Second World War Polish paratrooper badge, £4000 at Bosleys.
It was offered at Bosleys' Marlow saleroom on September 27.
The vendor attributed the badge to Todeusz Miszezuk, 3rd Bn, 1st Polish Parachute Brigade. He took part in the combat jump during Operation Market Garden on September 23, 1944, under command of Major W Sobocinski.
The badge was designed in 1941 by Lt M Walentynowicz. It comprised a die-cast silvered diving eagle clutching a gilt/brass laurel wreath, the reverse stamped TOBIE OJCZYZNO and numbered 4721, the wreath numbered 1034. It retains the screw post and the nut with details GR. TECHN. LONDON.
It was brought in to the auction house “by a local chap who found it in his father’s effects when moving”, said Bosley. Polish Second World War memorabilia has been in demand recently as items come to auction from deceased estates. Many Polish soldiers chose to stay in the UK after the war rather than go back to a home country under Soviet control.
One of them was the late Captain Vicenty (Wincenty) Tomaszewski, whose extensive service through the war including north Africa and Italy was underlined by a remarkable collection sold for £8200 in October last year at Lincolnshire auction house John Taylors (see ATG No 2566).
