Hat Badge of WW2 PARACHUTE Regiment LED by a KIWI

This was one of the FIRST badges ever worn on the famed Paratrooper RED BERET in WW2

The Punjab Regiment was the OLDEST and MOST DECORATED Regiment in the British Indian Army.

Their ODD hat badge (a Greek or Roman galley) was awarded to them back in 1745 !!

... as even by then they had served the British Crown on many far away battlefields.

The Punjab Regiment was the only Infantry Regiment in the entire British Army EVER to have a BOAT as it's cap badge

India was one of the FIRST British Commonwealth Countries to start PARACHUTE training.

Early in the 2nd World War the 2nd Punjab Regiment was elevated to SPECIAL FORCES status, under the command of New Zealand raised & educated officer Major "Sharkie Shaw" who commanded the unit throughout the entire 2nd World War and led them into BURMA (presumably as part of the famed CHINDIT Guerrilla Commandos)

The 2nd Punjab Regiment ceased to part of the British Army in 1947 (when it was ceded to Pakistan on India's division) It's commander Major Shaw returned to live in New Zealand until his death in Auckland in the 1980's. He was buried in Remuera


Superb condition (as seen in images)

no lug damage

This is guaranteed to be a 100% GENUINE

LARGER images of this badge can be seen at the URL "addresses" below

... However you will HAVE TO COPY these INTO your browser, and then hit your "ENTER" key, in order to VIEW them :-)

http://www.spiders.co.nz/images/0-A-Badge-Punjab-01.jpg

http://www.spiders.co.nz/images/0-A-Badge-Punjab-02.jpg