Ww2 British Uniform: Captain Michael V. Herbert Of The Buffs (royal East Kent) Regiment

Vintage British uniform (World War II) that belonged to Captain “Michael V. Herbert” of “The Buffs” (Royal East Kent Regiment).
A highly sought-after item among collectors of World War II memorabilia.

This uniform belonged to one of my neighbors, whom I’ve known since childhood: Captain M. Herbert.

He was an officer who served with distinction during World War II and in the years that followed. After his military career, he settled in Malta.

He was also stationed in India and used to say that he had served as an interrogator in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Captain Herbert was an expert in mechanics and had a very well-equipped workshop at home. When I was a child waiting for the school bus, I would see him walking up and down the steep hill leading to our homes—making the round trip more than twenty times a day—wearing a black beret. He continued to do so well into his 80s, by then using a cane; needless to say, his fighting spirit as an infantry officer remained undiminished.

Having served in an infantry regiment myself, I was deeply honored when the executors of his estate offered me his uniform, which included two hats, several shirts, and three jackets. One of them dates from World War II, while the other two, olive green in color, date back to the 1950s. The set was accompanied by a few insignia and canvas straps, likely from his pack equipment.