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British and Commonwealth Militaria Collecting Guide
A practical guide to British and Commonwealth militaria: what to collect, how to identify and authenticate items, how to value them, and how to preserve them.
European and Soviet Militaria
British and Commonwealth
British, Canadian and Australian uniforms from World War I onward, RAF and airborne kit, and the Victoria Cross.
British and Canadian WWII Uniforms: Battledress, Commandos and Generals
A guide to British and Canadian WWII uniforms: battledress, Canadian insignia, commando clothing and general officers' uniforms, with tips for identifying items.
British Army Uniform and Equipment in World War I
A guide to British Army uniform and equipment in World War I: service dress, 1908 Pattern webbing, Brodie helmets and boots, and how to check items for authenticity.
British Ceremonial Uniforms and Their Peninsular War Roots
How British ceremonial uniforms grew from Peninsular War dress: red coats, shakos, rifle green, hussar braid, and the scarlet and bearskin survivals of today.
British Desert Uniforms of the Western Desert Campaign
British desert uniforms of the Western Desert campaign, 1940 to 1943: khaki drill, shorts, headgear, webbing and boots, with tips for identifying desert-issue items.
Can civilians wear CADPAT?
Can civilians wear CADPAT? It depends on how it is worn. Here is general information on CADPAT, the rules that can apply, and where to check the current position.
Denison Smock: Identifying British Airborne Camouflage
How to identify a Denison smock: its role in British airborne camouflage, the main patterns, the label and construction checks to make, and common reproductions.
Home Guard Uniforms and Insignia of WWII Britain
Home Guard uniforms and insignia of WWII Britain, from the early LDV armbands to issued clothing, with tips on checking original items and spotting later copies.
RAF Pilot Uniforms of WWII
RAF pilot uniforms of WWII: service dress, flying clothing such as the Sidcot suit, pilot's wings, and the officer and NCO ranks that pilots wore.
Victoria Cross Replicas and Fakes: How to Spot Them
How to spot a Victoria Cross replica or fake: what a genuine VC looks like, the warning signs to check, why documentation matters, and when to get a specialist opinion.
Were fighter pilots in WWII officers?
Were fighter pilots in WWII officers? Many were, but many RAF fighter pilots were sergeant pilots. Here is how rank showed on the uniform and what it means for collectors.
What did Germans think of Canadians in WWII?
Did Germans respect Canadian soldiers in WWII? The evidence is mostly anecdotal, so here is what German sources, Dieppe and later battles show, and where to find them.
What is Britain's most prestigious military decoration?
Britain's most prestigious military decoration is the Victoria Cross. Learn when it was created, who can receive it, and how it compares with the George Cross.
Related topics
More in european and soviet militaria
German Uniforms German Army, Kriegsmarine, Panzer and Waffen-SS uniforms and caps, and how they changed from 1870 to 1945. Soviet and Russian Red Army uniforms, field caps, ushankas, medals and patches from World War II through the Cold War. Other European Uniforms WWII uniforms and insignia of France, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.