Uniform Insignia Forum

Gentlemen, I think there are very few people that have the same interest in rank insignia as we do in anywhere of the world. we are the "weird" kind. :-) The forum brought us together from different parts of the world, I think it would be interesting to know each other.

Would you like to introduce yourself and your collection (if you have)? pics of yourself and your collection would be even better.

I'm a pesticide scientist/militaria collector, 28. I live in Shenyang, the 1st capital of the last dynasty, northeast China. My job is to do pesticide toxicology experiments which are required in pesticide registration.
My interest in militaria formed when I was a child, there was no rank system at that time though. but only a few years ago, I started to collect. the majority of my collection are military uniforms and rank insignia, Chinese type 55 rank insignia, Police type 92 collar tabs East German stuff are my favourates. I also like wearing uniforms, mostly at home. :-)

My humble collection

Chinese
Type 55 Army junior officer's everyday uniform, officer and EM rank insignia.
Type 87 Army & Air Force Officer & EM uniforms, Piles of type 87 shoulder boards.
Type 83, 89, 99 Police uniforms, Full sets of Type 92, 95, 99 Police rank insignia.
A few medals

East German
Infantry, Border Guards(Grenztruppen) & Civil Defence(Zivilverteidigung) Officer everday uniforms, Air Force Officer's raincoat.
Officer & EM collar tabs and shoulder boards of many branches.

Soviet
Army officer everyday uniform
Officer & EM collar tabs and shoulder boards of many branches.
A few medals

American
Officer's metal rank insignia (Col---2nd Lt), a few branch insignia.

Im just curious, but why do you wear army uniforms around the house? Again no disrespect ment, just curious.

I wear uniforms at home (not everyday) and in collector's party, cos I guess if I walk out on the streets in old style or foreign uniforms, I'll get a lot of attention and might be thought weird or intellectually something.... :oops:
I wore current uniforms out several times.

I only have one item of military dress; an East German Army infantry officers hat

Hi All
Let me introduce myself

Well, my photo is on the forum for some time now.....

As to myself. I am an electronics engineer, specialised in radio broadcasting studios and TV transmission over fiber and telecom networks .......

I am perheps the oldest member of this forum - being 49 (having a birthday on 11th of september is terrible).

My interest in military begun when I was serving in the army after university (I ended my service with the rank of "sierzant, podchorazy rezerwy" which means "sergeant, reserve officer candidate" and having insignia of sergeant with the red-white cord around shoulder strap).
In that time (1981) I found out that there were a lot of uniformed services in Poland, each with specific form of insignias.
After my military service I have no time to get deeply into the subject (having wife and 3 children). But in the latest years I begun to go more and more deeply into this. In the beginning I've been searching the web. I thought I'am the only one so crazy in the world. Then I met (in the internet) Mr Krunoslav Mikulan from Croatia. He directed me to the new website - being the Pavel's site.
I am not collecting any physical items (like uniforms or insignias) but the information. Therefore I have a lot of (sometimes very expensive) books and other similar sources of info.

Because I am running my own electronics company I don't have time to spent in the libraries - so my only resources are the paper publications that I can buy in a bookstore or info from internet. However I got an access to the catalog (electronics) of the library in Polish parliament and made a list of all the acts on this subject from 1920. But I don't have time to go there and physicaly search through this documents.

My big idea is to prepare a kind of publication (no ones knows when) regarding the general rules of rank insignia schemes. I mean that in fact there are just few schemes of insignias spread around the world. Even the Polish and Chinesee insignias (for officers) could be treated as the slightly variation of the same pattern.

And for example every police insignia presented here by Chris are following the same pattern - differences are in colours etc.

If you would like to access me directly - when my PC is on I'm available in the Polish communicator system GG (www.gadu-gadu.pl) with the number 2862924

Hi,

my name is Edwin or as most of you can see "Erwin", Erwin is my German name given by my German lecturer back....err I think 10 or 8 years ago.

I was enlisted into military service in 97, back then I was in Combat Engineers, I served for two and a half years and ended my active service with the rank of Third Sergeant. After that I worked for the governemnt for 2 years, that was roughly the time I started to collect military ranks, before that I was collecting rank "information". I flew around the Asian region on a monthly basis, and that helped me alot in my collections.

Currently I'm in Australia taking a university degree course, since I'm studying now my collection days are suspended for a while.

My collections:
- 1 set of British army S95 DPM epaulettes (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Australian army AUSCAM ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of New Zealand army DPM epaulettes (officers only);
- 1 set of Taiwanese army shoulder straps (lacking the 2 highest rank);
- 1 set of Malaysian army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Indonesian army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Royal Thai Army Parade ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Royal Thai Navy Parade shoulder straps (officers only);
- 1 set of Indian army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of State of Tamil Nadu (Indian State) police ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of US army officer metal and OR AG uniform chevrons;
- 1 set of USMC chevrons;
- 1 set of Canadian army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Bundeswehr flecktarn ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of French foreign legion epaulettes (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Bangladesh army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);
- 1 set of Israel army service uniform ranks (officers & OR);

and a lot of miscelleneous.

Do you have a scanner Erwin? If so try and post some of what you have, ive been trying to make UK Army combat rank insignia using Paint but takes forever, i did make a few examples however, if i only had my own website i could copy them here but ...

Sorry mate :( , most of my collections are back home.

I did not bring any of my collections to Australia.

I just wanted to say "Hi" to everyone out there. I quite enjoy this board, although I am quite new to this. I have been interested in insignia for some time now, branching out from my interest in uniforms and especially uniforms and insignia from Star Trek. I'm 20 years old, and currently attending the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. I'm proud to be Canadian.

JazzGuy

Hi all!
Just a few quick words about me.

I'm currently working with the Parliament of Romania as councillor (which is a civil service rank, btw), specialized in defense&security. I have gradutaed Law in 1995 and the National Defence College in 2000.
I currently own a few items, as 1 Czechoslovak uniform - late '80's pattern (colonel, air defense) and 1 dark green Czeh and Slovak uniform 9early '90's, I believe), as well as a few Hungarian uniforms (Hungarian People's Army, M87, Hungarian Home Defence Force, M92) and a number of separate items, like officer's caps, insignia and such. Also, some Romanian arm of service insignia.

Frank, Zdzislaw, Chris, Miklós, JazzGuy, Erwin, et all
Let me introduce myself as well as a relative “new boy” here. I have very much enjoyed my short association here. I was on the verge of creating my own site when I stumbled upon this site. And now I feel like a kid in a candy store.
I have so enjoyed finding this site that I am still in awe, I have emailed the administrators (NUDGE, NUDGE… cough, cough still waiting for a response) and will gladly assist in any way I can.

Frank: - two major things that struck me in your post.
As to the question of wearing uniforms around the house, I spent an afternoon about a year ago with a chap dressed in the uniform of a “Flag Officer” in the Confederate Sates Navy. He is a College Professor (PHD) who I have asked to join us here and is a US civil war re-enactor. I have never learned so much about one of my pet projects (the CS Navy) as talking to this man.
The fact that the Chinese Communist forces had no rank other their current appointment was one of the things got me interested in the whole concept of “ranks” versus “posts or office held”.
So thanks for you post

Zladislaw
Your interest in “rank structures” parallels an interest of mine in terms of a social history or ranks

On to the point :
I have replaced my naval cap badge avatar with a picture so you can get a look at me. I am currently a communications & computer software Technology Manager.
I have always had an interest in the sea, including naval history, organizations and insignia.
As a teenager, I had been a Cadet Petty Officer in both a Navy League Cadet Corps and Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC Crusader). Interestingly being born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a land locked prairie province seemed to not be an obstacle to my love for the Sea. In Manitoba, we have 2 large lakes (Lake Winnipeg & Lake Manitoba) as well the huge Hudson’s Bay. As a young man I had 3 desires, to become a Naval Officer, to become a lawyer, and to go to sea. I rationalized these by wanting to become a naval lawyer serving at sea.
The Royal Canadian Navy had become in 1968, the “sea component” of the new combined Canadian Armed Forces. By the time I joined in the 80’s, it had become Maritime Command and we were all in a single “green” uniform whether Air, Ground or Sea. As part of this all rank insignia and ranks became identical so whether you air, ground or sea 3 chevrons meant “Sergeant”. The reason I mention all this is that I was profoundly affected by my service. And that was when I developed a keen interest in both uniforms & insignia and the “social organization and structure of rank systems”
Because of the unification of the Canadian Forces, I learned 3 things:
I could no longer be a naval lawyer as those did not exist, I could after graduating law school (outside of the service) become a military lawyer holding “army” style rank and insignia in the legal branch.
I had applied and been accepted to Royal Roads Naval College and could get my degree that way but after 2 years at Royal Roads, I would be transferred to the Royal Military College in Kingston for my final 2 years and I would graduate from RMC not RRNC/RRMC.
Sea service was considered low priority and “shore staff” was the way to promotion.
I then decided to get a commerce degree first and join the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) as they had amongst their fleet 2 beautiful and wondrous weather ships CCGS Quadra & CCGS Vancouver who spent 6 months at sea That was the ticket for me, I applied to the Coast Guard and was accepted and upon completion of my degree, I would join CCG and spend 6 months at the Coast Guard College then be appointed a Watchkeeping Mate )or 3rd Officer)
While I was in university, both CCG weather ships were decommissioned so I applied to join the Navy after graduation. Under CGETP (can’t remember exactly what that stood for) I was granted an appointment as a Naval Cadet / Midshipman. And upon graduation was commissioned as a Direct Entry Officer (DEO) and sent for training as a Navigator.
Now this is the part that disturbed me, as a Midshipman, I purchased my navy blue uniform and also had a set of tan coloured working dress, I then had to purchase CF green dress and working uniforms. I was commissioned as a “Second Lieutenant” in the Canadian Armed Forces, by courtesy I was called “Acting Sub Lieutenant” while serving at sea but that always bugged me. When the CAF became unified all ranks became unified as well and the naval titles were by courtesy only.
When I was promoted to Sub Lieutenant, my commission actually read Lieutenant and I was in the standard CF green. At sea I was a Sub Lieutenant, but ashore I was a Lieutenant (Army style rank). Official correspondence addressed me in “army style rank”.
By the time I left, as Lieutenant (N), (Army Captain rank) my promotion read Lieutenant (N). so I was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant. (One of my C.O.’s was promoted from Lt. Col to Captain (Navy))
I actually left because I was not identifiable as a Naval Officer (and I was also given a cushy staff job ashore which I did not want). The thing that has always stayed with me was how powerful those symbols of my naval identity were. IF I was going to risk my life (and I did several times) this “naval” identification was so vital to me. The “CAF” now renamed “CF” (Canadian Forces) must have understood this as well as distinctive naval ranks returned as did (recently) distinctive naval uniforms.

I am older now (39) and those feelings are still so strong. But when I look at the IDF as an example which has different uniforms but the same ranks for all branches I realize that a lot was is “tradition”.
Since leaving the Navy, I became in order, a copywriter, TV writer - producer, sales & marketing executive and a computer technology programmer/manager. I completed an MBA and have extensively studied organizational behaviour and social organizational behavior. I recently went back on a part time basis to get my law degree – (who knows ?) .

I used to have an amazing collection of insignia & insignia books which were lost some 5 years ago in a fire. Saddest event of my life.
My main interest is on naval forces, historical naval forces, women in uniform and semi naval or auxiliary sea forces.
Things like the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Marines, Coast Guards, WRENS, the Roman Naval Prefecture, US Maritime Service , Trinity House etc are my bag.
I also am interested in organizational structures in general, governments, intelligence services, etc.

PS: if anyone has comments directly on the “Canadian Forces” aspects of this post, please make a post under Rank Insignia –Americas otherwise here.
Ta.

Hi herrwiggly here, my name is Jon lindemann, as the saying goes, let me introduce myself. nothing very spectacular, my interest in things connected to ranks and insignias goes back as far I can remember. I am 61 years old and am a retired electronics engineer, in later years of my working life a manager in the electronics and computer industry. I decided to take early retirement seven years ago and have not regretted it once.
I come from a military family, we mostly serve in HM forces mainly in the army, a few of us have served in the R.N., my maternal grandfather served for forty years in our county regiment (retiring as a Warrant Officer 1), having served in the Boer war and all through WW1, in the front line until his retirement. The last two of my family to serve were two of my nieces, who married soldiers and only left the service when having their children. Who knows about the next generation?.
I always wanted to be a police officer, having to wear spectacles, I was not accepted so instead i joined my county regiment (THE Royal Anglian Regt, Line Infantry, this being the Amalgamation of Lincolnshire regt. with my home county Regt. of Northamptonshire, four days after my 20th birthday, hence my regimental cap badge.
by this time I was well on the way to studying all ranks and insignias, to which I have vast reference library, but obviouly retain a great deal of information in my head.
I do try to pay attention to detail and try to be as accurate as possible but alas I make mistakes from time to time.
After years of frustration trying to find information on ranks etc. my wife stumbled on this site by accident after doing a search without my knowledge whilst I was out. Boy am I glad, this site not only increased my knowledge but has given me countless hours of enjoyment especially being able to swap information with people from all over the world. Long may it continue. we still have a long way to go in securing the world ranks so long may that also continue.
Of course there are errors on this site but that is to be expected with the vast amount in information being displayed, so I try to do my " bit " in putting things right.
I have long since found that information on our hobby is not always very forthcoming in this country, but hopefully after contacting the Customs and Excise Museum in liverpool, today I had a phone call from them telling me they had put a package together for me and I should in receipt shortly.
If I can get it posted on the site, I will do so. Bye for now. :D :D :D Cheers.

Hi there. My name is David van Tonder.

I am not a collector of Rank Insignia but rather complete Dress Uniforms - specifically Snr. Officer (Admiral, General and Marshal) ranks. My lowest ranking uniform (in a collection of close to 60) is that of a Colonel of the Irish Guards. My collection consists of Soviet (WW2 and later), Russian, Romanian, German (WW2 and EG), US, South African, British, Belgian and Canadian uniforms and cover the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and Ambassadorial branches.

My fascination with all things military started in early childhood and manifested itself when I joined the South African Air force in the early 90's. After my stint in the AF my interests lay dormant for many years until about 2.5 years ago when I discovered the wonders of the Militaria section of Ebay. Since then I have made many contacts throughout the world and found many websites (like this one) that are of great help in my hobby.

Rankinsignia is one of the most informative and comprehensive sites on the topic and one I visit on a daily basis (especially the Forums).

I want to take this opportunity to thank the authors of the site as well as all the contributing forum members for putting together this incredible body of knowledge.

Greeting from Scotland! My name is Alastair Dinsmor.
I am a retired (5 years) Police Inspector of Strathclyde Police, Scotland /UK, and have been a collector of Police Insignia, Headgear and Uniforms for 37 years.
My collection of over 6000 items can be seen on my website:
http://adintpolcol.tripod.com.
I include rank insignia in my collection. I have examples of 1361 rank insignias from 109 countries. Some in full sets, sometimes only single examples.
My collection is presently on public display in the Glasgow Police Museum
(see www.policemuseum.org.uk) and had 6600 visitors since April 2003 :D
I am very impressed by the Rank Insignia Website and this Forum, from which we can all learn, use the information in our hobby and assist others.
Regards to all.
Alastair