DigToChina
Bronze Member
Hi all,
I need some help figuring out some WW1 badges and buttons I was just given. Backstory: Our family just went to Europe to see Normandy and Belgium to honour those that fought, including some of my kids relatives. When we returned, my father-in-law gave us a tin full of his Grandfathers medals and buttons which he says he has had for about 50 years but hasn’t opened for 35. The problem is I don’t know what all of them are and I strongly suspect they must have been trading badges as well because some are out of place (items 7-21). I’m also not 100% sure WW2 stuff from his son didn’t get mixed in. Any thoughts or knowledge about these, please share.
1: Looks like a standard hat badge but differs from the similar #2 and the regimental badge (#4). Would like to know where on the uniform this would have been worn.
2: Same needs as #1.
3: Uniform location?
4: 205th Battalion was a draft battalion out of Hamilton, Ontario. This guy was eventually transferred into the Canadian Machine Gun Corp. (CMGD). The 205th eventually became part of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. There are no marks on the backs of either of these badges. Uniform location? Was he still 205th when in the CMGD?
5: Similar to 1 and 2 but smaller. Lapel badges?
6: Very close to #5. Earlier version?
7 & 8: Not sure what these are or if they would have belonged to him.
9a & 9b: These have the General Service design so I think they would have been his.
10: 120th Battalion out of Hamilton which later becomes part of the same infantry as the 205th but was absorbed prior to the date he as drafted. I’m thinking this is possibly traded?
11: Gilted but thin and with zero markings. I’m not even sure if this is military.
12: Canadian Mounted Rifles: It doesn’t appear that the 120th, 205th or CMGC regularly fed into the CMR and there wasn’t anything I can see in his records. On the other hand, why would he have two of them if they were trades? Is CMGC and CMR interchangeable?
13 & 14: Fire And Police buttons. To best of my knowledge, he wasn’t in either. Any idea of the era of them based on backs?
15: This is US. Type and era?
16a & 16b: WW1 or 2? Maybe just civilian?
17: Pretty sure he was never part of 67th battery. Must be a trade. There are no marks on the back.
18: Gilted. Era? Again, he was never in this division.
19: Not military but a “What is it?”. It says “The 4 in hand” on the front. Money clip [emoji2369]?
20: Made in 1918 in Birmingham by JA & S. Educated guess says he bought this pin to bring back to his wife. Too bad the pin is gone...
21: Nothing special but thinking it’s and old Beavers pin.
I need some help figuring out some WW1 badges and buttons I was just given. Backstory: Our family just went to Europe to see Normandy and Belgium to honour those that fought, including some of my kids relatives. When we returned, my father-in-law gave us a tin full of his Grandfathers medals and buttons which he says he has had for about 50 years but hasn’t opened for 35. The problem is I don’t know what all of them are and I strongly suspect they must have been trading badges as well because some are out of place (items 7-21). I’m also not 100% sure WW2 stuff from his son didn’t get mixed in. Any thoughts or knowledge about these, please share.
1: Looks like a standard hat badge but differs from the similar #2 and the regimental badge (#4). Would like to know where on the uniform this would have been worn.
2: Same needs as #1.
3: Uniform location?
4: 205th Battalion was a draft battalion out of Hamilton, Ontario. This guy was eventually transferred into the Canadian Machine Gun Corp. (CMGD). The 205th eventually became part of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. There are no marks on the backs of either of these badges. Uniform location? Was he still 205th when in the CMGD?
5: Similar to 1 and 2 but smaller. Lapel badges?
6: Very close to #5. Earlier version?
7 & 8: Not sure what these are or if they would have belonged to him.
9a & 9b: These have the General Service design so I think they would have been his.
10: 120th Battalion out of Hamilton which later becomes part of the same infantry as the 205th but was absorbed prior to the date he as drafted. I’m thinking this is possibly traded?
11: Gilted but thin and with zero markings. I’m not even sure if this is military.
12: Canadian Mounted Rifles: It doesn’t appear that the 120th, 205th or CMGC regularly fed into the CMR and there wasn’t anything I can see in his records. On the other hand, why would he have two of them if they were trades? Is CMGC and CMR interchangeable?
13 & 14: Fire And Police buttons. To best of my knowledge, he wasn’t in either. Any idea of the era of them based on backs?
15: This is US. Type and era?
16a & 16b: WW1 or 2? Maybe just civilian?
17: Pretty sure he was never part of 67th battery. Must be a trade. There are no marks on the back.
18: Gilted. Era? Again, he was never in this division.
19: Not military but a “What is it?”. It says “The 4 in hand” on the front. Money clip [emoji2369]?
20: Made in 1918 in Birmingham by JA & S. Educated guess says he bought this pin to bring back to his wife. Too bad the pin is gone...
21: Nothing special but thinking it’s and old Beavers pin.
