WW2 ESCAPE & EVASION COMPASSES & MAPS

I am sure we are all familiar with the various techniques used by Aircrew and SOE agents during WW2 and indeed other wars since, in the art of hiding very important map reading equipment to enable those to reach safety or friendly lines.

Two such methods used very effectively in WW2 were the map stitched inside Airborne smocks or flying jackets and also the miniature compasses hidden in such things as buttons. I attach a couple of examples which highlight the ingenuity of great minds of the time to secure the safety of their assets, namely pilots and agents. Wish I had kept the gold soveriegns in my belt now lol

Gil, I have a two piece button style E&E compass that looks like a metal Battle Dress button when it is place. I'll have to take a photo and post it.

Paul,
I posted this very interesting area of Militaria because the tiniest items these days fetch great piles of money by collectors, and the buttons are commanding in some cases like the RCAF compass buttons £400-500 pounds Stirling. I have a load of the button compasses which aren't cheap here in the UK ie £35 these days, but they are very reliable and I often lend them out to colleagues who are going on remote protection duties. Funny for any ex Military man, as long as you can see where north is, or indeed see the stars we are fine :thup:

Thought this may make people appreciate the variety of compasses operational members of the armed forces had to use, which I find so fascinating from various countries during WW2
Left to Right:
GERMAN LUFTWAFFE, FRENCH, OSS,BRITISH TROUSER BUTTON, BLOUSE BUCKLE & CANADIAN

Here is a private collection of all the "covert" compasses invented during WW2 fo0r all armies/air forces and navies................so ingenious, I take my hat off to them all becuase they worked ;)
Left to Right:
The full range of button compasses some still used today, All forces buttons, next two rows compasses made from double backed trouser buttons to cufflinks and pen nibs and belts, buckles and shirt studs for separate collars as worn in WW2 and lastly the double skinned buttons.

I have just one the flat pointer type 3rd row top of, its still in its wrapper....

Here's an article about silk map production in Britain during WW2. It was published in 'The Cartographic Journal' in 1984.

Also, a silk map given to me a long time ago, I was told it was a WW2 map. From the description in the article, it may be one of the early ones.

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thanks charlie, a fascinating article.

great topic all round.

Gil's little button compasses are great. I've always loved compasses and one of those would make a great companion to the silk map.

But where to find one? They do appear on eBay (££££!), there's one on at the moment (£230 and a day to go!).

Apart from the obvious places; militaria shows and fairs, is there a good place to look out for them?

Thanks,

Charlie

Charlie,
They are a very good investment, although that one is a bit steep on Ebay, some have some provenance and if they do and can be tied to an individual historically, have to be worth the tag price.
Good luck;)

Thanks Gil. I've checked all my (Grandfather's) RAF buttons, no luck! I guess my uncle who was WW2 aircrew (navigator) might have been issued with one, I wonder what became of his flying kit? I'll keep looking. Cheers.

Charlie,
Always worth buying RAF buttons up at car boot sales, you never know your luck, they were issued to aircrew so they are definitely out there waiting to be found, as many relatives wouldn't even kow what they had!

Gil,

Started looking today! Popped into my local antique/flea market. There were some RAF buttons, various prices £2-£5, not very practical to buy them all!

Is there anything particular to look out for?

A bit of internet research indicates that they were made by the following makers; B’Ham Buttons Ltd (Birmingham Buttons Ltd), FIRMIN and J. R. Gaunt. Any others?

The RAF 'Escape' buttons pictured on the web usually seem to have solder where the loop goes into the back of the button, but this surely would have been a bit of a giveaway for Jerries searching for them?

Do they weigh appreciably more? Do they rattle?

Thanks,

Charlie

PS - the one on eBay went for a staggering £628! I don't think I'll be going down that route.

Charlie,
It is a case of making it look as if you are looking for RAF /Admilralty buttons in good nick. I can assure you they are out there, as Ebayers are finding them. Whatever you do, when you get one keep hold of it.......tightly, they are going up.
The only way to ID them thoroughly is the threaded lid ie the button and see if there is any movement.;)