Material: Brass (die-stamped, single-piece construction)
Size: 35 mm W × 55 mm H
Description: The design prominently highlights the Polish White Eagle (Orzeł biały) looking to its right, detailed with heavily layered wing feathers, sharp talons, and a closed royal crown at its apex. The eagle stands securely upon a curved, crescent-shaped Amazon shield (pelta) that features rosettes nestled inside its upturned horn curls and a dotted geometric border running along its lower rim. The entire configuration is left un-voided between the legs and wings, developing a beautiful deep orange and golden-brown bronze patina across its high-relief fields, while the reverse is fitted with an unmarked, intact threaded screw post and its original circular securing brass thumb nut.
Circa: 1939-1945
Notes:
This specific type of stamped bronze badge was manufactured in Great Britain for the Polish Armed Forces in the West who fought alongside the Allies after the fall of Poland in 1939. Because domestic foundries were inaccessible, the Polish government-in-exile contracted British firms like J.R. Gaunt and Firmin to strike these eagles so soldiers serving in the Polish I and II Corps could maintain their national identity on British-issued battle dress side caps and berets.