
It’s not really appropriate for me to recommend one particular dealer/auctioneer on this site as that’s getting into the realms of advertising, so I’ll PM or e-mail you with some suggestions. Do you have a copy of a photo of your great uncle (preferably in uniform), which you could include with the items? Also include any details you know about him such as name, rank, serial number, battalion, where served, town where he lived, all of which would give provenance and add value. If you use e-bay or sell them yourself, I’d strongly suggest you sell the yellow/green/purple badge as one item, and the khaki/black pair as a separate lot (include copy photo and details with both lots). You may even consider splitting the pair into two separate lots – some collectors may be able to afford one, but not a pair so you may get more bidders. Also I’d strongly suggest that you don’t put them on the market at the same time. Maybe give it a month or so in between. I’ll dig out some addresses and send them to you tomorrow. Hope this helps – sorry I’m not in a position to bid myself |
| Posted by plbramham » Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:06 am
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| mrhasto wrote: where I would get a fair price or is ebay a good bet? A single shoulder title with yellow lettering on green/purple sold yesterday on ebay for £181.56!!!
Was that you? |
| Posted by kerchi » Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:31 am
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 Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| plbramham wrote: A single shoulder title with yellow lettering on green/purple sold yesterday on ebay for £181.56!!! Was that you? Paul Wow! I certainly won't be getting one of those, no matter how much I'd like to |
| Posted by plbramham » Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:26 pm
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| kerchi wrote: plbramham wrote: A single shoulder title with yellow lettering on green/purple sold yesterday on ebay for £181.56!!! Was that you? Paul  That's why I settled for a replica costing £5.99 (see posting further above) and it's not a bad copy either! |
| Posted by mrhasto » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:59 pm
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Private Registered user Posts: 3 |
| Yeah that was the one I had.
I would be grateful for any information regarding the slip on badges that I have. For example what dates were they issued etc. I have looked on the net and the only ones similar have curved writing. Many thanks |
| Posted by plbramham » Sat Dec 01, 2012 9:07 am
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| I don't know anything regarding the curved or straight writing patterns. I suppose one type probably would be rarer than the other but I don't know which way round. I think the 2nd battalion had straight rather than curved brass shoulder titles, maybe they continued this style with the cloth ones?
I have read in the past (I forget where and cannot find it now) that the black on khaki were issued for about a year in the midwar period (1942-43 perhaps?) before the white on red type I guess. However, I have also read that that the black on Khaki was for the First World War - I do not believe this. I cannot remember ever seeing WW1 slipon cloth badges, plus the fact your ancestor was issued with them indicates that they must be WW2. (The same person who wrote that they were WW1 also states that your yellow on green and purple type are not rare and should only fetch £4 each! not the £180 plus that you got - hence I'm thinking that source may not be entirely accurate!) Apparently there was also an early WW2 white on khaki and a red lettering on tan version for the Far East - if they do exist watch out for them. |
| Posted by plbramham » Sat Jan 05, 2013 4:53 pm
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Here's one of the 2nd Border Regiment brass straight shoulder titles. This type was only worn by officers I believe.
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| Posted by Pladhams » Sun Jun 09, 2013 7:58 pm
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Corporal Registered user Posts: 44 |
| Forgive me butting into this posting, but it covers a subject im trying to research. As a WW2 reenactor im putting together a uniform to represent my grandfather, during the battle of France.
He was 4th Border Regiment, and the problem I have is this: The slip on cloth shoulder titles worn on battledress then, would the lettering of been curved or straight for them, I have replicas of both to hand but wish to get it right! |
| Posted by plbramham » Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:29 am
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General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| The slip on badges with black lettering on khaki background were only issued 1940-41 (effectively replacing the brass ones I guess). I understand this makes them the rarest type of cloth insignia? For full details and photos of WW2 badges see page 44 of "When Dragons Flew",
I don't know about the curved/straight lettering issue with slips ons - I have only seen the straight ones. I don't know which is the "correct" one or which is the most common. During the Battle of France I reckon that they would still be wearing the brass ones as the cloth slip ons would not have been issued. I'm sure that you are well aware that the yellow on green with purple background, and the white lettering on red ( stitched or printed) were not in use until much later. Regarding the straight brass badge pictured in above posting - that was only for the 2nd Battalion and only for officers, also I understand that example dates from the 1920s. I believe that your grandfather as a territorial in the 4th Bn in early-mid 1940, would still be wearing the curved brass shoulder titles, as issued to him pre-1939 (before going to France) Actually,to be in the Battle of France as a 4th Bn territorial he must have joined pre war, so he may well have worn the "T4 Border" brass titles below. Hope this helps. Regards, Paul. P.S. Have you spotted my posting regarding the 4th Battalion mobilising in Kendal, September 1939?
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| Posted by pladhams » Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:00 pm
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Corporal Registered user Posts: 44 |
| He did indeed join pre war, maybe 39 to be exact, and left december 45. Thanks for the info, I shall now try and hunt down some brass ones to shove on my battledress! |
| Posted by plbramham » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:58 pm
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| Pladhams wrote: i shall now try and hunt down some brass ones to shove on my battledress! Just thought I'd let you know that there's a pair (they seem to usually be offered for sale individually- no doubt to maximise prices) just appeared on e-bay 12/6/2013: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-Border-Regiment-Brass-Shoulder-Titles-1902-to-1959-/310687512932?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item48566b3964 - and no, I'm not the seller! Regards, Paul. |
| Posted by Pladhams » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:12 am
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Corporal Registered user Posts: 44 |
| Cheers, will keep an eye on them! |