Militaria "Sweet Heart" piece.

Nagawarrior · 16th August 2011, 03:45 AM

Not exactly an edged weapon but related.
Just found.
I believe its a "Sweet Heart" pillow of some sort. Pure guess. Probably British from 1890 (on pillow). Says "TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO", around the crown and "Forget Me Not". Crossed sword and rifles. Flaming bomb. Other motifs?? Two little coins? With Arabic writing? Maybe Afgan war. Heavy as a brick. Something in there? I have no experience with these. Is this given to the soldier by his sweetheart or the other way around? Hoping folks on here can help out. I think its pretty cool and would look good in a sword display. Any ideas.

mrwizard · 16th August 2011, 11:05 AM

I think the symbolism on this thing is somehow connected to the Order of the Bath. Tria juncta in uno (three connected in one) was/is their motto.
If the badge in the upper left has a rose in it, it could stand for England.
The lower symbol could represent a thistle -> Scotland.
The celtic-cross in the upper right could stand for ireland.
Maybe someone with knowledge in british heraldy can tell you more.

Best Regards,
Thilo

Nagawarrior · 16th August 2011, 02:01 PM

Thank you Thilo.
I just found the info about the Order of the Bath. I was going to write it here and there was your excellent comment. Upper badge has a rose, interesting symbolism. I thought the lower symbol was a flaming bomb, but I see the thistle now. I've found the motto on British officers badges in my research so far. Often made into jewlery for their "sweethearts". I think they are called "pips"(the badges). The pips on the front have the words "Tria Juncta In Uno" on them which translates to " Three Joined to Become One" which pertains to the unification of England, Scotland and Ireland to become the United Kingdom. This is actually the motto of the "Order of The Royal Bath" which derives from the medieval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as a symbol of purification as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as "Knights of the Bath".

Stephen

kahnjar1 · 16th August 2011, 08:01 PM

Sweetheart Pillow I think. The words FORGET ME NOT and the heart shape give it away. The date of 1890 would suggest one of the many african wars that the British were involved in at that time.
As far as the Order of/Knights of the Bath is concerned, it is possible that the soldier for whom this was made was a member??
An interesting item!!

Tim Simmons · 16th August 2011, 08:19 PM

The granade is the Grenadier Guards. The one with the St Geogre red cross on white is the Coldstream Guards and the other is the Scots Guards. the centre as Stu suggests is some royal order.

Nagawarrior · 17th August 2011, 01:23 AM

Thanks Stu and Tim. It is interesting. I'm haveing fun learning about this one. Not my usual, "and now for something completely different....". The little coins may place it in the Afgan theater. I have to try to get pictures. They are small and hard to photograph.

Stephen*

16th August 2011, 03:45 AM	#1
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Militaria "Sweet Heart" piece. Not exactly an edged weapon but related. Just found. I believe its a "Sweet Heart" pillow of some sort. Pure guess. Probably British from 1890 (on pillow). Says "TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO", around the crown and "Forget Me Not". Crossed sword and rifles. Flaming bomb. Other motifs?? Two little coins? With Arabic writing? Maybe Afgan war. Heavy as a brick. Something in there? I have no experience with these. Is this given to the soldier by his sweetheart or the other way around? Hoping folks on here can help out. I think its pretty cool and would look good in a sword display. Any ideas. Attached Images

16th August 2011, 11:05 AM	#2
mrwizard Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 102	I think the symbolism on this thing is somehow connected to the Order of the Bath. Tria juncta in uno (three connected in one) was/is their motto. If the badge in the upper left has a rose in it, it could stand for England. The lower symbol could represent a thistle -> Scotland. The celtic-cross in the upper right could stand for ireland. Maybe someone with knowledge in british heraldy can tell you more. Best Regards, Thilo

16th August 2011, 02:01 PM	#3
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Thank you Thilo. I just found the info about the Order of the Bath. I was going to write it here and there was your excellent comment. Upper badge has a rose, interesting symbolism. I thought the lower symbol was a flaming bomb, but I see the thistle now. I've found the motto on British officers badges in my research so far. Often made into jewlery for their "sweethearts". I think they are called "pips"(the badges). The pips on the front have the words "Tria Juncta In Uno" on them which translates to " Three Joined to Become One" which pertains to the unification of England, Scotland and Ireland to become the United Kingdom. This is actually the motto of the "Order of The Royal Bath" which derives from the medieval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as a symbol of purification as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as "Knights of the Bath". Stephen

16th August 2011, 08:01 PM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Sweetheart Pillow I think. The words FORGET ME NOT and the heart shape give it away. The date of 1890 would suggest one of the many african wars that the British were involved in at that time. As far as the Order of/Knights of the Bath is concerned, it is possible that the soldier for whom this was made was a member?? An interesting item!!

16th August 2011, 08:19 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The granade is the Grenadier Guards. The one with the St Geogre red cross on white is the Coldstream Guards and the other is the Scots Guards. the centre as Stu suggests is some royal order.

17th August 2011, 01:23 AM	#6
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Thanks Stu and Tim. It is interesting. I'm haveing fun learning about this one. Not my usual, "and now for something completely different....". The little coins may place it in the Afgan theater. I have to try to get pictures. They are small and hard to photograph. Stephen*