Sir Alec Guinness   From his WIKI   the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War, initially as a seaman in 1941, before receiving a commission as a temporary Sub-lieutenant on 30 April 1942 and a promotion to Temporary Lieutenant the following year, Guinness then commanded a Landing Craft Infantry at the Allied invasion of Sicily, and later ferried supplies and agents to the Yugoslav partisans in the eastern Mediterranean theatre.   And his write up on the U.S. Naval Institute on his actions off Sicily.   As the British Say, a slight Cock Up ,   Though not devastating nor with the possible tragic results that could of happened.    World War II records confirm that Alec Guinness brought ashore the first invasion force at Sicily. However, things had not gone according to plan. Hours before the invasion, Guinness had maneuvered his landing craft alongside a troopship to pick up 200 soldiers from the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Boarding the soldiers became extremely hazardous, owing to heavy seas that damaged the ship’s bow ramps. They became useless for transporting the troops to the landing craft. The soldiers had to jump into the LCI as waves lifted the craft alongside the troopship. In the confusion of getting the men safely on board, Guinness missed the signal to all ships that the invasion had been postponed by one hour. Once free of the troopship, he headed straight for land just left of the Cape Passero lighthouse. He was eight miles away from his landing beach point in his assigned quadrant passing other landing craft that were circling off the beach. He beckoned them to follow, but none did.

I don´t know if this Iron Cross is authentic or not but maybe I can help a bit with the engraving.    First line: Two names and between them what looks like a part of a unit designation 5./ ? (5. Kompanie) Second line:"mit herzlichem Glückwunsch" (with congratulations) Third line: zur Frdl.Erg. an abbrevation most likely of "zur freundlichen Erinnerung" (as a kind recollection). Note the  difference "F" and "f". Fourth line: Location Fifth line: Date

The medalset of Vice-admiral Jacob Cardinaal.    

A ribbonbar with the full Dutch Korea entitlement and the TMPT (Military Performance Event Cross) cross in it. Enjoy.   Herman

Nice!   -Ski

Nice uniform, a rural police tunic is on the list to get, looks a like C96 holster on there . PM sent 

Please see the photos. I bought a group of belt buckles at auction. Apparently a collector had a very large collection on loan to a small military theme museum in PA. Upon his death the family chose to recall the collection and auctioned it off. Put a serious dent in the museum.   Anyway, this buckle is listed as "pre-civil war dragoon". The eagle is identified as the French standard Imperial Eagle from Napoleon's second reign.   The buckle is plate brass, not cast. Not sure what the metal is for the laurel. Eagle appears to be brass.   Many questions. Most important is age and authenticity. I have no idea what the uniform equipment from that era looks like. Not gonna hold my breath on the notion it is from the 1815 era.   Thoughts, comments?  

I have different styles of back packs that are property marked to the Railway Police, regular police, Bavarian, & Land Police.  If putting together a NS period mannequin I would look for one that is marked but accept one Army marked as the Police did sometimes draw equipment from the Heer.  Here is an example of one with all Pollce marked equipment.   BTY, I have a spare Police marked fur box pack if you want to contact me off line.   polblade@aol.com    

Hello,   I got this insignia on a 1953 french helmet pith.   I was wondering if this could be a viet Minh insigna or a a early PAVN one ?    This insigna is metal made.      Thanks    A.S.

https://fumagalli1891.it/blogs/stories/the-regimental-tie?srsltid=AfmBOopO9GGAiqyzeQZWX2ZT9M52Yo-qxJqacqxAzhd8FnGbouUYzFLg

It is magnetic.

Then belts and y straps could be marked the same , I have holsters and firearms police marked , never seen a belt or y straps marked in such a way , I ask that as I am putting together a late war schupo tunic mannequin