Vintage W. Britains Toy Soldiers – Netherlands Infantry, an interesting set from 1939

In the year 1939, with the shadow of war descending on Great Britain and the Empire, W. Britains produced three set of toy soldiers ironically using a combination of two previously issued sets. They were Set No. 432 German Infantry with Steel Helmets (the bodies) and Set No. 1435 Italian Infantry with Steel Helmets (the heads), two of the major protagonists in the war that would shortly occur.

The three sets, in order of rarity were Set No. 1837 Argentine Infantry with Steel Helmets (Con Casco, the most rare), Set No. 1850 Netherlands Infantry with Steel Helmets, and Set No. 1856 Polish Infantry with Steel Helmets. Further irony can be seen in the fact that Poland and the Netherlands were among the first nations to succumb to the German ‘blitzkrieg’, and Argentina remained sympathetic to the Nazi cause.

Although not quite as rare as the Argentine set, the Netherlands Infantry remained unlisted in any W. Britains catalog, making it somewhat unique. Recently I was successful in bidding on a set of the Netherlands Infantry, boxed and in near mint condition. The only ‘blemish’ was the beginning of a touch of ‘lead rot’ on the very top of one of the rifleman’s helmets. Needless to say this was very quickly and carefully arrested. The low humidity of the Arizona climate is beneficial to certain ailments of toy soldiers as well as human beings. Not necessarily the ‘holy grail’, however the set is by far the rarest set in my collection (James Opie rarity index of 92 out of 100 on a logarithmic scale). For purposes of comparison also shown are two views of a museum mannequin in the authentic uniform and equipment of the Dutch Army circa 1939. Note that Britains did take 'slight' liberty in replicating the actual shape of the helmet, but the color of the grey, and correctness in the balance of the uniform are fairly accurate.


The final irony is that they represent an army that albeit briefly and unsuccessfully engaged German troops, four years before the ‘Red Devils’ had another go at them in Arnhem and Oosterbeek. (Click on the image to enlarge, and you can zoom in to actual size.)

W. Britains Set No. 1850 Netherlands Infantry
Steel Helmets Slope Arms circa 1939

Netherlands Army
Infantry Service Dress circa 1939 

Netherlands Army
Infantry Service Dress circa 1939
(back view)

A vintage photograph of the Royal Netherlands Army Bicycle
Band circa probable mid 1930's (wearing M34 helmets)

As an interesting adjunct, appearing at the 2011 Edinburgh Military Tattoo was the Royal Netherlands Army Bicycle Band (Fanfarekorps Koninklijke Landmacht Bereden Wapens), dressed in the identical 1940 Service Dress Uniforms. It is certainly challenging enough to play a musical instrument while mounted on horseback, but try playing a bass tuba while riding in formation on a bicycle. Needless to say their performance was one of the most unique and popular of each performance.

1939 Musical Ride of the RCMP at the New York World's Fair

To most Canadians the Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is considered a national institution, even a national treasure, as well as being renowned internationally. In 1966 my parents purchased a cottage in the 30,000 Island District of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. The previous owner was a retired fire department chief from Avon, Ohio, Captain Floyd J. ‘Cap’ O’Neil. The cottage was renamed in his honor, ‘Cap’s Cay’. In the boat house hung a rather unique photograph, subjected to all the realities of the Georgian Bay climate for years, including the humidity of the bay and severe sub-zero winters. Surprisingly it had survived remarkably well, all things considered.

It was a panoramic photograph of the 1939 Musical Ride Troop of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in front of the Canadian National Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair. The fair was held during the summer, barely weeks before the start of World War II on 1 September 1939. They were appearing in a series of performances at the fair. While there ‘Cap’ O’Neil had been their host and guide. Out of appreciation the Troop had presented him with the photograph, signed by each and every member. The signatures were somewhat faded due to age and the environment, but still clearly visible.

I matted and framed the photograph, and recently donated the original to the RCMP Historical Collections Unit at the new museum in Regina, Saskatchewan. After an extended series of technical challenges their Forensics Section was able to provide me with a copy of the original in return. Panoramic photography is obviously still readily available, but printing equipment in the size required was not.

 Of particular interest are the WWI campaign medals of the Officer-in-Charge and a couple other NCO’s. It would be of significant interest to know how many of this group served on active duty with the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II. The most interesting detail in the picture however, is the presence of then Corporal Cyril N.K. ‘Nordie’ Kirk. Corporal Kirk would subsequently command the Musical Ride in 1953, with the rank of Superintendent. This was in due course during his series of promotions in the force, to ultimately become an Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He had quite an illustrative and distinguished career! For those who might be interested his son has posted a web site in his honor; http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/archives/kirk_archives.asp. (Editorial note: With apologies, unfortunately the museum no longer provides access to these specific archives.)

The photograph is of such size that in order to provide any detail I have to present it in two halves. I have also been able to further discover a contemporary photograph taken during one of the Ride’s performances at the fair. I have personally had the privilege of seeing them twice, once at the Calgary Stampede and at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, California. For those who may be interested I have included a more recent performance by the Musical Ride of the RCMP at Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC in 2017. (Click on images to enlarge.)

The 1939 Musical Ride of the RCMP in front of the Canadian
National Pavilion at the New York World's Fair

The balance of the panoramic photograph

Then Corporal C.N.K. 'Nordie' Kirk of
the RCMP on the far right, his signature
appearing below the horse's hooves

The Musical Ride of the RCMP performing at the
1939 New York World's Fair

WWI Royal Naval Division Cap Badges - Genuine or Counterfeit?

In order to provide a quick source of trained manpower to augment the British Army desperately fighting on the European continent in the early stages of WWI,  Reserve Royal Naval personnel were organized into eight battalions. These battalions, with the addition of a Royal Marine Brigade, comprised the Royal Naval Division. The division was first engaged in a delaying action at Antwerp, Belgium, in 1914, and later at Gallipoli. The battalions were named after famous British admirals. As shown, and briefly discussed in another page within this blog, they included the following:
     1st Royal Naval Brigade
        1st (Drake) Battalion
        2nd (Hawke) Battalion
        3rd (Benbow) Battalion
        4th (Collingwood) Battalion
     2nd Royal Naval Brigade
        5th (Nelson) Battalion
        6th (Howe) Battalion

        7th (Hood) Battalion

        8th (Anson) Battalion
     Royal Marine Light Infantry Brigade

     

Because of the unique nature of the Royal Naval Division, and the distinctive cap badges of the  battalions, they have become a popular and sought after element in the collection of British Regimental cap badges. Only 6 of the badges were identified in Kipling & King's definitive work, the cap badges for the Benbow and Collingwood battalions not being shown. With the limited availability of genuine original cap badges has come the opportunity for unscrupulous entrepreneurs to counterfeit all of the badges. One such example is the badge of the Nelson Battalion.

With acknowledgement and thanks to John ‘Paddy’ Newell, a member of the British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum, here is a specific case study of the counterfeiting of the  cap badge.  Shown is an annotated image of the badge highlighting specific areas on one of the most common fakes. . On the fakes the pennant at the top is usually unvoided (on the good ones it is separate and more pointed). The sails on the fakes have got additional vertical lines which are not on the good ones and if you look at the left hand side of the ship's hull there is a gap between the bottom of the yard arm and where the planks start and then there are 9 planks, on the fakes there are 8 planks. In addition the mottled finish that should be present behind ‘NELSON’, and the figurehead is not there. (Click on images to enlarge.)

Counterfeit WWI Royal Naval Division Nelson Battalion
cap badge - Note discrepancies in the circled areas

A genuine WWI Royal Naval Division
Nelson Battalion cap badge for comparision

As if this were not enough there is a further compounding of the issue by the recent surfacing of examples which have had a manufacturer's 'plate' (J.R. Gaunt London) added to the back of the badge. Experts are currently trying to evaluate the veracity, or lack there of, of this badge configuration. In some instances the badges have been modified by the removal of the lugs, or no lugs initially, to a pin-back 'sweetheart' pin.

Questionable WWI RND Nelson Battalion
badge converted to 'sweetheart' pin.

Back of same badge showing J.R. Gaunt
'plate' and pin back.

The following pair of photographs are of an established genuine example of the RND Nelson Battalion badge, with lugs and a 'plate' attached to the back.

Genuine WWI RND Nelson Battalion cap badge,

Back of same badge showing both the 'plate' and lugs.

Parachuting for Dummies - 'Rupert' World War II Deception Device

PARACHUTING

In 1985 my good friend Maj Robert J. ‘Bob’ Bragg, Parachute Regiment (Rtd.) was extremely gracious in presenting a significant gift to me. Even at the time I was well aware of the unique nature of item. Having come through Bob’s hands it has impeccable provenance. Some readers may recognize the name R.J. Bragg as the co-author, along with Roy Turner, of two definitive works on airborne insignia of the world. The books are; Parachute Badges and Insignia of the World, R.J. Bragg & Roy Turner, Blandford Press, Poole Dorset, 1979, ISBN 0 7137 0882 4 and PARACHUTE WINGS, Bragg & Turner, Peter A. Heims, Surrey, 1985, ISBN 0 9506426 2 2. Others may remember him as president of the Manchester Chapter of the Parachute Regiment Association. He had previously served with the 13th Bn PARA (TA). Roy Turner served on active service with 45 Royal Marine Commando, and saw action in both Aden and Malaya. Bragg & Turner in the Airborne and Special Forces Insignia arena are all but synonymous with Kipling & King in the field of cap badges.    

It is a British dummy parachutist. Official nomenclature is; Device, Camouflage, No. 15. They have also been referred to as a ‘Rupert’ (A Scottish derisive term for an officer in the British Army) and a ‘Paragon' (Origin undetermined, but may be a play on words, 'Para - Gone'). As a battlefield expendable made of hessian (hop sacking), not that many survived their World War II operational deployment. Obviously the example I have did not see combat, as it is unissued, complete with its parachute and all associated fittings. (Most of the images can be enlarged twice for details)

 Two of the most significant employments of the dummies were the night of 6 June 1944 in Operation Titanic I – IV with elements of  1^st SAS, in direct support of Operation Overlord. They were also used in Operation Market-Zone I through III on 16-17 September 1944, in support of Operation Market-Garden.

The dummy has been in a cedar lined storage closet for an extended period of time. Several years since I lasted looked at it, and I was a bit concerned due to the low humidity in Arizona. As an expendable the canopy is made out of a fine cotton, rather than scarce silk, rayon or nylon. The texture and weave almost feel like Egyptian cotton (Very probably a closely woven cotton material called Ramex, which was used in the fabrication of most X-Type Statichutes). As a result it has seemed to have fared a lot better than had it been made of the other materials. Suffices that it is still very soft and pliable. The shroud lines are carefully laid into the dummy’s bag, then the folded canopy. The static cord is tied to the crown of the canopy with a short piece of fine twine. The same twine is used to secure the four flaps of the bag. 

 The body of the dummy, as can be seen in the photographs is well made of a tightly woven burlap/sack cloth or hessian material. It would have to be in order that it can hold the sand used to provide both shape and weight. The dummy is approximately half life sized, about 36 inches in overall length, and the parachute canopy scaled to match. I have not unpacked the parachute (fragility and value issues), but judging from museum displayed examples there are a reduced number of shroud lines attached to the canopy compared to a full sized tactical parachute, such as the X-Type Statichute or T-5. In addition the shroud lines are a relatively loosely woven cotton cord, rather than the more familiar parachute shroud line cording.

The example I have is obviously not one of the self-destroying configurations (See following photograph), and as far as I can discern there are no special provisions for attachment of the gunfire simulation devices, which were employed in conjunction with the dummies. Specific information and photographs on these simulators, including detailed means of attachment to the dummies, are found in the referenced web site below.

There are several web sites that show and discuss the operational use of the dummies, however I would seriously question some of the information contained in certain sites. There is one site run by the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum which is historically accurate and outstanding both in scope and detail. The URL is: http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/14560?mediaSection=Equipment+lists. It has four parts each of which can be accessed from the menu bars on the left hand side of the window. Another site of potential interest, discussing in extensive detail the development and employment of the dummies, is; http://web.archive.org/web/20100326052243/http://home.att.net/~1.elliott/paratrooperdummyhistorysite.html.

The following YouTube video was made on or about 6 June 2011 on the anniversary of Operation Overlord. While containing a few inaccurate details, overall it provides a modern historical perspective on 'Rupert'.

19th Century Military Communications at the Speed of Light – The Heliograph

The first recorded use of a crude type of heliograph in military communications is believed to have been by the Athenians, using highly polished shields, between Athens and Marathon, a distance of 26 miles in 490 BC. This was to signal the victory over the Persians, and apparently occurred in parallel with the fabled Greek runner who also conveyed word of the outcome of the battle. This incident in history is recounted by Alan Harfield, author of a book entitled Early Signalling Equipment, THE HELIOGRAPH, A Short History, Royal Corps of Signals Museum, 1986.

An Athenian Hoplon Shield - Possibly one similar could have been
the first military 'heliograph' ( Could stand a bit of polishing) circa 400 BC

The Zulu War - Heliograph at work across the Tugela River
1879

2nd Life Guard Signalers - Heliograph Drill

The relatively modern military heliograph found its origins in the heliothrope, invented by Karl Gauss, a German scientist and mathematician, in 1821. This ‘light-reflecting’ system evolved to the heliostat, a non-oscillating mirrored instrument, and was converted to a more effective device with the incorporation of a shutter, which facilitated the use of Morse Code. After this evolved system was being used, Henry Mance (later Sir Henry Mance) brought it to the attention of  the British Indian Government, and it was introduced into the British Army in 1875. Obviously not in time to provide communications during the Indian Mutiny (1857 – 1858), however it did see extensive service in India, particularly in the Northwest Frontier, well into the Twentieth Century. Given an optimal operational environment heliographs can efficiently operate at a range of up to 70 miles. Heliographs were extensively used for line-of-sight communications in both India and Africa. They were also widely used by the United States Army, particularly in the Southwest desert. The following link details the employment by the United States Army against Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches in the 1880's; http://huachuca-www.army.mil/pages/history/Rolak.html.

U.S. Army Portable Heliograph (Mance type) circa 188'0s

One of the more common configurations of military issued heliographs is the British and Commonwealth Army’s, HELIOGRAPH, 5-inch, Mark V. It was employed into the early part of World War II, and used by the Pakistani Army up  to 1975. It is said that the  Canadian Army retained theirs in TO&E well into WWII, because officers thought they made “excellent shaving mirrors". Complete heliograph kits can still be found today, however are becoming scarce, necessitating acquisition of multiple units in order to comprise one complete heliograph with its leather carrying case, tripod, duplex mirror assembly, accessories and cased spare mirrors. 

As a closing aside Rudyard Kipling wrote one of his more memorable poems, "A Code of Morals" about the ficticious use of the heliograph in the general area of the Khyber Pass, near the Afghan Border of then India.

Shadi Bagiar, entrance to the Khyber Pass circa 1878

British Indian Army Heliograph Party

Lest you should think this story true

I merely mention I

Evolved it lately. 'Tis a most

Unmitigated misstatement.

Now Jones had left his new-wed bride to keep his house in order,

And hied away to the Hurrum Hills above the Afghan border,

To sit on a rock with a heliograph; but ere he left he taught

His wife the working of the Code that sets the miles at naught.

And Love had made him very sage, as Nature made her fair;

So Cupid and Apollo linked , per heliograph, the pair.

At dawn, across the Hurrum Hills, he flashed her counsel wise--

At e'en, the dying sunset bore her husband's homilies.

He warned her 'gainst seductive youths in scarlet clad and gold,

As much as 'gainst the blandishments paternal of the old;

But kept his gravest warnings for (hereby the ditty hangs)

That snowy-haired Lothario, Lieutenant-General Bangs.

'Twas General Bangs, with Aide and Staff, who tittupped on the way,

When they beheld a heliograph tempestuously at play.

They thought of Border risings, and of stations sacked and burnt--

So stopped to take the message down--and this is what they learnt--

"Dash dot dot, dot, dot dash, dot dash dot" twice. The General swore.

"Was ever General Officer addressed as 'dear' before?

"'My Love,' i' faith! 'My Duck,' Gadzooks! 'My darling popsy-wop!'

"Spirit of great Lord Wolseley, who is on that mountaintop?"

The artless Aide-de-camp was mute; the gilded Staff were still,

As, dumb with pent-up mirth, they booked that message from the hill;

For clear as summer lightning-flare, the husband's warning ran:--

"Don't dance or ride with General Bangs--a most immoral man."

[At dawn, across the Hurrum Hills, he flashed her counsel wise--

But, howsoever Love be blind, the world at large hath eyes.]

With damnatory dot and dash he heliographed his wife

Some interesting details of the General's private life.

The artless Aide-de-camp was mute, the shining Staff were still,

And red and ever redder grew the General's shaven gill.

And this is what he said at last (his feelings matter not):--

"I think we've tapped a private line. Hi! Threes about there! Trot!"

All honour unto Bangs, for ne'er did Jones thereafter know

By word or act official who read off that helio.

But the tale is on the Frontier, and from Michni to Mooltan

They know the worthy General as "that most immoral man."

So much for the operational security of the heliograph!

British Cap Badges – Additional Guidance in Identifying Restrikes and Counterfeits

The following compilation of additional information is presented with acknowledgment to the membership of the British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum. Membership in the forum is strongly recommended for advanced collector to neophyte alike. Here is an example of the detailed forensic guidance that can be found on their web site. The forum has an extensive file of high resolution photographs of a wide range of both cap badges and cloth insignia. Another outstanding forum with the same scope and depth of British and Commonwealth subject matter (particularly elite forces insignia) is surprisingly, Wehrmacht - Awards.com (See British and Commonwealth Militaria Section). Both are listed in this blog’s links.

Although lacking in clarity the badges shown in the following photograph should be sufficiently clear to allow the collector to at least identify the regiment. Every badge shown is a restrike. If the badge you are trying to evaluate is amongst those shown, extra caution is certainly advised. As previously discussed on other pages of this blog, and as can be seen in this photograph (first six badges), the Highland Regiments of the British Army are a very popular subject for reproduction. (Click on image to enlarge.)

A display of the range of identified restrikes of
British Regimental Cap Badges

The following discussion is attributed to a member of the British & Commonwealth Badge Forum, who is both acknowledged and thanked.

'There are a number of things that the back of a badge reveals. The fasteners are one major indicator. The type of lug, slider, tangs, (blades in UK terms), etc are important. Flat lugs vs wire lugs tell a story. Maker marked vs plain sliders tell something, length and shape of the sliders, material the slider is made from, etc. Many of these characteristics are specific to a time period, a production method, or a particular maker. The reverse reveals other information. The back may reveal if the badge was cast or stamped, the type of material used may be visible (brass, white metal, precious metals, etc.), the position or location the fasteners were attached at, or details of the stamping / casting not visible on the face.

The first thing that I look for on the reverse of a badge is the definition of the strike; many fake badges have poor reverse definition.

As for lugs, I have seen and there are many variations in size, shape and material to be considered. I have noted that prior to pictorial evidence being uncovered that footed lugs were in the main shunned, however the modern mass produced footed lugs are pretty easy to spot.

That said I have original issued naval badges with such lugs.

Also new copper tends to be a lot brighter/pinker than that of any age, although in my opinion caution has to be exercised if a badge has been chemically dipped as new residues can be apparent.

On plated badges I would usually expect either lugs or slider to show signs of the plating as well.

I have badges in my collection that I know to have been re-lugged and on one or two the workmanship is iffy, on others that I have you would be very hard pushed to tell that they had been repaired. It suffices to say that a re-lugged/repaired genuine original cap badge is far superior to a reproduction.

Sliders are another minefield with many variations, for WW1 period badges I look for an authentic crimp mark as some indication of an original badge and also the degree of taper evident as well as the shape of the end, I look for some degree of uniformity here.

Sliders that have a wide top often arouse doubt if they are not maker marked and I also look at the gauge of metal used and have noted that on many new or fake metal badges although the gauge seems correct the metal used is very soft and pliable.

There are badges such as the Tower Hamlets Rifles where a long slider is expected in general terms but attention must be paid to the position of the fixing as often all is not what it seems.

Obviously the above statement is far from exhaustive but I hope it explains to some degree why the back of the badge is important.

To be honest I have in the past been so excited to have my hands on a particular badge that I have handed over my hard earned without so much as a glance at the back, luckily for me I have had the good fortune to have been stood at the table of one of the good guys on the occasion though he may have despaired at my lack of thoroughness and my un-questioning trust.'

Let's look now at two specific examples of British cap badges that have been widely copied.

In World War I one of the specialized units of the Royal Navy was the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) Armoured Car Squadron. Although frequently miss-identified (and collected) as a cap badge, the personnel wore distinctive collar dogs. The rarity of genuine surviving examples of these badges immediately makes them a prime target for reproduction. Short of holding a copy in one hand, and the genuine badge in the other, the following are reasonably high resolution photographs of the front and back of each for close comparison. Unfortunately there are better reproductions than this, so extreme care should be exercised with this badge. 

Front of an identified copy of a WWI RNAS
Armoured Car Squadron badge 

Back of the same copy; Note both the lack of
definition in the die strike and the spacing of the lugs

Front of an identified original of a WWI RNAS
Armoured Car badge; Note the fuller font and the
spacing of the periods between letters

Back of the same original badge; Note the
clarity of the die strike and the difference in
the spacing of the lugs indicative of a collar dog

Genuine examples of the second badge are at least as rare. It is the distinctive badge wore by commanding officers and ‘officers of the day’ of 21 SAS Artist Rifles on the black leather cross (‘cartridge’) pouch belt of the No.1 Dress Uniform. As such it was at least sterling silver (probably hallmarked) and had two screw posts in N-S orientation. As would be expected there are not that many photographs available of personnel in this uniform. The badge is classified by collectors as unobtainable. Apparently for a period of time a white metal die struck version (Queen’s Crown) with lugs, not screw posts, in a E-W orientation was available for sale to serving personnel in the PRI (regimental kit shop). This badge is as close as you can come to an original. Suffices to say that even these 'semi-official' replicas have been counterfeited, as can be seen below. One assessment of the differences is as follows:

Semi-Official badge characteristics:
• Rear side is smooth throughout, i.e. no ‘orange peel’ or matt type surfaces.
• Front side matt surface between wording & ‘gods’, is even thro’ out.
• Rear side of badge to, ‘21 over SAS’: no horizontal lines/striations, i.e. smooth surface.
• 2 copper lugs are brazed with a fillet of solder. Copy shown has no fillet.
• The wording on the badge, i.e. ARTISTS CVM MARTE MINERVA has crisper definition.
• The position of the lugs is different, i.e. further down on the badge.

• Bottom stems of laurel wreath are both present and well defined.

• Overall appearance of white metal different from 'sheen' evident in copy.

Front of 'Semi-official' 21 SAS Artist Rifles
cross belt badge; Note consistency of
pebbling on surface of oval area

Back of same badge; Note absence of striations
around the lettering '21SAS'

Front of copy of 21 SAS Artists Rifles cross
belt badge; Note almost anodized appearance
of the badge

Back of same copy badge; Note striations
around the lettering '21SAS'