World War II: The Complete British Militaria Guide

Britain’s Finest Hour

The Second World War (1939–1945) demanded more of Britain than any other conflict in history. From the disaster of Dunkirk to the triumph of D-Day, from the Blitz to the Burma Road, from the Battle of the Atlantic to the fall of Berlin, every aspect of British life was mobilised for total war. For collectors, WWII militaria is the broadest and most accessible field — millions served, vast quantities of material were produced, and the period remains within living memory (though the generation that fought it is now almost entirely gone).

The Conflict

1939–40: Disaster and Survival

Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. After the “Phoney War” (September 1939 to April 1940), the German Blitzkrieg smashed through the Low Countries and France in May 1940. The BEF was driven to the coast — the evacuation from Dunkirk (26 May – 4 June 1940) rescued 338,000 Allied troops but left behind all heavy equipment. France fell. Britain stood alone.

The Battle of Britain (July–October 1940) — RAF Fighter Command vs. the Luftwaffe — saved Britain from invasion. “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” The Blitz (September 1940 – May 1941) killed over 40,000 civilians and devastated British cities.

1941–42: Global War

The war expanded catastrophically:

• North Africa: The see-saw desert war — Wavell’s victories, Rommel’s arrival, the siege of Tobruk, Crusader, Gazala, the fall of Tobruk (June 1942), and finally El Alamein (October–November 1942).
• The Far East: Japan’s entry (December 1941) brought the fall of Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore (the worst British military disaster since Yorktown — 80,000 troops captured), and Burma.
• The Battle of the Atlantic: The longest campaign of the war — U-boats vs. convoy escorts. Over 30,000 merchant seamen died. The naval cipher war (Enigma/Ultra) was a decisive factor.
• Bomber Command: The strategic bombing campaign against Germany — costly and controversial. Bomber Command lost 55,573 aircrew killed — a higher rate of loss than any other major British service branch.

1943: The Turning Point

Tunisia (the Axis surrender in North Africa, May 1943), the invasion of Sicily (July) and Italy (September), the breaking of the U-boat campaign in the Atlantic, and the massive build-up of forces in Britain for the invasion of France.

1944–45: Liberation and Victory

• D-Day (6 June 1944): The largest amphibious invasion in history — 156,000 troops crossed the Channel. British and Canadian forces landed on Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. The campaign through Normandy, the breakout, the liberation of France, the failure at Arnhem (September), the Battle of the Bulge (December — mainly American, but with British involvement), and the advance into Germany.
• Burma: Slim’s Fourteenth Army (“The Forgotten Army”) turned the tide at Imphal and Kohima, then reconquered Burma in one of the war’s most brilliant campaigns.
• VE Day: 8 May 1945. VJ Day: 15 August 1945.

The British Forces

The Army

The wartime British Army peaked at approximately 2.9 million personnel. It comprised:

• Regular Army: The professional core, including the Guards, Line Infantry, and cavalry/armoured regiments.
• Territorial Army: Part-time soldiers who formed many of the first divisions deployed overseas (e.g., 51st Highland Division).
• Conscripts: The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 called up all men aged 18–41.
• Women’s services: The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) — 190,000 members including Princess Elizabeth.

The Royal Navy

Despite a smaller fleet than WWI relative to its opponents, the Royal Navy fought across every ocean. Fleet Air Arm, Submarine Service, and the corvette/destroyer escort force were crucial. The WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service) provided essential support.

The Royal Air Force

Fighter Command (Battle of Britain), Bomber Command (the strategic bombing campaign), Coastal Command (anti-submarine warfare), Transport Command, and Tactical Air Force (ground support for the Army). The WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) served in non-combat roles including radar operation, code-breaking, and aircraft maintenance.

Collecting WWII Militaria

Medals

WWII medals are the most affordable entry point into medal collecting, but values are rising steadily as the generation passes:

Cap Badges and Insignia

• Standard infantry badges (economy, slider): £5–£15 for common regiments.
• Airborne (Parachute Regiment, Glider Pilot): £20–£60.
• Commando/SAS: Genuine WWII SAS beret badges and shoulder titles are rare and expensive — £200–£1,000+. Beware of fakes, which are extremely common.
• Formation signs (cloth divisional patches): Very popular collecting field. £5–£30 each. Complete formation sign collections (all British WWII divisions) are impressive displays. The Screaming Eagle (6th Airborne), the Red Rat (7th Armoured “Desert Rats”), the Red Devils (1st Airborne), and the HD (51st Highland) are iconic.
• Rank insignia and trade badges: Cloth rank slides, specialty arm-of-service strips. £3–£15 each.

Uniforms

• Battledress blouse (1937 pattern): The ubiquitous khaki wool jacket. £40–£120 for standard issue. Named/unit-marked: £80–£250. Airborne Denison smock: £500–£2,000+.
• Tank suits: Black overalls worn by armoured crews. £80–£200.
• RAF battledress: Blue-grey version. £60–£150.
• Female service uniforms (ATS/WAAF/WRNS): Increasingly collected. £80–£250.

Equipment

• 1937 Pattern webbing: The standard equipment system. Individual items (pouches, water bottle carriers, packs): £10–£40. Complete sets: £150–£400.
• Mk II/III helmets: See separate helmets article. £60–£250.
• Compasses (prismatic compass Mk III): Brass and Bakelite compasses by T.G. Co., Stanley. £30–£100.
• Binoculars: Military-issue binoculars (Barr & Stroud, Ross, Kershaw). £40–£150.

Home Front

WWII home front collecting is a substantial field in its own right:

• Gas masks (civilian): £10–£30 (adult), £30–£80 (child’s “Mickey Mouse” type).
• ARP (Air Raid Precautions) items: Warden’s helmet (£40–£100), arm bands, whistles, rattles.
• Ration books: £5–£20.
• Home Guard: Badges, arm bands, training manuals. Home Guard cap badges: £10–£30.
• Evacuee labels/documents: £10–£40.

Aviation

RAF and Fleet Air Arm items are among the most sought-after WWII collectables:

• Flying helmet (B-type leather): £200–£500.
• Flying goggles (Mk VIII): £80–£200.
• Mae West life jacket: £100–£300.
• Pilot’s log book: £100–£500 depending on aircraft types and missions recorded.
• Squadron patches and badges: Cloth squadron badges: £20–£80. Metal (officer’s) squadron badges: £40–£150.
• Aircraft relics: Crashed aircraft components, especially from identified aircraft — instruments, panels, propeller sections. £20–£500+ depending on provenance.

Documents and Photographs

• Pay books (AB64/AB64 Part 2): £15–£50 if named and identifiable.
• Soldier’s release book (demob book): £10–£30.
• Unit photographs: £10–£50. Squadron/ship/unit group photos with identified individuals: £30–£150.
• Maps (military survey): D-Day invasion maps, Arnhem maps, and other operation-specific maps: £30–£200.

Research Resources

• The National Archives, Kew: WO 169–179 (war diaries by theatre), WO 373 (recommendations for awards), ADM/AIR series for RN/RAF records.
• CWGC (cwgc.org): All Commonwealth WWII war dead — 383,700 from the UK alone.
• RAF Personnel Records: RAF Cranwell (records post-1920).
• IWM (Imperial War Museum): Photograph and document archives.

Sources and References

[1] Beevor, A., The Second World War — comprehensive single-volume history.

[2] Holmes, R., Soldiers: Army Lives and Loyalties from Redcoats to Dusty Warriors.

[3] Brickhill, P., Reach for the Sky — the story of Douglas Bader; great context for RAF collecting.

[4] Hastings, M., Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy.