Italian Flag Souvenir – 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, Mareth Line (1943)
This artifact is an Italian tricolor flag bearing the Savoy coat of arms, captured and signed by twenty-four soldiers of No. 12 Platoon, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards during the North African campaign. The flag is inscribed “Souvenir of the Mareth Line,” indicating it was taken during the Battle of the Mareth Line (March 16–31, 1943), where the battalion was engaged as part of the 201st Guards Motor Brigade Group. The unit saw extensive combat throughout the war, including North Africa and later operations in Italy.
The central coat of arms is chain-stitched and surrounded by stitched identifiers for the platoon and its sections, including No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 Sections, Platoon Headquarters, and Truck Drivers. The names of twenty-four soldiers are present, including Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Christopher Harris Bulteel, who was later awarded the Military Cross for actions during the Salerno landings in September 1943. Several of the upper names have been reinforced with stitching for preservation, while others remain visible.
Royal Navy Flag from HMS Havant (H32), Dunkirk 1940
This British naval ensign flew aboard HMS Havant, an H-class destroyer that took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in late May and early June 1940 during World War II. Originally built for Brazil and commissioned into the Royal Navy in December 1939, Havant made multiple evacuation runs, helping rescue Allied soldiers and sailors from the beaches under constant aerial attack.
On 1 June 1940, the ship was heavily damaged by German dive bombers and machine-gun fire, placed under tow, and ultimately scuttled when she could not be saved. The flag exhibits clear wear and battle-associated damage consistent with combat service and was later preserved in the Francis Bannerman collection.