Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation since 11/12/17 in all areas

  1. Here is my Deactivated WW1 Lewis Gun, this particular version was made for the Belgian Army, under contract from the Birmingham Small Arms Company (B.S.A.) in Birmingham, England. Although the Belgians did have a factory (Armes Automatiques Lewis Company at Liege) they did not make very many as most of Belgium was overrun by the Germans. The British could make 6 Lewis guns for the time and cost of making a single Vickers Machine gun. B.S.A. produced a total of 145,397 Lewis guns during World War I. The sling is a modern reproduction as real slings are extremely hard to come by. Original slings had the padding made from asbestos, so this one has a synthetic padded area that simulates the look. This weapon weighed in at 28 pounds and a fully loaded 47-round magazine was 4 pounds. Still a relatively light weapon compared to the static mounted machine guns like the U.S. made vickers (M1915) which weighed 42 pounds for the gun and another 56 pounds for the tripod. Maxim Machine guns weighed about 75 pounds as well. The big advantage of this weapon was its portability, it could be operated by a single soldier, and keep up with the infantry advances. These light machine guns were prized by the Germans who often would capture them and use them against the Allies.
    10 points
  2. Here is a Bulgarian M36 Helmet, type C, which was the last version to be produced. Initially these helmets were made abroad, but machinery was moved to Bulgaria to allow for domestic production. The type C was introduced in 1939 and is the most numerous of the various models. The helmet is somewhat similar to the German helmets, but smaller, lighter, and a shorter brim. This particular helmet at a size 54, with the original liner, but missing the chinstrap. I found this at a local estate sale, and it was a cheap pickup.
    8 points
  3. Here is my latest find, a VB Launcher for the US M1917 Enfield rifle. This is the twist on type, with a metal spring band to hold the sight and muzzle firmly while in operation. Un-Dug examples are very hard to find. Near the muzzle of the launcher you can see a knurled band, this was so that soldiers could feel the difference at night or in dark conditions. This version and the version for the M1903 Springfield are virtually identical, the M1903 does not have the knurled band however.
    8 points
  4. From my collection are pictures of my Sold-Libellen KM-2 sextant with its original metal storage box. This sextant was manufactured for the Kriegsmarine by C.Plath. The SOLD KM-2 was developed for navigational use aboard U-boats and S-boats at night and/or in poor weather conditions when horizon not visible. For an in-depth review of this type of sextant, visit the link https://sextantbook.com/2013/11/04/the-sold-km2-bubble-sextant/. A view of KM-2 stored in its metal metal box. Note several accessories from the storage box are missing, but the original inventory label is present on inside of one of the two lids (not pictured). Top of metal storage box with access secured with side latches. The handle sides of KM-2 Sextant were the identification plate was once mounted but removed. View of the dial side of KM-2 sextant. The plate on dial is marked J.B., indiscernible mark, Geprütt Deutsche Seewarte (German Naval Observatory). Another view of dial side of KM-2 sextant. Topside view KM-2 sexton.
    7 points
  5. Pictured from my collection is a Kriegsmarine navigation square marked Dennert & Pape Hamburg-Altona (maker). A square like this one is pictured on page 441 in the book 'Deutsche Kriegsmarine Uniforms, Insignias and Equipment of the German Navy 1933-1945' by Eduardo Delgado.
    7 points
  6. A small grouping from a WW1 German doctor who I believe died several years after the war from the effects of the campaign
    7 points
  7. Hi, I recently found 4 of these brass Lewis gun barrel jacks at an old British weapons depot. They are an armourers tool for removing the cooling fans from the barrel. Seem to be extremely rare as I can’t find any other examples online. Does anyone know what they might be worth ? Thanks
    7 points
  8. I’ve been looking for a nice example of the eastern front medal for a while now what are your thoughts on this one ?
    7 points
  9. Here's front and rear of my own nice Ostfront medal
    7 points
  10. Hi John333, It took me a long time to find a DECENT Ostfront medal. My advice would be to go for the shown medal if the price is reasonable to you as it is quite a nice example. Especially as it has a makers mark on the suspension ring. You can always keep looking for a better conditioned one and upgrade at a later date. So, if you don't have one yet, go for this one with an eye to upgrade at some point in the future. REALLY GOOD examples of this badge do not come up very often, and when they do they are snapped up quickly!
    7 points
  11. Is this a good one guys and any ideas on the maker ? Thanks
    7 points
  12. Fritz: The answer to your question "I assume the buttons on the leather crew jacket are probably of gilded glass? " is "No." All the buttons on the black leather jacket in my collection are of two-piece metal construction with a fouled anchor gilt front and the backs are marked BESONDERS HALTBAR 'Particularly Durable' with makers symbol. A black leather jacket like mine with gilt fouled anchor buttons can be seen below on page 263 of Volume 2, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms and Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. Pictured below is the back of a two-piece metal fouled anchor button on my black leather jacket. Note that various manufactured produced buttons that were used in making black leather jackets for the Kriegsmarine. Along with my black leather jacket having metal gilt buttons pictured below, note that this jacket has the Kriegsmarine ordnance mark (Eagle over M) between two fouled anchor buttons. The Kriegsmarine proof mark like the one on my jacket is pictured below on page 265 of Volume 2, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms and Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. The collar of the neck was closed up by a metal clasp like the one below on my jacket. Note the front corner of the low standing collar are rounded and the button holes are reenforced with a narrow leather trim. Pictured is the interior of my jacket, which is lined with wool. Also I have enclosed a picture of the back of this jacket. For further information I havedenclosed page 288 of Deutche Kriegsmarine Uniforms, Insignia and Equipment of the German Navy 1933-1945 by Eduardo Delgado.
    7 points
  13. Hi Eddie, I'm afraid the serial number is just a batch number so would not identify the U boat. Sometimes you will find the letter N which would identify them as belonging to the German Navy North Sea Fleet. Sorry can't help much more. Here is a list of the makers codes but no list of serial numbers as far as I'm aware. b e h ERNST LEITZ. WETZLAR GERMANY b e k HENSOLDT WERK FUR OPTIK UND MECHANIK HERBORN GERMANY b l c CARL ZEISS, MILITARABTEILUNG JENA JENA GERMANY b m h JIRASEK (not in Walter) PRAGUE CZECH b m j M. HENSOLDT & SOHNE, A.G. WETZLAR GERMANY b m t C. A. STEINHEIL SOHNE, GmbH MUNICH GERMANY b p d C. P. GOERZ, GmbH VIENNA AUSTRIA b v f C. REICHERT VIENNA AUSTRIA b y g JOH. WYKSEN, K.G. KATTOWITZ POLAND b z z I.G.-FARBENINDUSTRIE, CAMERAWERK MUNICH GERMANY c a d KARL KAHLES (telescopic sights) VIENNA AUSTRIA c a g D. SWAROVSKI WATTENS/TIROL AUSTRIA c a u KODAK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, DR. NAGEL WERK STUTTGART GERMANY c c x OPTISCHE UND FEINMECHANISCHE WERKE, HUGO MEYER & CO. GOERLITZ GERMANY c l b DR. F. A. WOHLER KASSEL GERMANY c l n ED. SPRENGER BERLIN GERMANY c r h FRANZ SCHMIDT & HAENSCH BERLIN GERMANY c r n HANSEATISCHE WERKSTATTEN FUR FEINMECHANIK UND OPTIK, FRIEDRICHS & Co. HAMBURG GERMANY c r o R. FUESS, formerly J. G. GREINER & GEISSLER BERLIN GERMANY c x n EMIL BUSCH, A.G. RATHENOW GERMANY d d v OCULUS (optometrist equipment, possibly gunsights) BERLIN GERMANY d d x VOIGTLAENDER & SOHN, A.G. BRAUNSCHWEIG GERMANY d k l JOSEF SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH GERMANY d o q DEUTSCHE SPIEGELGLAS A.G. (telescopes, lenses) LEINE GERMANY d o w WAFFENWERKE BRUNN A.G. (1943-OPTICOTECHNA GmbH) PRERAU CZECH. d p g ADOX KAMERAWERK GmbH (cameras) WIESBADEN GERMANY d p v ZEISS IKON A.G. DRESDEN GERMANY d p w ZEISS IKON A.G. GOERZWERK BERLIN GERMANY d p x ZEISS IKON A.G., CONTESSAWERK STUTTGART GERMANY d y m RUNGE & KAULFUSS RATHENOW GERMANY d y s HEINRICH ZEISS, UNIONZEISS K.G. ('apparently optical' BERLIN GERMANY d z l OPTISCHE ANSTALT OIGEE GmbH BERLIN GERMANY e a f MECHANOPTIK GESELLSCHAFT FUR PRAZISIONSTECHNIK, AUDE & REIPERT BABELSBERG GERMANY e a w R. WINKEL GmbH GOETTINGEN GERMANY e e d KURBI & NIGGELOH (photographic equipment) RADEVORMWALD GERMANY e s o G. RODENSTOCK MUNICH GERMANY e s u STEINHEIL SOHNE GmbH (telescopes & optics) MUNICH GERMANY e u g OPTISCHE PRAZISIONS WERKE GmbH WARSAW POLAND f c o SENDLINGER OPTISCHE GLASWERKE GmbH BERLIN GERMANY f j t PHOTOGRAMMETRIE GmbH (aerial recon. cameras) MUNICH GERMANY f l n FRANZ RAPSCH A.G. (sights, often subcontractor to Busch) RATHENOW GERMANY f v s SPINDLER & HOYER K.G. GOTTINGEN GERMANY f v x BECK & SOHNE KASSEL GERMANY f w r OPTISCHE ANSTALT SAALFELD GmbH SAALFELD GERMANY f x p HANS KOLLMORGEN GmbH BERLIN GERMANY g a g F. MOLLENKOPF STUTTGART GERMANY g k p RUF & Co., formerly CARL SCHUTZ KASSEL GERMANY g u g UNGARNISCHE OPTISCHE WERKE A.G. BUDAPEST HUNGARY g u j WERNER D. KUEHN BERLIN GERMANY g w v ERNST PLANK NURNBERG GERMANY g x l FRANKE & HEIDECKE (photographic equipment) BRAUNSCHWEIG GERMANY g x p HOMRICH & SOHN (photographic equipment) h d v OPTISCHE WERK OSTERODE GmbH OSTERODE GERMANY h f o VALENTIN LINHOF OHG (photographic equipment) MUNICH GERMANY h k m CARL BRAUN KG NURNBERG GERMANY h n a KORELLE WERKE, G.H. BRANDTMANN & Co. (photographic) DRESDEN GERMANY h r w HOH & HAHNE (photographic reproduction equipment) LEIPZIG GERMANY h w t IHAGEE KAMERAWERK, STEENBERGEN & Co. (cameras) DRESDEN GERMANY h x h A. KRUSS HAMBURG GERMANY j f n TETENAL PHOTOWERK, Dr. TRIEPEL, K.G. (photographic equipment) BERLIN GERMANY j f p DR. CARL LEISS BERLIN GERMANY j n h F. TUTEMANN (lens holders & optical equipment) LUDENSCHEID GERMANY j o n VOIGTLANDER-GEVAERT (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY j u x NEDINSCO, NEDERLANDSCHE INSTRUMENTEN, (vehicle & aircraft instruments?) VENLO NETHERLANDS j v e ERNST LUDWIG WEIXDORF GERMANY j x n HELMUT KORTH BERLIN GERMANY k h c OTTO HIMMLER (microscopes, optical equipment) BERLIN GERMANY k l n ERNST & WILHELM BERTRAM (photographic equipment) MUNICH GERMANY k n a DER ROBOT, BERNING & Co., K.G. (photographic equipment) DUSSELDORF GERMANY k q c JOS. SCHNEIDER & Co., K.G. GOETTINGEN GERMANY k r q EMIL BUSCH A.G. (assembled from foreign components) RATHENOW GERMANY k w c GAMMA FEINMECHANISCHE & OPTISCHE WERKE BUDAPEST HUNGARY k x v A. JACKENROLL GmbH BERLIN GERMANY l a e HEINRICH ZEISS, UNION ZEISS K.G. GOSTINGEN l f n REFLEKTA-KAMERAFABRIK, C. RICHTER (cameras) THARANDT GERMANY l m q CARL ZEISS (assembled from foreign components) JENA GERMANY l w g OPTISCHE WERKE OSTERODE GmbH (assembled from foreign components) OSTERODE GERMANY l w w HUET ET CIE PARIS FRANCE l w x OPTIQUE ET PRECISION DE LEVALLOIS, PARIS LEVALLOIS-PERRET FRANCE l w y SOCIETE OPTIQUE ET MECANIQUE DE HAUTE PRECISION PARIS FRANCE m b v I.G. FARBENINDUSTRIE, A.G.; AGFA (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY m c a FOTOWERK, Dr. C. SCHLEUSSNER, GmbH (photographic equipment) FRANKFURT GERMANY m t q PHOTOCHEMISCHE FABRIK ROLAND RISSE GmbH (photographic equipment) FLORSHEIM GERMANY m t r VOIGTLANDER & SOHN, A.G. (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY m t u A. LORENZ (MTU also used for AEG electrical equipment) GUTENFELD m t v A. LORENZ DRESDEN GERMANY n m s RICHARD HOLZ BERLIN GERMANY n x t S.A.I. OTTICO MECCANICA E RILEVAMENTI AEROFOTOGRAMMETRICI (stereoscopic aerial photography equipment) ROME ITALY o c p AKTOPHOT GmbH (photographic equipment) PRAG-SABECHTLITZ o c v W. KLAZAR (precision engineering; reportedly photographic equipment) PRAG o k c HAUFF A.G. (photographic equipment) STUTTGART GERMANY p v f C. REICHERT VIENNA AUSTRIA r l n CARL ZEISS JENA GERMANY A.G. = AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT; JOINT STOCK COMPANY GmbH = GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG; LIMITED COMPANY I.G. = INTERRESENGEMEINSCHAFT; UNION OF INTERESTS K.G. = KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT; LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OHG = OFFENE HANDELSGESELLSCHAFT; PRIVATE FIRM (literally, 'open trading company')
    7 points
  14. Hello all Another new member seeking Historical WWII information. I recently inherited some German WWII memorabilia from a close family friend whose husband just passed away. They emigrated here to Canada in 1980. Their parents and relatives were part of the war effort in Germany during WWII. Her father was in the Luftwaffe and his items are displayed en mass in one photo. Her uncle was in the 5th SS Wiking division and his items are in the second and third photo's. I will be receiving more information and possibly photos when she receives them from her mother who is still alive in Germany. I am not an expert on these types of items however I do have a keen interest in WWII Hx. Any info or referencing to other sources would be hugely appreciated. I am looking to preserve these items in frame along with my families war memorabilia from that era. Thanking you all in advance.
    7 points
  15. Some of my fathers medals and photo's of him which are either training in Iran or the south of Italy. One of the two.
    7 points
  16. Now that's a monster of a tank.Thanks for posting. Always been impressed on a visual level by the Char B1 as a young lad into WW2. It was that massive cannon & the fact it had 2 guns that did it for me. Still grabs me now. Photo source Wikipedia
    7 points
  17. This is a Mk14 bombsight, it’s been refurbished post war though as it has the ferranti gyro fitted to it.
    7 points
  18. I have decided to display some of my WW1 era Bayonets by using resin made stands that resemble the muzzle of the corresponding rifle. I think it turned out nicely. I am just missing one bayonet now to finish the display, the Mauser Kar98A, which are hard to find and heavily faked.
    7 points
  19. Here is an image from the US Army Signal Corps Museum, you can see the lamp and battery box on top by the sandbags.
    7 points
  20. Love your VB Launchers. Here is a display of US Rifle Grenades I did for a collector show in 2018.
    7 points
  21. First of all , can I say thankyou for the membership . I'm currently writing a book on CONTRACTS OF THE USAAF which will give information on equipment and clothing etc used by the USAAF Just a few random photos of my collection , I will, if allowed post more detailed information and photographs
    7 points
  22. One of the rarest buckles to find (that is original) An Organisation Todt one piece steel belt buckle with a silver wash. One this example, nearly all the wash is missing from the front of the buckle but it is present on the back. Marked Org Todt under the hinge post- a rare beast, there are lots of copies around.
    6 points
  23. Hi john, that one is original, probably worth around £195 to £225
    6 points
  24. A search on the internet leads you to some nice period photographs of the Polish troops taken when stationed in and around Biggar, a few here which shows a parade down the (not much changed) High Street, a podium set up opposite John Lambie's ironmonger shop (it's now a charity shop) at which General Wladyslaw Sikorski took the salute.
    6 points
  25. Ooops, should upload the photo
    6 points
  26. This is a pretty rare grouping with two Queen Carola Medals Saxony War Merit Cross, Civil Merit Medal - Knight’s Cross 1st class, Carola Medal in gold, Carola Medal in silver and Prussian Red Cross medal 2nd class. Carola-Medaille was instituted on 17 Sep 1892 by King Albert on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Albert club, whose patron was Queen Carola. The Medal was awarded for charity during the war and in the peacetime. Awarded in three classes: gold, silver and bronze. Totals awarded - first type: 46 gold, 1000 silver and 1000 bronze; second type: 6 gold, 300 silver and 860 bronze. Diameter - first type - 27.9 mm, second type - 27.95 mm.
    6 points
  27. Hardly understandable that Germany exported such modern bayonets, as there was later an accute shortage of bayonets after the war broke out in 1914, hence the use of Ersatzbajonette.
    6 points
  28. I am a keen collector of dog tags. One thing I like to see on them is wear on either side of the 2 holes that the owners chord went through. Made of soft metal so often showed signs of wear after prolonged use. Good fakers will of course be aware of this, but encourages me when I see it. ***** this is not posted as a Panzer dog tag! The clue being in the RAD! Posted only as an example of the wear described above.!*********
    6 points
  29. I just spotted this WW1 Pension Card for your man, Angus McLeod, in the "Fold3" section of Ancestry (you may already have it?). It looks like the card's dated 1925 so I guess Angus must have been awarded a post-war pension for wounds or debilitating illness received on duty. The card shows his two Army Cyclist Corps numbers, also a Highland Light Infantry service number, 1772.
    6 points
  30. Hello, I would like to share with you one small group I have from a Saxon officer who received medals from Hesse. Leutnant d. R. Otto Steinmetz from IR 107. He received the following medals : - knight cross of St Henry of Saxe - knight cross 2nd class with swords of Albert of Saxe - iron cross 2nd class - the general honor decoration for bravery of Hesse-Darmstadt - iron cross 1st class - the warrior's honor decoration in iron of Hesse-Darmstadt
    6 points
  31. Here are two photos showing the two sides of the label. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I am currently researching the claims made and I am only half way through the process- some of them stack up, however, at present, I can’t find any record of an MC awarded to 2nd Lt Ashley.
    6 points
  32. Greetings, new to the forum. Was hoping someone would help me understand the inscriptions on the rear of my Iron cross. Are these campaigns/ dates?Appreciations in advance
    6 points
  33. All: The next three posts will provide a few of the many examples of propaganda in my Kriegsmarine collection. Booklets, magazines, postcards, and other forms of propaganda were provided to glorify Germany's naval exploits, encourage recruitment, and lift moral to further an agenda. Note that I take care to archive/protect all pieces in my collection, especially paper and cloth. Please do not post any written response/comment on this thread until I have completed the next three post, thank you. Best regards, John R.
    6 points
  34. Pictured are my 'Eiserne Kreus II. Klasse (EKII)' Iron Cross Second Class (right) and an 'Eiserne Kreus I .Klasse (EKI)' Iron Cross First Class (left). As you probably know, these awards were presented to a serviceman of the German Armed Forces for an act of valor in combat. Both crosses were manufactured by the firm Rudolf Wachtler & Lange (maker mark 100). View the below video regarding the history of the German Iron Cross.
    6 points
  35. Pictured from collection is a large micrometer marked Eagle over M, C. STIEFELMAYER ESSLINGEN a/N., and STANDARD 3. A gauge like this one is pictured (top) on page 254 in Volume 3 of Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms & Traditions.
    6 points
  36. Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is the front (top) and back (bottom) of a High Seas Fleet badge manufactured by Schwerin & Sohn. This badge was awarded to crewmen for participating in one war cruise.
    6 points
  37. My Dads WW II USMC photo album found! After 69 years my brother stumbled across my dads missing WW II photo album and K Bar. My dad and his 7 brothers enlisted in 1943 and since he worked on airplanes at Timmerman field in Milwaukee when it was a dirt airfield, he was assigned as an aircraft mechanic. He was on the USS Block Island shown in the photo. It had an all USMC air squadron on the carrier. The album is kind of a disappointment, it has mostly pictures of all his girlfriends, and brothers since all 7 went into the service after Pearl Harbor. The cruising record in the service album indicates he was at Cherry Point NC, Miramar Ca, Oaku- Hawaii, Johnstone Island- Pearl Harbor, Majuro Island, Eniwetok, Gaum, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He must not have had a camera on board ship. He has pictures of some of his wood models he made and then utilized in the classroom for pilots. He enlisted 16 Dec 1943, and got out in 1946. I am still wondering if the old house has a later album with pictures of his Island work. I remember him telling me he got tired of working on planes so he volunteered to go hunt down Japanese snipers on Iwo. He said it was like deer hunting in Tamerack swamp, except a wee bit more fun. After he died, I got his trunk of goodies: M1 carbine, 45 auto and a Arisaka with mum with his uniforms, 782 gear, and aircraft manuals. Ya, Jar Heads have sticky fingers. But the K Bar and photos were missing. So on the 4th, my brother found the album in some boxes of old photos. It is about 1 1/2 inchs thick with lots of pictures of girl friends and uncles so I will not bore you with all the photos. I was looking for island views, aircraft carrier views, and Corsair planes that are shot up- no such luck. But since Grandpa (WW I) was a Marine, dad (WWII) , and myself (Nam), I consider it a great find. It came so close... my brother generally throws out all old stuff. But he asked me if I wanted the family photos- just by luck, and maybe my dad looking out for me, my brother called and they were saved instead of going into the paper recycle bin at Menominee Falls. Here are a few of the pictures: On the platoon photo, dad is shown in the second row, 5th in from the right. Makes one wonder how many hard ass Marines in that photo survived the war? All volunteers- part of the old generation with balls. Next is some of the girlfriends ( some nice looking gals for 1943) and my mother Marcy, She was 20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 334th fighter sq. 4th Group 1944 My Ma's brother that crashed his Mustang after gettin shot up by a 109 and a French family hid him in an attic for one month. He could speak only Polish and English. That must have been a time. That age has passed and its hard to believe Dads been gone 10 years, and my Uncle about 7 years.
    6 points
  38. I just can not imaging such a poorly designed magazine in all that mud. WW I Marines threw them away. I love this post and all the historic photos. from an old issue of American Rifleman (2012). An interesting discussion. https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/that-damned-jammed-chauchat/
    6 points
  39. Munich · The "House of Bavarian History" is looking for memorabilia from the First World War that tell a personal story. These stories from the life of Bavarian citizens are to be the focus of the new Museum of Bavarian History, which will open in Regensburg in 2018 to mark the 100th birthday of the Free State. Like Simon Gammel's spiked helmet?! The front in Flanders was like a lunar landscape, ripped open by countless grenade hits and furrowed by trenches secured with barbed wire - this was the scenery in World War I in which the incredible story of Simon Gammel happened. The farmer's son Simon Gammel, born in 1892 in Gisseltshausen near Rottenburg an der Laaber in Lower Bavaria, did his military service in the Royal Bavarian 16th Infantry Regiment in Passau from 1913. A week after the German Reich declared war in August 1914, the Passau regiment marched to the western front. After battles in Lorraine, the young soldier experienced the horrors of war in trench warfare on the Somme. The front had been frozen for months and the soldiers had dug in. French barrage rained down on the Bavarian positions as Simon Gammel was hit in his dugout. A piece of shrapnel shredded the leather of his spiked helmet, penetrated his skull, only to exit the back of his head and penetrated the helmet a second time. The shelter collapsed on Simon Gammel, burying him under dirt and wood. One of the support beams pressed against his back with a tremendous load, crushing his lungs. Things were not looking good for young Simon Gammel. "The bum's off!" yelled a comrade and the soldiers shoveled the dirt aside with folding spades in order to get to the buried man. They managed to free the seriously injured man and take him to the next dressing station. From there he was transferred to a hospital. Miraculously, the splinter did not cause any permanent damage, although Simon Gammel remained severely traumatized after the external healing. After his recovery, he was employed as an instructor and later posted back to the western front. After several weeks of positional fighting on the Aisne, Simon Gammel was taken to the Ahrweiler hospital on the Rhine with alleged flu symptoms. It was only there that a doctor realized that the persistent tremors were not due to chills but to war trauma. Gammel was then released to his homeland in Lower Bavaria. He married his fiancé and the couple had two children. Simon Gammel was a member of the municipal council and active in many clubs, but he could not forget his wartime experiences. When the veterans' association organized a trip to the former battlefields on the western front, Simon Gammel refused to take part, saying: "I've been there and I didn't like it at all." Simon Gammel died in 1977 at the age of 84. His granddaughter Christa Rott, who provided the information about her grandfather, and local researcher Franz Moises not only keep an interesting object with the Pickelhaube, but also keep a piece of Bavarian history alive for posterity with the stories about Simon Gammel's fate. Did your ancestors bring back WWI memorabilia that tell a personal story? Then please contact: House of Bavarian History, keyword Museum, Zeuggasse 7, 86150 Augsburg, Tel. 08 21/32 95 130, email museum@hdbg.bayern.de. Source: Munich Weekly Gazette
    6 points
  40. It's definitely a British Mk I helmet. I don't think FKS has been definitively pinned down, but most sources say it represents Firth & Sons Ltd. The insignia is for the US 77th Division.
    6 points
  41. I am posting some pictures of my WW1 German Helmets, would love to see others post theirs as well.
    6 points
  42. It certainly was. The downside, and yes there was one, was cleaning it. We must have gone through nearly a hundred patches.
    6 points
  43. This must be almost unique, there were very few pieces with such detailed histories recorded in engraving. If anyting, there is the place and date of the award, or maybe even the name or initials of the recipient. This must be worth thousands. This is a personalised inscription, rare to find, and even rarer with so much detail. The recipient has had this engraved: Hauptmann der Reserve Ernst Weichmann, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 52, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 208 - M.G.-Offizier beim Regiments-Stab 1914 Belgien, Sempst(?), Mecheln, Antwerpen, Yser, Langemarck 1915 Russland Bulgarien Jaroslav Rawa Rusla Pinsk 1917 Chémin des Dames 5.V.1917 - März 1920 1915 - 1920 Frankreich Verdun, Noyon-Roye Somme Orléans, Montoire, Cholet, Chateauroux in Französ. Gefangenschaft So, as can be seen, he was finally a prisoner of war (in France), he served as a Hauptmann of the Reserve with the staff of the Machine Gun Company of Reserve-Infantry Regiment 52 and Reserve-Infantry-Regiment 208 on several fronts. He was a prisoner of war till March 1920. This is a very rare find indeed. If there is no paperwork to go with this decoration, at least all the details are inscribed on the back of the cross, so you know who it belonged to and his history. Possible to research even more about this officer. Details would be at the Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt in Potsdam or the Deutsche Diensstelle in Berlin (formerly WA St, Wehrmachtsauskunftsstelle), now Bundesarchiv in Berlin, you can reach them online. Many records were destroyed in February 1945 when Potsdam was bombed for the first time and entirely destroyed, but some records may have survived. There are also regimental histories for most regiments, which were published after World War I, in the late 1920s or early 1930s. You may be lucky to find an original regimental history at a specialised book dealer. The Iron Cross looks like a very good quality. There may be a maker's mark on either the pin or below the pin loop, check this out, and make an extra photo of this. Value: Very hard to estimate, but very high, I would say a good thousand at least. N.B.: Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 208 was raised on 1. September 1914 in the Braunschweig area, X. Armee-Korps. There is a brief detailed history of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 208 found here: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment_Nr._208 Literature: Das Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 208. Fritz Haleck, Verlag Gerhard Stalling, Oldenburg i. O./Berlin 1922 - gibt hier abweichend den Aufstellungsbeginn mit 10. Sept. 1914 an. Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 52 im Weltkriege: Erinnerungsblätter dt. Regimenter, Gerhard Stalling, 1925
    6 points
  44. Here are the batteries themselves, most I have are dated Sept-Nov 1918. The last picture shows one in the original wrapping.
    6 points
  45. The "UCI" marks are from a California costume company, now long closed. Many WWI era French, German, British items were sold off and are found in collections all over the world. All items are marked "UCI" United Costume Inc.
    6 points
  46. I still haven't got round to getting his famous book, I would prefer an older edition, there are still a few of them around. The present day edition is in the "modern" Latin print, I prefer the old print before 1941. His war diaries would also be very interesting.
    6 points
  47. Wow ! - That is a thing of beauty. Envious, not in the slightest
    6 points
  48. Here is another nice M16 German helmet with the stamp "B.F. 62" B.F. = F.C. Bellinger, Fulda which made helmet shell sizes 62 and 64.
    6 points
×
×
  • Create New...