Having been burned many times over the years, fortunately never too severely, I have personally ceased further serious collecting, resting and enjoying the fruits of my labors, the good, bad, and questionable. As a realist rather than a purist, I think I can identify all my conscious deliberate fillers, which are there only because a while back I reconciled to the fact that the originals only resided in museums, extremely wealthy collections, or existed in miserable deteriorated condition.
With full acknowledgement and gratitude to Dubaiguy aka Mark of the British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum, the author would like to continue the ongoing saga of the production and sales of known fake cap badges.
In a recent set of images in that forum he presented a whole new source of counterfeit badges this author was not aware of. They are the product of a nefarious individual by the name of Marshand Morigi who practiced his “skills” in the 1960s and 70s, along with a more recent cohort in crime, Martin Marsh, both originating in Great Britain. Somehow the name Morigi triggered in my mind another, that of Sherlock Holmes’ arch villain, Professor James Moriarty.
Morigi purchased the badges from a certain John Morris (now deceased) of Aston in Birmingham, who owned the dies, also made in Birmingham, and had them stamped out by several other Birmingham manufacturers, including Gladmans. Morigi also tried his hand at British Special Forces cloth insignia during the same time frame.
I’m not certain whether I have any of the metal badges, but am absolutely certain (and have so identified) a rather fair number of the cloth variety. Many of which can be seen in the following blog article; https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-gallimaufry-of-militaria.html . Following image is a sample of the offerings at the time.
Returning to the metal cap badges, Mark has provided images of a series of Morigi’s catalog pages. It provides the collector with another series of “mug shots” of badges to be aware of, and cautious to avoid without an established source and sound provenance. Personal apologies for the small size of the images. They can be copied and enlarged to a limited extent without a significant loss of resolution. However, I think most collectors can identify the cap badges which have been duplicated. Once again an overused cliché, “It’s a jungle out there!”.
6 comments:
Hello Jim,
I represent a group of reenactors providing a gritty WW2 simulation as the Red Devils. We are extremely interested in getting history right and have spent countless hours dedicating ourselves to providing an extremely realistic environment. I particularly thankful for your research in correcting this misinformation as it makes you all the more credible.
In the first image of the cloth shoulder tabs, I was wondering what the difference between the Parachute Regiment tabs labeled "M399" and "M400" are.
Thank you very much and we would love to discuss more about the british paras in WW2 should you have the time!
Hello Thire,
Sincere thanks for your kind remarks regarding the blog. Glad I can be of some assistance.
First, it is my best understanding that M399 represents the original authorized shoulder designation strip for the Parachute Regiment, and predominately used throughout WWII. I’d have to dig a bit to give you the exact Army Order(ACI) and date (on or about August 1942). The M400 designation strip, again to the best of my knowledge, was not introduced until after 1945. I don’t know whether it was ever officially authorized. Admittedly James Shortt’s book on Special Forces rather muddies the waters (p.29), not differentiating between the two. In my personal opinion, both illustrated examples appear suspect.
Although there are some minor errors, the best single reference I would recommend is ALLIED SPECIAL FORCES INSIGNIA 1939-1948, Taylor, Peter, Leo Cooper (Pen & Sword Ltd), South Yorkshire, 2000, ISBN 0-85052-582-9.
Hopefully this is of further assistance, and does not further “scramble the eggs”.
Best regards and stay safe,
Jim
Thank you for the speedy response! Your insight actually coincides with our findings of the 1st Airborne's Battledress regulations.
The only other thing that I've found quite hard to research is that some photographs show the paratroopers with the "M401" Airborne Tab under the "M406" Pegasus Flash. I've seen both variants for example in photographs from Arnhem, I wonder if you have any insight?
Hello Trice,
The only guidance I can give is that the actual qualified paratroops (qualification brevet, upper right shoulder) seem in the majority of images to show the following descending sequence on their battledress; 1) very top seam of blouse, the dark blue PARACHUTE REGIMENT on Cambridge (light) blue curved unit designation strip. 2) next the qualification brevet (light blue wings and white canopy). 3) next the classic light blue Pegasus/Bellerophon Airborne Forces Formation badge, head facing forward. 4) next the light blue AIRBORNE on maroon rectangular strip. 5) next rank chevrons if applicable.
Unfortunately there are photographs showing a broad variety of variations and spacing. Please don't ask me for the reason(s) why.
On the left shoulder; the same sequence, but omitting the qualification brevet.
For airborne (non-parachute qualified,i.e. glider-borne), the unit designation strip was often replaced with either a regimental or corps strip.
One of the best references for a detailed discussion of these variations is; British Army Uniforms & Insignia of World War Two, Davis, Brian L., Arms and Armour Press, Lionel Leventhal Ltd, London, 1983, ISBN 0-85368-609-2.
Regards,
Jim
Thanks again Jim, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me and create this blog in the first place! I'll take a look into the No.4 Airborne tab placement and be sure to let you know about my findings! What's a good way to reach you?
Hello Thire,
You can continue to use this blog article, and just post your findings as a comment.
Jim
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