United Kingdom. A Gaunt-Made Gregory & Quilter Parachute Company Badge, Glider Pilot Regiment

In Gold, obverse illustrating a parachutist on a parachute, with the letters "G" and "Q" (Gregory & Quilter Parachute Company) along with wings on either side, reverse maker marked "JRG&S" (J.R. Gaunt & Son), hallmarked and date marked, inscribed "G.Q. PARACHUTE SAVED MY LIFE", engraved "WINSPER L / CPL" and "9th FEBRUARY 1943" on the right and left wings respectively, engraved "No 107" on the button hole attachment, measuring 36 mm (w) x 16.5 mm (h), very light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: GQ Parachutes Limited is named for it's founder, Sir Geoffery Quilter, largely responsible for the design of the modern bag-packed, static-line parachute first known as the "Statichute". It was the basis of the "X" type parachute used by British Airborne Forces during the Second World War and into the 1950's. These badges were presented to Second World War Allied Airmen who saved their own lives by using a G.Q. Parachute. This badge was awarded to 7884906 Corporal Leslie Winsper, after bailing out on February 9, 1943, when his aircraft developed problems during RAF Pilot Training. Corporal Winsper later qualified as a pilot and joined the Glider Pilot Regiment as a Staff Sergeant Glider Pilot. Sadly, he died from wounds received during the Battle of Arnhem on Saturday, December 9, 1944, at the age of 27 and is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Plot: 18. C. 17.