SAR 18#6

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5) Finnish machine gunner’s unit sweetheart
bracelet. Silver and enameled with
gold Maxim machine gun in the center of
white enamel surrounded by silver bullets
on a machine gun belt in a diamond
shape. Cobalt Blue enamel cross with
“2MGK” at top (Maskingunkompani – 2nd
Machine Gun Company) with “N” and “R”
on each side (Naantali Re Reimente – Nådendal
Regiment) and “1930-31” below.
Between the cross sections are bas-relief
images of the Finnish Royal Lion. The
rear is engraved “Grönqvist, K.” with silver
proof crown marks. The bracelet is made
of hinged links with clasps and securing
chain. Finland has two languages, Finnish
and Swedish. This bracelet reflects
its Swedish language origins as Naantali
Nådendal is near the city of Turku and is a
partially Swedish town. (The name Naantali
is the Finnish version of the Swedish
name of the town, Nådendal.)
6) Veteran’s regimental blazer patch for
the New Zealand 27th Machine Gun
Battalion of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary
Force in World War II. Crown
over crossed Vickers with ‘27’ to the top,
‘N’ and ‘Z’ to each side and “BN” below
all within a fern leaf wreath. Latin motto
banner below reads “Potus Mori Quam
Foedari” (Rather Die Than Be Dishonored).
Beneath that reads ‘2.N.Z.E.F.’
The NZ Machine Gun Corps was formed
in January 1916 and saw service in France
in World War I. The Corps was disbanded
at the end of the war in 1918 and was reformed
in 1940 as the 27th (Machine Gun)
Battalion. This unit became part of the
2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
and saw service in Greece, Crete, North
Africa, Italy and in occupied Japan. It was
disbanded in 1945. It is interesting to note
that the crown on this blazer patch is the
Queen’s crown, not the King’s crown that
was proper at the time of actual service.
This veteran’s patch is made later, probably
for a reunion, and honors the current
reign of the Queen.
7) South African Railway Police sleeve
patch with a central image of an Uzi
submachine gun. Printed yellow sleeve
badge on camouflaged uniform fabric.
The text is in both Afrikaner and in English
with “Streekstaakmag” over “Regional
Task Force” at the top and “SA
Spoorweg Polisie” over SA Railways Police”
below. This South African unit was
disbanded in 1986.
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SAR Vol. 18, No. 6 MG MEMORABILIA
113