Regimental Badge

Unusually we have the story behind the collection of this badge, which illustrates the cruelty and savagery of face to face combat. A Japanese soldier was one of three sheltering in a bunker next to a 70mm mountain gun when Sergeant Bert Fitt (Winkie') led the right-hand platoon of B Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolks, charging down GPT (General Purpose Transport) Ridge. One Japanese was shot as he ran away, the other two captured. Fitt told one of his soldiers to 'search them and bring them along'. This man returned alone and the sergeant asked where the prisoners were as the colonel wanted to see them. Japanese usually fought to the death. The Norfolk soldier replied that in searching them he had found Norfolk cap badges that must have been taken from Territorials of the 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions Norfolk Regiment, killed at Singapore two years earlier. Fitt then explained to Colonel Scott that the missing prisoners had not escaped. Their guard's brother had been bayoneted in bed in hospital at Singapore, so he bayoneted them and got his own back. Colonel Scott said, 'That's saved me cutting their bloody throats!'. The 70mm gun is in the foyer of Shirehall, Norwich, having been smuggled back home in crates labelled 'Mess silver'.