A Scarce Shoulder Title and Service Stripe to the Italian Co-Operators

Code: 55186

An unissued and scarce pair of post September 1943 Shoulder badges, one a printed “Italy” Shoulder Title, the other a Service Stripe in the Italian colours in felt.

Following the surrender of Italy and the formation of the new government a large part of the country became co-belligerent with the allies. Italian prisoners of war were offered the opportunity to become co-operators which meant camp security was relaxed and the fences removed.

The prisoners uniform was changed to a brown battledress with the “Italy” shoulder title and was later changed again to a uniform more closely resembling the Italian uniform, at which stage both the Shoulder Title and the Service Stripe were worn.

These actual pieces are both shown as items 2816 and 2817 on page 542 of Jon Mills’ “Badges on Battledress”