Wwii italian infantry officers

Buy WWII Italian Infantry Officers Shoulder Board for R390.00

Buy WWII Italian Infantry Officers Shoulder Board for R375.00

Buy WWII Italian Engineers Officers Shoulder Board for R385.00

Buy WWII Italian Engineers Officers Shoulder Board for R195.00

   Welcome to MT's Collectables. Our goal is to offer good quality collectables at reasonable prices. International bidders are welcome, but should take note of the international shipping charges. We are happy to combine orders to save on shipping. We do not make use of discreet listings, this is to keep all transactions transparent and without question. Items will be dispatched on Mondays and Tuesdays. Payment is due within 7 days of auction end if alternative arrangements are not made. We are reasonable, so talk to us and see what we can do to help. Have a good look at the pictures provided, these are of the actual item you are bidding on and form a vital part of the description. We do not close our auctions early, so please don't ask. We believe in a fair system where everybody has an equal opportunity. Happy bidding and thanks for taking the time to view our items. Up for auction is an Italian Officers WWII Alpini cloth Cap Badge with divisional crest.   Happy bidding

   Welcome to MT's Collectables. Our goal is to offer good quality collectables at reasonable prices. International bidders are welcome, but should take note of the international shipping charges. We are happy to combine orders to save on shipping. We do not make use of discreet listings, this is to keep all transactions transparent and without question. Items will be dispatched on Mondays and Tuesdays. Payment is due within 7 days of auction end if alternative arrangements are not made. We are reasonable, so talk to us and see what we can do to help. Have a good look at the pictures provided, these are of the actual item you are bidding on and form a vital part of the description. We do not close our auctions early, so please don't ask. We believe in a fair system where everybody has an equal opportunity. Happy bidding and thanks for taking the time to view our items. Up for auction is an Italian Officers cross belt shield with Monogram of Victor Emanuel. Damage as per pictures.     Happy bidding

    WWII SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION TITLE BADGE The Special Service Battalion (SSB) is a South African military unit formed on 1 May 1933 under the patronage of Oswald Pirow, Minister of Defence. The object was to give training to youths, between the ages of 17 and 23, who, in the wake of the 1929 depression, could find no suitable employment on leaving school.   History Lt Col George E Brink was given the responsibility for establishing the battalion at Roberts Heights and was the first commanding officer. The SSB was established to save the youth from physical and moral degeneration caused by massive unemployment due to the Great Depression. The SSB was to teach the young men military discipline, fitness and various trades to enable them to be employed by the Department of Labour and Welfare. The SSB men received a salary of a shilling a day causing the SSB soon to be known as the "Bob a Day Battalion".  In 1934 detachments were also established for 100 trainees at Durban and 150 at Cape Town. Training included elementary military subjects and physical training. After a year of the young men usually found employment in government departments or with civilian employers. By 1936 the output of the SSB totalled about 2000 youths a year. In 1937 the South African Railways established at Roberts Heights a special school to prepare boys for the railways. In 1937 3788 youths passed through the ranks of the SSB. A total of 882 of them joined the Permanent Force.  With the expansion of the South African Air Force in 1937 the SSB provided 248 air apprentices for special training but, with the improvement in the economic situation, the waiting list to join the battalion had dwindled to almost nil.  With the outbreak of war in September 1939, members of the SSB were posted to units requiring immediate reinforcement to get on to a wartime basis. An example of this being the Coastal Artillery. In February 1940 a number of troops were transferred to the 1st and 2nd Field Force Battalions. These served with distinction in East Africa, Abyssinia and the Middle East as part of 1st South African Division.  SADF era 1 SSB Commemorative Letter In August 1941 all members of the SSB below the age of 18 were transferred to the Youth Training Brigade. The remainder formed an infantry battalion, which was converted to an armoured car commando in 1942.  In February 1943 the SSB, under Lt Col EG ('Papa') Brits, became part of the 11th SA Armoured Brigade. In March 1943 the Field Force Battalion was disbanded and other ranks and some of the officers were transferred to the SSB, thus providing a nucleus of battle-tested veterans.  The unit sailed for the Middle East with the 6th SA Armoured Division in April 1943. In 1944 the division crossed the Mediterranean Sea to take part in the Italian campaign. The regiment played a prominent part in numerous actions during the campaign.  In 1946, SSB was resuscitated as a Permanent Force unit and reorganised on a two-battalion basis with the 1st Battalion as an armoured unit and the 2nd Battalion infantry. The former became a training regiment in 1953 and the latter was renamed the 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1SAI) in 1951.   CONDITION:  Very Good. Lugs in tact. UNCLEANED. Sold as seen in the images. Images form part of the description.

  ORIGINAL  and very rare uniform  that not many individuals had the need to own or wear as part of the SAAF. Prior to the war, this uniform would been worn for full dress occasions such as parades, funerals, royal functions, and only by career officers of which there were few. Many officers did not own uniforms like this as they were expensive and simply rented them. The dark blue tunic is worn with  red striped stirrup pants and patent leather boots with spurs. White gloves were regulation.  The tunic features a row of oversized  solid brass gilt buttons that are not found on any other uniform. This style was part of the army tradition that had carried on since the time of the RFC and the first world war. The later RAF had long since disbanded this style but since the SAAF retained army ranks and traditions, this uniform was retained. The high red collar features  beautifully embroidered SAAF collar devices, surmounted on a red wool high collar and outlined in gold wire russian braid. The full dress SAAF wing is  hand embroidered in bullion thread.  The pointed gilt bordered  sleeves are similar to the uniforms worn during the first world war and became obsolete by the twenties. Once WWII arrived, these uniforms were never worn again. This uniform for sale is missing the shoulder boards,the pilot wing is loose and so is one collar badge One button on the sidecap has been replaced by a Italian WW2 button and the cap badge is missing Label is intact in pocket of tunic.Tunic is a medium size with armpit to armpit being 46 cm.The pants is a 30 inch waist. SOLD AS A LOT,tunic,side cap and pants Last photo that we have  below is what it should look like restored and is only put here for show. LOCAL BUYER PAYS R280 POSTNET OVERSEAS BIDDER AIRMAIL OPTION OF R1280.00 DUE TO WEIGHT OF UNIFORM