Anyone see this auction on eBay?  I didn't win the auction, but wanted to know if anyone had opinions as to the placement for the diamond / EGA.  It was named to a Marine in Co. C of the Engineer Bn attached to the 6th Marines and 1st Provisional Marine Brigade at Reykjavik.  It sold for $675, I was hoping to bid, but was priced out.  I wanted to post it here for opinions and discussion as there is not much on the forum about them.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1941-USMC-Iceland-Brigade-Engineer-Detachment-IDd-Fur-Hat-w-Diamond-EGA/333646298901?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

My personal opinion is that you saved yourself a fair amount of money and frustration. The reason that you don't see much information here on the forum is that there aren't very many of these out there. What I have seen of known originals is that the cap device is much larger than known originals an doesn't have The cap itself looks like something worn in Korea or later,

 

My two cents,

 

Allan

The fur cap imho is the correct type for Iceland. As for the diamond, I don't know. Below is one in the Marine Museum collection that I was able to handle. I was suprised how small it was compared to a China Marine Diamond. I have no familiarity with a red engineer diamond, nor do I have any expertise on the Iceland Marines. But silver/mirror version is what I have encountered before in other collections. 

From my collection, original fur hat and photo with the owner: Jimmy L. Richardson, Iwo Jima Purple heart.

I love the photos of original ones, and especially the above photo showing one of these in wear.  So, to the OP's Ebay example, other than the back plate looking so crude and improvised, the EGA must have spent lots of time with salt water blowing on it, never cleaned, and no trace of the same on the plate. The emblem looks like it was attached to the plate at precisely 8:30 this morning.  Yes, you saved your money.  As said above, the hat itself is correct, but they pop up fairly often and usually go for under $200. It is not a rare hat.

Steve

Don’t know how I missed this thread originally. I do remember that cap for sale and never really liked the insignia on it, mainly because I have never seen any documented evidence of that style cap piece being worn . Hinrik, I love your cap and the rock solid provenance. What a great photo. Here is the one in my collection. Named a couple times inside (with the typical Marine style block letter stamp) to a maverick Marine who entered the Corps in 1928 promoting several times and served as a Captain in Iceland from October 1941-42. 

Here's an observation I made reviewing the posts.  All of the original hats have a collar emblem on them (no fouled anchor).  The  only one which has a large barracks cap EGA on it is the one originally posted.  I gave my thoughts about that one above.

Steve

I have seen a couple of these with the red diamond backing.  It is also referenced in the book "Fighting Elite - US Marine Corps 1941-45" by Gordon Rottman and Mike Chappell. pg 32 B; worn by the "Company A, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Brigade; Iceland".  In the book picture the red diamond is smaller.  I would not absolutely rule this one out.

 

47 minutes ago, Iceland1stSgt said:

I have seen a couple of these with the red diamond backing.  It is also referenced in the book "Fighting Elite - US Marine Corps 1941-45" by Gordon Rottman and Mike Chappell. pg 32 B; worn by the "Company A, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Brigade; Iceland".  In the book picture the red diamond is smaller.  I would not absolutely rule this one out.

 

Did the ones you refer to have a collar emblem or a barracks cap emblem?  See my comments just above your post.

 

Steve

Hate to beat a dead horse, but here goes…I would love to see an original photograph showing a Marine wearing an insignia that started this thread. To date, I have not seen one, and agree with the themick, all the ones I have seen, attributed in collections or in original photographs are as he describes. 

3 hours ago, themick said:

Did the ones you refer to have a collar emblem or a barracks cap emblem?  See my comments just above your post.

 

Steve

Barracks cover emblem