Governmental Forces cast headdress badges
The word "cast" usually rings the alarm bell for collectors in the fields of orders, medals, and other awards. Although this is also a case in the vast area of metal insignia in general, (sand) casting has been a low-cost alternative method of manufacture for original, period pieces, specially "theatre made" ones in the WW2 fronts of Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Greek headdress badges of the Civil War era do appear in a cast form and up to this date the originality of such specimens has not been questioned. In an unsurprising situation for greek militaria collecting, there is no evidence or documentation about their manufacture regarding maker(s), technique(s) or possible variations. The following badges are hence presented as period originals, a thesis that will of course be revised if evidence pointing to the opposite direction should come to light.
Update, April 22, 2019: It seems like the evidence... has come to light. As fellow collectors have suggested, these are copies made during the 1980s and '90s, by a Greek faker, mostly known for his work on miniature medals. Although cast examples of the second badge do exist, they look different than the one pictured here. The point that never eased my suspicion against them, was the similarity of the lugs in all three badges. It seems to be supporting evidence towards the maker being the same. All that said, the article will remain as reference for the copied pieces, as well as a presentation of some of the rarest greek headdress badges of the late 1940s to early 1950s.
Greek headdress badges of the Civil War era do appear in a cast form and up to this date the originality of such specimens has not been questioned. In an unsurprising situation for greek militaria collecting, there is no evidence or documentation about their manufacture regarding maker(s), technique(s) or possible variations. The following badges are hence presented as period originals, a thesis that will of course be revised if evidence pointing to the opposite direction should come to light.
Update, April 22, 2019: It seems like the evidence... has come to light. As fellow collectors have suggested, these are copies made during the 1980s and '90s, by a Greek faker, mostly known for his work on miniature medals. Although cast examples of the second badge do exist, they look different than the one pictured here. The point that never eased my suspicion against them, was the similarity of the lugs in all three badges. It seems to be supporting evidence towards the maker being the same. All that said, the article will remain as reference for the copied pieces, as well as a presentation of some of the rarest greek headdress badges of the late 1940s to early 1950s.
National Coat of Arms badge
A badge worn on British, Commonwealth, and US made berets, general service caps, and side caps and their locally made "clones" from 1945 to the late '60s: A laurel wreath surrounding a blue cockade and a superimposed crown. Several variations of this badge exist, both cast and pressed metal ones, of different weights and qualities.
Reconnaisance formations' badge
A beret badge worn by crews of armoured vehicles of Reconnaisance formations: An armoured car, most probably the representation of a Staghound, surrounded by a laurel wreath with a superimposed crown and a blue-painted cockade. Unfortunately, there is no documentation regarding the exact timeframe of use of this badge and if it was an official issue. There is no mention of it in the 1953 Uniforms Regulation.
Update, March25, 2018: On this video of an interview of three veterans, one of them, discharged on August 14, 1946 (as mentioned at 40:43), is seen wearing this badge on his black beret on the magnified photo seen at 42:52. So, the badge did exist during the first stage of the Civil War. The question is when it was manufactured.
Update, March25, 2018: On this video of an interview of three veterans, one of them, discharged on August 14, 1946 (as mentioned at 40:43), is seen wearing this badge on his black beret on the magnified photo seen at 42:52. So, the badge did exist during the first stage of the Civil War. The question is when it was manufactured.
Tank formations' badge
A silver-coloured badge, worn by tank crews, depicting a horse running at the side of a Centaur I tank, surrounded by a laurel wreath with an unpainted cockade and a crown. The Iliad quote "Defending the Fatherland" is positioned on a ribbon along the lower part of the wreath. Again, it is unfortunately unknown if the badge was an official issue and for how long it was in use. The 1953 Uniforms' Regulation makes no mention of this badge, either.