WW2 Allied Items
This is a really neat piece, for a Black South African Artillery Gunner with the Cape Corps that was KIA on 10 Dec, 1943 in Egypt and is buried at the Alexandria Hadra War Cemetery, Plot 6.A.6 Memorial ID # 56151706. His name was D. B. Roberts and was 23 years old at the time of his death. The South African Cape Corps was primarily made up of Black South Africans. The bottom 0f the plaque reads, "Blessed World War" in Afrikaner. Don't see much material on the South Africans, especially Black Afrikaners. The plaque measures 4 1/2 " by 5 1/2" and has a kicker on the back to allow it to stand up on a shelf.
Both of these Naval Air Squadrons flew off the HMS Ark Royal. The 800 squadron "Never Unprepared" also flew off the HMS Courageous and Victorious, was involved in the hunt for the Bismarck and with the 803 squadron, attacked the Scharnhorst and lost 4 planes out of 6. The 803 squadron, "Beware of the Sting", also in that battle, lost 9 of 11 planes. It also flew off the HMS Formidable. These patches are in used condition, but this type patch rarely pops up here in the states. They are sold at $150 each, or take both for $250.