I always coveted my Grandma's sweetheart brooch .... but my sister has it - and won't give it up !! ...... Sweetheart brooches are basically small brooches depicting the regimental or other service crest of a soldier, sailor or airman, and were worn by military wives or girlfriends. Particularly popular around the era of the Great War (1914-1918), they were often given to wives or girlfriends (hence 'sweetheart') by servicemen as mementos and reminders of their absent loves. They would be worn by the lady as a token of fealty and regard, and also to show their pride in having a husband or sweetheart who was serving his country. Whilst regimental or other service insignia are generally self-coloured base metals, it is not unusual for sweetheart brooches to be made in precious metals (silver or gold) and colourful enamels. http://news.webshots.com/album/166028891eSBzOR
Annie, get your sister drunk then nick it! I myself collect WW2 RAF sweetheart brooches, though a few associated ones such as FAA, RNAS and SAAF brooches have crept in. This christmas mum gave me a little tank corps brooch from France, found in a field. I think its WW1 so will be interested to know more. What regiment is your grans?
If you want to be a true collector you have to be serious like this guy who was on todays Antiques Roadshow (a UKTv History repeat)
Oh blimey, thats a shed load! I was going to put up a couple of pics of the family ones...About half a dozen...Never mind.. He has got a lot of the nice ones, but not the really flash ones made by firms such as Garrards...Encrusted with diamonds etc and made of gold... Have a look here... http://www.regimentalbrooches.com/
OMG ... I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven with all those !!!!!!!! My Grandma's was The King's ( Liverpool ) Regiment Kitty ! ... I remember as a kid just holding it in my hand ... rubbing it with my thumb ...... ( silly the things we remember ... isn't it ? ) I never knew her - she died many many years before I was born .... ! Annie
He started collecting pre-internet days when the competition via sites like evilbay hadn't driven the prices so damned high. Interestinly, he was told that the rarest were the Canadian ones with the higher numbers because the units themselves so small and shortlived (pic 10). I would still like to see your pics Scrimnet
please Scrimnet, show me yours and I'll show you mine Must admit i do covet the gold and diamond RAF badges. Never can afford them though. Escept when nobody spotted the charles horner RN brooch. Teehee. Scrim, thank you so much for that link.
