The items of militaria shown below can be viewed in our on-line shop complete with full descriptions, photographs and prices.
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| A Sutterlin script Grossdeutschland enlisted mans cuff title. Finely machine embroidered in grey on black backing cloth with twin silvered Russia braid edges indicating possible NCO use. Full length, uncut, unused. |
| 11th AIRBORNE 511th PARACHUTE INFANTRY GROUPING. A marvellous grouping of items being sourced from one soldier who fought with the 511th Parachute Infantry in their Far East campaigns. The lot consists of an M1C helmet, four pocket tunic, woollen trousers, two pocket woollen life jackets, Ike jacket styled shirt and a Japanese made M42 jump jacket. All the items are highly representative of a soldier who would have fought in the final stages of WWII and the occupation of Japan. The M1C helmet is an excellent example, the liner is the Westinghouse type having the green webbing yoke and the typical Westinghouse buckles. The condition is good and combat used. The rear nape tape has suffered some fraying and has broken away from one of its fixing points. The sweat band is present and is stained and a little greasy. The original thin leather chin strap is still in place and undamaged. The M1C outer shell is complete and is a stainless steel rear seamed example, this is typical of an early transitional piece. The bales are the swivel type and the chin straps are present with their male press stud element still intact, this is to attach to the liner. There is some fraying to one of the chin straps and clear signs where camouflage base paint has worn against the straps and discoloured the interior somewhat. To the exterior of the shell is the 11th Airborne decal and to the front the ‘11AB’, this was marked on all 11th Airborne WWII period helmets. The helmet shell has received a subsequent coat of lacquer to protect the decal, the lacquer has yellowed somewhat. The centre of the decal is scraped and as some abrasion, however the lower part of the ‘11’ can be seen. The overall condition is good with some of the usual areas of corrosion to rivet heads and some discoloration. The steel shell is typically in a good state, but it has received several coats of paint, this is typical of occupation type helmets. To the inner are several names, one of which has been painted over and a secondary name ‘DELMAR HUTCHINS’ and a series of service numbers are painted to the interior. The overseas cap in the light Chino material is present with the light blue infantry piping and the parachute and glider other ranks badge to the side, the lining is of grey silk and the condition is exceptionally good. There is a wool other ranks shirt which has been professionally re-tailored to have a lower belt in the style of an Ike jacket, these sort of modifications were typical of items worn in Japan from 1945. The Ike jacket is a high quality version in a good 36R, to both collars are the 11th Airborne enamel distinctive insignias, above this Infantry crossed rifles and the U.S. a sterling marked parachute wing as well as campaign medal ribbons. There is a marksman’s carbine award to the lower pocket as well as a green cut edge 11th Airborne patch with upper Airborne strip, Corporal stripes to either arm, good combat and overseas stripe to the lower cuff, to the other chest is the Ruptured Duck insignia lightly tacked on, this was worn after discharge by members who still wore their uniforms. The blue medal Presidential citation is pinned below this. There is a pair of green woollen high quality other ranks trousers with the typical white lining, these are in a good size 32 waist, the issue label is washed out. To complete the outfit is a superb M.42 privately purchased parachute type jacket, the Airborne were fiercely proud of these distinctive Airborne items and had there produced by Japanese tailors during the occupation. The jacket itself is of a light beige Chino material, the four pockets have the two press stud arrangements and the frontal zip as is characteristic for the M.42 jacket. The lining is of a patterned Japanese cream silk and has various traditional designs woven into it. To the arm is the 11th Airborne patch, below this the sergeant’s stripes, the parachute wing has the correct coloured backing and is a sterling marked version, there is a combat infantryman’s award to the upper pocket, to the other arm is the distinctive 511 patch in a high quality embroidered type format, interestingly the press studs throughout the garment are exactly the same as found on WWII Japanese garments. There are several names throughout the various garments, although we have not been able to establish an exact relation between these we believe this is probably one soldier’s uniform and the seller assured us this was purchased from one veteran. The 11th Airborne was activated on the 5th January 1943, they departed on the 29th April 1944 from San Francisco, they arrived in New Guinea on the 29th May 1944, they then moved to the Leyte Philippine Islands, they assaulted Tagaytay Ridge in Luzun on the 3rd February 1945, they arrived in Okinawa on the 12th August 1945, they then moved to Japan where they were active from August 1945 through to 1946. |
| 12 LARGE FORMAT COMMONWEALTH PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIAN TROOPS & SAILORS An interesting small archive of press photographs, all in excellent condition. They have various annotations to the rear. This is an excellent shot of troops wearing sandbag helmet covers, working with mules in the Far East. Various pictures of naval personnel. Some very good group studies showing turbans and ’08 equipment. A good picture of British troops attached to the Indian brigade in Erutrea advancing with fixed bayonets and helmets through rough country. A fine photo of a mobile signal section carrying out line-laying duties from a lightweight truck with a good view of the registration, etc. Another good view of Sikh sappers and miners advancing through arid countryside. One can clearly see the original Bombay bloomer trousers buttoned up in place. There is a good shot of extremely smart Indian troops with mixed headdress being turbans, wearing respirators and carrying out marksmanship duties. There is one good photo of Indian Army service corps and vetinary troops in France during the BEF period. They wear interesting long versions of the ’02 jacket, turbans, heavyweight capes, various items of cavalry equipment and they appear to be being inspected by a British Army officer. Condition: |
| 143rd BATTALION CANADIAN CEF SCRAP BOOK. A superb scrap book and various other items of paperwork pertaining to the 143rd Battlion. The 143 were a Bantam battalion of the Canadian Army, they crossed to France and fought on the western front during WWI. The scrapbook itself has been compiled by an adult who is closely connected with the regiment and particularly with the band of that regiment. The scrapbook itself is approximately 2 inches thick and contains a huge amount of press cuttings of the period pertaining to the battalion. There are many annotations, some menus, various invites, paper clippings, a large size cabinet photo of a famous officer of the battalion who was killed during the war, Lieutenant R.B. Powell, a well know Davis Cup tennis player, the portrait is of excellent clear quality, it shows the officer wearing the extremely rare Canadian 1915 pattern webbing officers set, this was produced by Mills and contracted to the Canadian Government, it clearly shows the copper bottomed holster, the ammunition pouch, Mills belt and shoulder strap. There are three copies of Chevrons to Stars, this was the quarterly journal of the Canadian Officers School where other ranks were promoted to officers. There are two large photographs, one of the battalion band and another that appears to be a company of the battalion, one of the photos has a split towards the end however it can be repaired and displayed easily. There is a separate notebook listing music issued to the battalion band, dated ‘July 1916’ inscribed to the interior ‘The Band President’. Within the grouping there is a huge amount of research material and a comprehensive history of the battalion and its activities throughout the war, the condition is good, there is foxing to the pages and typical fragility to the background paper, however the printed matter remains clear and readable. There is also a copy of the Bantam Review, printed at Sydney Camp in British Colombia, the 5th August 916. To the front is a large photo of the Commanding Officer of the battalion. The souvenir book seems to have been compiled by a Violet Bridgewater, who is probably the daughter of one of the officers of the battalion, the name Bridgewater appears several times within the text found inside. Overall a huge amount of research. |
| 17th LANCERS ENLISTED MANS LANCE CAP An extremely good condition enlisted mans lance cap of the famous 17th Lancers. All leather body in extremely good condition without any crazing. White leather mortarboard top with some light crazing. The white cloth ribbed sides totally without moth damage, at the base of the mortarboard top the distinctive blue and yellow tape. Victorian crown having all battle honours up until South Africa 1879, complete with its lion head side bosses and fully leather lined chin chain. Interior lining excellent. Complete with its blue and yellow pom pom with correct skull 17th Lancer button and white horse hair plume and plume holder. The 17th Lancers initially formed as Light Dragoons in 1759 and served in many parts of the globe, also the American colonies at the outbreak of the War of Independence. They were reconstituted as a Corps of Lancers in 1823. They are most famed for their participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea in 1854. |
| 17th LANCERS ENLISTED MANS LANCE CAP A very good condition enlisted mans lance cap of the famous 17th Lancers. All of the leather body in excellent condition with just minor congealing to the patent leather on the right hand rear side of body. White leather mortarboard top, undamaged with some crazing to the white patent and scuffing to the edges close to the plume. The white ribbed sides are totally moth free, (these ribbed sides are quite prone to moth damage). Complete with its correct yellow and blue pom pom with the skull and crossbones button to the centre, its white horse hair plume with correct plume holder, Victorian Crown triangular pattern lance plate with Battle Honours up to South Africa 1879, the Honours include Balaklava. Correct matching side bosses with its chin chain. The last few attachment links for the chin chain allowing the chain to be hooked up on the rear of the helmet are missing. Interior canvas liner all complete. Stamped into the upper inner crown '2 Years', probably meaning it is allowed two years more in service. The helmet is complete with its yellow set of cap lines. The 17th Lancers initially formed as Light Dragoons in 1759 and served in many parts of the globe, also in the American colonies at the outbreak of the War of Independence. They were reconstituted as a corps of lancers 1823, they are most famed for their participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea in 1854. |
| 1870 PERIOD BAVARIAN BELT BUCKLE. The large brass buckle worn by Bavarian troops in 1870, unusually with its leather tab, which has some unidentifiable stampings to the leather. The two front tips of the buckle are slightly distorted. |
| 1914 PATTERN LARGE PACK. This is the 2nd type with all web fixtures for attachment to the all leather 1914 equipment. Eyelets to tabs. Claw buckles for carrying straps. Slightly service soiled. Faint manufacturers markings. No clear date. |
| 1914 PATTERN OPEN TOP HOLSTER. A scarce open top holster issued to pistol armed troops such as signallers, machine gunners, tank crews and pipers. This scarce emergency pattern equipment of 1914 only served during the Great War. It was a stop gap equipment and was developed to equip the huge amount of volunteers and conscripts during the Great War. To the rear of the pouch are the two belt straps and the 1 inch clawed buckle above to accept the shoulder brace. Of all the WWI equipment the 1914 pattern is the rarest. The rear is clearly stamped ‘J.W & S Limited 1917’. The holster is in excellent condition with a deep patination and typical of high quality British leatherwork. The brass is in good condition and has a nice dark tone. The closure strap is supple and complete. |
| 1915 DATED LEATHER BANDOLIER. An excellent condition faintly dated H & R.15 1903 pattern brown grained leather 50 round ammunition bandolier. |
| 1918 DATED 1903 BANDOLIER. A clearly dated and maker marked '1918' 5 compartment 50 round 1903 pattern brown grained leather extra ammunition bandolier, complete with all its fittings. Good brown colour. Slightly dusty. |
| 1919 DATED GURKHA'S KUKRI WITH MATCHING DATED SCABBARD. A rare 1919 dated Gurkha's kukri. Some corrosion to blade which has been polished out. Profusely stamped 'DHW' broad arrow marked with the letter 'I' below with each side of the broad arrow the letters 'IG'. Roman numeral 'II' over date '1919' with the number '24' below. Wood grip excellent with slight staining to wood in its very good condition all leather over wood scabbard which has its original brass bottom chape present. Broad arrow marked and matching dated '1919'. |
| 1919 DATED GURKHA'S KUKRI. WITH MATCHING SCABBARD. Excellent condition 1919 dated kukri, blade near mint, profusely stamped 'DHW' followed by a broad arrow with the letter 'I' underneath, with the further letters 'IG' either side of the broad arrow. Roman numeral 'II' over '1919' over the number '25'. Wood grips have slight indentations with one chip out of the reverse side of the grip. In its matching 1919 dated leather over wood scabbard, which has its brass bottom chape complete, the leather has suffered some scuffing and slight rot but is firm. |
| 1920 PATTERN ROYAL AIR FORCE OFFICERS SWORD. The 1920 pattern sword is one of the rarest British military swords of the 20th century. This particular example is in superb overall condition. Much of the flame gilt remains to the hilt area. The magnificent Royal Air Force crowned albatross insignia is strong to the bowl. All of the shark skin binding remains to the grip. The original RAF officers pattern sword knot is still intact. The blade is clean and bright and again the albatross to the blade in a beautiful deeply etched finish. To the other side is the Royal Coat of Arms. The Royal cipher is for George V, thus dating this sword to pre WWII. This historical period straight after WWI was a short lived period for the Royal Air Force and these swords generally did not continue to be used during WWII. The sword has been supplied by the exceptionally high quality tailoring company of Gieves, officers would have bought at considerable cost at the time a dress sword if they had the financial means, many officers did not have the financial needs and thus the purchase of these swords was obligatory and was generally only carried out by officers of considerable means or of higher rank. The scabbard is leather with, again, gilt mounted fittings, this pattern of scabbard is specific only this sword with wonderful laurel leaf bindings to the scabbard rings. The overall condition is excellent and untouched, there appears to be no lifting of the gilt to any of the metalwork areas and the usual minor areas of tarnishing to high points of the gilt. |
| 1926/1933 AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION FLAG, POLE, POLE TOP AND STREAMERS. A 4½' x 3½' rectangular shaped Agricultural Association standard. The reverse side is the Imperial German War flag with its Iron Cross within a red, white and black quarter. Central black Eagle Order of the Imperial period with white and black central area. The flag is surrounded in gold fringing on three sides. There is some moth damage to the two sections of the flag farthest away from the Iron Cross. The face side is in basic green flag cloth, embroidered in a mixture of cotton and heavy gold wire with the central logo of three wheat sheaves being in the heavy wire embroidery with the remainder being in yellow cotton. The flag is dated 1926, it does have some moth damage, which is visible in the email images. It is attached to its two part original pole. It has its original Agricultural Association spear point style pole top, its red, white and black woollen streamers, red, white and black silk streamer, which commemorates the 25th and 50th anniversary of the formation of the organisation in 1933. The two red, white and black lower tassels for the streamers are missing but attached also is its original gold streamers, of which the two lower tassels are complete. Attached to the lower section of the pole is the original flag makers plate. |
| 1928 & 1928 A1 THOMPSON MACHINE GUN REPRODUCTION FRONT GRIP A modern reprodution front grip for the U.S. Thompson Machine Gun, Mint Condition. |
| 1930’S ART DECO STANDING AVIATOR LIGHTER. A beautiful example of the hollow cast 1930’s aviator figure holding a propeller. On lifting the head a cigarette or cigar lighter is revealed. These figures have been profusely copied, this is a totally original example. The main figure of the standing aviator in full flying suit and boots with helmet and goggles is in a patinated bronze finish where the separately applied propeller is in a nickel plate. Overall it is in excellent condition with a slight crack to the base in the area of the left hand foot as the statuette is viewed. It is complete with its original green felt base. No maker or designer’s marks are visible on any part of the figure. |
| 1936 BERLIN OLYMPIC'S BADGE. An unusual 1936 Olympics Badge, it's function we have been unable to ascertain, being a 1 inch finely struck metal badge showing the Brandenburg Gate, the five Olympic rings with the 1936 Olympiad Berlin to the base of the Brandenburg Gate. Fitted behind the badge is an orange silk rosette, which is itself fitted to the reverse pin back tinny fixing. Mint condition. |
| 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS LARGE PAPER GROUPING. A very interesting grouping of individual documents, programmes, coloured magazines and books. They were all collated by SA Oberscharffuhrer Reinhold Seissmann, who was an Oberschaffuhrer in SA Sturm 1/6 Berlin. The group comprises:- Seissmann's Betriebs Ausweis No. 129, dated July 1936, which allows him access to the Reich Sport Feld. Various documents relating to his timetable for the sports meetings. 9th August light athletic passes. A water sports and swimming programme of events. A day programme for the 7th August 1936, which is a huge booklet in itself outlining all of the events for that particular day. An organisations committee booklet, which is probably only handed out to officials regarding the general running and officiating of the results. A complete programme for the 3rd August 1936 which again is a huge booklet in itself. A seating plan for the stadium, with a timetable of events running from the 1st August through to the 16th August. A beautifully illustrated, both in colour and black and white thick booklet on the games. The German magazine Die Woche (The Week) a special edition for the Olympic two weeks of 1936 with many black and white pictures. A single opening card, which is plain to reverse side, on the face side beautifully illustrated in colour, being all of the official badges that are to be worn with their colour co-ordinated backing colours for officials at the Berlin Olympics, this in itself must be the rarest item amongst this collection, it shows all of the badges with their coloured bases, indicating the ranks from an International Committee Member down to an attaché and lower ranks, with individual badges for press, film, photograph, radio and medical. Another programme produced by the DAF beautifully coloured front being the day's programme for the 10th August 1936. Lastly a beautifully produced hard cover book, which when on opening the main cover the book is a pull-out entitled 'Olympia Tonbuch' it is a book on the Olympiad in words and pictures, with again many black and white pictures of the games. This was obviously produced after the games. There is an interior section of two flaps and when on opening them a 78rpm record of the games is included in each flap. We have had many Olympiad 1936 items but never had this excellent work. A very good group for the Berlin Olympics collector. |
| 1940 DATED SAM BROWNE BELT. A waist belt only of the Sam Browne set, maker marked 'D.Power & Sons' dated '1940'. Some slight dryness to tongue part of belt but generally good and supple, all brass fittings. |
| 1940 DATED STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT BRODIE PATTERN HELMET. A tropical coloured painted Brodie pattern helmet, dated 1940, complete with its undamaged liner with three part elasticised canvas chin strap. To the front of the helmet has been hand painted, crudely, a crown over the Staffordshire knot in red. |
| 1943 DATED BRITISH MACHETTE. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. Blade marked 'J.J.B. 1943' (J.J.Beale). A fibre type grip with five rivets identical to the item shown on page 108 of British & Commonwealth Military Knives by R. Flook. In its original scabbard, which has at least 70% of original olive green paint finish remaining. Marked 'B.H.G.' broad arrow to the reverse of the leather belt loop, unfortunately the last two numbers of the date are indecipherable. |
| 1943 DATED GURKHA'S KUKRI. J.N.B.43. A very good blade with some slight marks, marked 'J.N.B.43'. Undamaged wood grip. Faint traces of markings to the scabbard, which is in good condition with scuffing, complete with its original brass bottom chape. |
| 1944 SS DIARY. Recently we have been able to acquire a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia, as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer, who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. The remains of an SS mans 1944 diary, the front cover of which the silvering of the runes have disappeared through age in the bottom right hand corner. The pictures of both Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler have been torn out from the opening pages. All of the dated pages are present from the 1st January 1944 until the 31st December 1944. All of the colour plates at the end of the diary are present. The most commonly encountered SS diaries are 1943, to find a 1944 is extremely difficult. Obviously taken out of one of the pockets of the SS prisoners captured in northern Yugoslavia/Italian/Austrian border. |
| 19th PANZER DIVISION PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM. This album is hand made, it has a beautiful cover that is stitched together with binding, both to the edges and the spine. To the front cover are very good drawings of German tanks with the divisional logo plus 19th PZ Division to right hand base. The album contains 192 excellent images of the operations of this Panzer Division, all appear to be in the Russian campaign. The album opens with an excellent shot of possibly the Commanding General of the Division wearing his Knights Cross and Oak Leaves at neck, General's cap, German Cross to right hand breast, all other awards at left hand breast. Other officers and men in their black uniforms in the turret of their tank. Other officers wearing the old style field cap in conference. Life on campaign in Russian. Excellent images in the field wearing raincoats, all different styles of peak caps, mixtures of black and field grey uniforms. Lots of different types of vehicles. Motorcyclists filthy black from the open road. Open staff cars. Meetings in the forest areas and eating at tables. Parades in the field, Iron Cross award ceremonies in the field. Very good close-up's of German soldiers with faces showing hardened battle. A wonderful shot of a German officer standing on the mudguard of a rare 1930's Mercedes open sports car. Winter scenes with officers being drawn by horse sleds. Excellent picture of an Army Assault Gunner wearing his grey assault gun jacket with the Tank Destruction Bar to right hand sleeve clearly being shown. Military funerals. Panzer General boarding a Junker JU52 transport plane. Convoys on the move through both mud and clear weather. Images of pontoon bridges being crossed. Destroyed Russian villages. Tanks on the move with men in the black uniforms in the turrets. Russian peasants. Many destroyed Russian armoured vehicles and lines of prisoner. After action battlefield scenes with many dead and destroyed vehicles. A rare Russian armoured train shot. Crashed aircraft. Surrendering Russian prisoners with hands in the air. Regimental pets. All in all a wonderful album of a Panzer Division on the move in Russia. |
| 1st ALLIED AIRBORNE ARM PATCH. A scarce 1st Allied Airborne arm patch, finely embroidered in white yellow, black and purple on blue felt backing. This rare patch was won by members of the headquarters of the 1st Allied Airborne army for D-Day invasion. At present lightly glued to a Grace Gibson display card with her lettering 'Allied Airborne Army' below. This could be removed without damage to the insignia, or cut with the card. Formerly from the Grace Gibson collection, Miss Gibson, born in 1915, died in 2002, was an avid collector of many historical artefacts. Whilst working within the British Civil Service in 1936 her interest was raised in military insignia at that time, the First World War. When WWII began she transferred to the Red Cross and Voluntary Aid Department and subsequently entered full time into the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) where, as a recruit, she trained in the same Motor Driving Company as the now Queen Elizabeth II and drove many types of vehicles for the remainder of WWII. During this time she avidly collected British WWII insignia, also some American insignia. Her collection, which also encompassed metal badges, involved many thousands of articles and was recently sold at auction in the U.K. |
| 1st BATTALION LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT SLOUCH HAT. A rare slouch hat dated 1942. WD marked. Maker marked. Plus faint traces of original owners name to the leather sweat band plus its leather chin strap. All felt light khaki material with its multi constructed light khaki pagri, having the very faded yellow Roman numeral ' X' (10th) indicating the hat belonged to a member of the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. The 1st Lincoln saw heavy fighting in the Arakan area in 1945. The hat was originally purchased from the original owner to the collector and straight to us. The fighting in the Arakan area of Burma is well known amongst students of the Burma campaign. The British and Indian forces were initially cornered into this area and fought an heroic rear guard struggle and siege around the town of Imphal. |
| 1ST PATTERN BRITISH PARATROOPER'S STEP-IN JUMP SMOCK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. After capturing various items of various uniforms and equipment during the battle of Crete the British Forces produced prototype and subsequently issue items of paratrooper jump equipment very similar to the German Airborne Forces. The very first British paratrooper jump smock was a garment in plain khaki with long sleeves, zip up front and with the step-in leg facility. Virtually identical to the 2nd pattern plain material style German paratrooper smock. This example is in exceedingly good condition, no service wear or stains, tears or other damage. All its male/female pop studs are in place and working correctly. Zip fully operational with its lightning marked puller and canvas tabs and it is complete with its original WD issue label, which reads 'JACKETS, PARACHUTISTS, SIZE 4 HEIGHT 5'9 TO 5'10, BREAST 36 TO 41.' The Rego Clothiers Limited', date '1942'. This garment was the standard smock worn on the early parachutists operations. Many images of this garment being worn have been published. |
| 1ST PATTERN RAD HANGER. Excellent example of the 1st model hanger for the RAD manns hewer. Some corrosion to the reverse side of the metallic clip with some of the plating missing from the face side. Leather in excellent condition. Complete with it's gold blocked Luneschloss Solingen trademark, plus the RAD acceptance stamp within a triangle gold blocked to reverse side. |
| 1st SOUTH AFRICAN DIVISION BATTLEDRESS BLOUSE. A rare South African made battledress blouse, worn by a member of the 1st South African Division. Blouse generally in good condition. Some moth damage to the front left hand breast pocket and other various minor spots, especially to the red overseas service stripes below the bronze shoulder titles. The size of tunic is size 1, for a person 5'3 to 5'4 with a 32 to 33 inch chest. Each sleeve fitted with very frail 1st Division green and yellow circular divisional badges. Each epaulet having the red overseas service strip with the brass cut-out shoulder titles both in Afrikaans and English. To the lower left hand sleeve is a wound stripe, to the lower right hand sleeve is a long service set of stripes. To the back of the tunic has been painted a red triangle. The red triangle denoting his position as a prisoner of war while in German or Italian custody. To the inside of the tunic there is the Union of South Africa ordnance stamp. The division was formed in Kenya in 1940 and was involved in the Abyssinia campaign to the final fall of the Italian army. The division next saw action in the Middle East, it was part of the 30 Corps of the 8th Army and took part in the El Alamein offensive October 1942. |
| 25 YEAR POLICE AND FIRE THREE MEDAL GROUP. Interesting group of three medals, Court mounted, being a mint condition Third Reich Police 25 Year Long Service Medal retaining all of its original gilt with its correct yellow embroidered Police eagle to the blue ribbon. A 40 Year Fire Service Long Service Medal with lastly the Kaiser Wilhelm 1897 Jubilee Medal on its yellow ribbon. |
| 26 SIGNALS BATTALION SHOULDER STRAPS. A Model 36 pair of stitch-in shoulder straps for a Signaller in the 26 Signals Battalion. Stitch-in shoulder straps with lemon yellow embroidered No. '26' and lemon yellow wool piped waffenfarbe. |
| 2nd PATTERN E BOAT BADGE BY SCHWERIN. A good condition Kriegsmarine 2nd pattern E Boat Badge, the face side retaining at least 85% of its original gilt on the wreath and eagle with the high spots rubbed. Good finish remaining to the central boat. All black finish remaining to the reverse side with, in raised relief, the designer 'Peekhaus Berlin' followed by the maker 'Schwerin, Berlin'. The badge has its original wide tapering horizontal hook with its uniform retaining hook behind the neck of the eagle. |
| 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN SYKES KNIFE. The classic 2nd pattern Fairbairn Sykes knife with the brass chequered grip, the blade remains good with some original blueing present, the edges have been sharpened and the spear point is still sharp and undamaged. The sheath is with the earlier type squared lower chape, the elastic is missing from the sheath top retaining area. Some of the original blacking remains to the pommel and to the grip area. A fine example of a standard issue WWII weapon. |
| 2ND PATTERN FAIRBAIRN SYKES KNIFE. An extremely good condition 2nd pattern Fairbairn Sykes commando and paratrooper military knife. The blade retains virtually all of its original deep blue patination with very minor rust spots. All finish remaining to the oval hilt and grip. The scabbard is in excellent condition with its matching blued straight cut bottom chape, marked with broad arrow and B 2 to crossguard. Both leg straps are intact. The tip of one side of one leg strap is broken away. The elastic hilt retaining strap is missing. |
| 2nd PATTERN JUNGLE BOOTS. A scarce pair of the early 2nd pattern jungle boots, these are a good large size 12 and are the characteristic un-reinforced type boots with the sewn in white stock label dated ‘1966’. The boots have had some service wear and have some of the characteristic buff areas associated with the combat used boots. The soles are good, there is one minor crack to the rubber on the lower sole, however they remain extremely good for display purposes. The original laces are in place and would make an excellent set for an early Vietnam mannequin. |
| 2ND PATTERN KRIEGSMARINE E-BOAT BADGE. Excellent condition, the wreath, eagle and swastika retaining virtually all its original gilt. Some of the silvering of the E-Boat on the keel and bow is missing, the remainder good. Complete with its uniform retaining hook placed behind the head of the eagle, its horizontal wide tapering pin with the manufacturer's mark 'Schwerin, Berlin' plus the designer's name in raised relief on the reverse side. |
| 2nd PATTERN NICKEL FAIRBAIRN SYKES KNIFE A scarce all nickel example of the 2nd pattern Fairbairn Sykes military combat knife. The blade has suffered slightly from corrosion, however it is full length and has not been re-profiled. There is brightness but with evidence of minor pitting. The plating to the cross guard is thin. The plating to the upper grip is excellent. WD marked to the lower section of the cross hatched grip. Fitted into its personalised scabbard, the original scabbard has had its belt loop upper section removed with the lower section and its nickel plated lower chape has been attached to a straight length of leather, the upper part being cut to fit a waist belt, elastic was fitted to retain the hilt, this has now broken away, there are two riveted eyelets to the base of the backing leather with the remains of a twisted cord leather leg tie. |
| 32ND SEARCHLIGHT REGIMENT BATTLEDRESS BLOUSE. A good condition officers battledress blouse, 1940 pattern, dated 1943, size 9. This has not been re-tailored for officers wear. White on red cloth rank pips to each epaulette for the rank of Lieutenant. Printed red on blue Royal Artillery shoulder titles to each arm. The printed black on red anti aircraft command divisional patch below with a wool red and blue artillery arm of service stripe with below, again, a very finely machine woven square insignia of the 32nd Searchlight Regiment. The insignia is a blue square, two vertical red and white stripes, to the centre is a white flaming grenade with the number '7' to the centre. The history of this unit is interesting. They were first formed in London in 1861 and were designated the 3rd London Rifle Volunteer Corps. In 1908 they were the 7th Battalion (City of London) Battalion The London Regiment with their headquarters right on the edge of the central city of London. In 1915 they were the 1st Battalion, 7th City of London Battalion, in 1922 they were the 7th City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) and in 1935 were converted in anti aircraft duties as the 32nd (7th City of London) Anti Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers. Further in 1940 with the same designation, 32nd (7th City of London) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery, they went through further changes after 1947 and finally in 1961 their lineage with the 7th London Regiment was discontinued. They were therefore one formation or derivatives of that one formation for over 100 years. To the upper right shoulder is a red lanyard. Good nap to cloth. One moth hole between the two lower button holes with further very minor moth close to the upper right hand breast pocket. |
| 34TH DIVISION OFFICERS SHOULDER RANK TUNIC. An interesting combat worn example of the officers four pocket tunic as worn during WWI. From approximately 1915 until the end of the First World War officers began to wear rank on their shoulder straps, the large cuff rank insignia proved far too visible and caused a huge amount of officer casualties, enemy snipers found them an easy and important target. This tunic started out life as a cuff rank tunic, this is evident when you look at the mitred cuffs, which are now in place, the stitching is lighter and in a different colour to the rest of the stitching overall. The epaulettes have the brass crown for Major mounted on them. To each collar are the badges of the Cheshire Regiment and below this a small T badge for Territorial. To each upper arm are the chequerboard insignias of the 34th Division. To the lower left cuff is the single brass wound stripe. To the lower left cuff there are three inverted blue overseas stripes. All buttons are the leather football type, again officers chose these as they did not shine like the brass regulation button. This is clearly a working tunic, there has been considerable wear to the rear of the collar which has had contemporary repairs. The lining is good with some light shredding in places. The overall colour is a good light gingery colour. There are a few service snags. The brass belt hooks at some point have been removed to one side but they do remain to the left hand side. The 2¼ inch reinforcing seamed area to the waist is present making this a classic WWI cut of tunic. The 34th Division was one of the new army divisions, they landed in France in January 1916 and remained on the Western Front throughout the duration of the war. They were originally made up from Pals Battalions. The first 14th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment as well as the first 7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment both served from July 1918 in the 122nd Brigade of the 34th Division, this division went on to carry out occupation duties in Germany immediately after the armistice. |
| 37 PATTERN BATTLEDRESS TROUSERS. An excellent large size pair of battledress trousers. 37 pattern trousers are now becoming extremely difficult to find, this pair represents the perfect pair for mounting on a mannequin, long in length and a good size. The nap of the cloth is all present, the colour of the wool is excellent. Two moth nips, however this does not affect the appearance. There are one or two tiny repairs to the inner legs where they have clearly worn against puttees during their service life and have had an ordnance type repair in the same spot just on the inside, this is just a small area of zigzag stitching, if anything it adds to the character of the trousers. All belt loops are present. The WD stamp is the letter ‘R’ over the number. The lining is good. As with all WWII battledress trousers, the label has been removed, this was done for tactical and appearance reasons as the white label was highly visible from the exterior where it was attached, soldiers simply removed these after they were issued. |
| 3RD PATTERN FAIRBAIRN SYKES COMMANDO KNIFE. A good WWII vintage 3rd pattern commando knife of typical form with the blackened copper finished grip. The blade is in good condition with much of its original blackened finish remaining, the point remains good and sharp, the edges are lightly sharpened. The cross guard is good and has much blue. The sheath is in good overall condition with a little denting to the lower chape. Both leg stitching tabs are present, the elastic is missing. The overall condition is good and will display well. To the pommel there is the cast No.1 mark. |
| 4 AWARD CITATIONS TO UNTEROFFIZIER WERNER BURMEISTER. 4 Award citations to Werner Burmeister, who was an NCO in the 3rd Company, 688th Grenadier Regiment of the 337th Infantry Division. Citations are all of A5 size, non punch holed but single folded. Iron Cross 2nd Class awarded 1st August 1943, pen signed by General Leutnant Schunemann who was awarded the Knights Cross on the 20th December 1941. He was the 339th Winner of the Oak Leaves awarded 28th November 1943, plus awarded the German Cross in Gold on the 11th February 1943. He was killed in June 1944 as Commander of the 39th Panzer Corps in Russia. Wound Badge in Black citation dated 27th August 1943, signed by Major and Company Commander. The Iron Cross 1st class citation dated 20th September 1943 also signed by General Schunemann. The infantry Assault Badge in silver, signed by Colonel and Company Commander, awarded 9th October 1943. The dates of the award coincide with the movements of the unit, the initial deployment of this unit was occupation troops in France, then being sent to East Front in November 1942. It is not known if Burmeister survived the collapse of Army Group Centre in June and also the war. Accompanying the award citations are 7 double sided A4 size sheets of research into the unit, its movements in text and in map form, all of its operations, all put together by the foremost researcher on the German Army in the United Kingdom, an ex British Army Tank Major from whose collection this grouping was obtained from. |
| 4 MEDAL RIBBON BAR A 4 medal ribbon bar consisting of Iron Cross 2nd Class, 10 year NSDAP, Entry in the Czeckoslavakia medal with prague castle, Red cross medal. |
| 4th ARMOURED BRIGADE BATTLEDRESS UNIFORM GROUPING. A splendid grouping consisting of battledress trousers, jacket and matching black beret. The battledress blouse is a Canadian manufactured blouse and probably issued in the Italian theatre of operations. The lining has been scrubbed white including the collar, for wear with walking out dress with a shirt and tie. The battledress is an excellent size 11 and is dated ‘1943’. Most of the nap of the cloth is good with some service wear. To the rear the original pleats are still pressed in where it has been worn as a best battledress. To the epaulettes are regimental shoulder flashes of one of the three Royal Tank Regiment elements of the 4th Armoured Brigade, they are a cream ribbon with the brown, red and green regimental colours of the RTR running to the centre. A good matched pair of British made 4th Armoured black rat insignias are to the upper arms as is the qualified tank crew member sleeve badge and to the opposite sleeve the artificers badge. The trousers are in a good size 9 and are an excellent colour match to the battledress, they show the same amount of wear. There appears to be no moth damage, some minor snags in places and one period repair just below the pocket. The beret is a 1945 Surpak manufactured beret with all the normal wartime characteristics within. There is a beautifully highly polished Tank Regiment badge, the upper details have lost some of their crispness due to polishing. Interestingly on the reverse of the badge is a tailor’s badge backing in brass metal ‘H.Smith, Bovington Camp, Dorset for all military goods’ is the wording stamped to the brass plate. Of course Bovington is the home of the Tank Regiment and much training was carried out there in WWII prior to deployment. The 4th Armoured Brigade had a very long combat history in WWII being formed early they served in North Africa, Italy and Northern Europe. |
| 4½ ' x 2½' DUTCH MADE NAVAL BATTLE FLAG. The most displayable of all the Kriegsmarine battle flags being the 80 x 135 2½ ' x 4½' battle flag. Excellent unused condition. Minor staining to the central swastika area otherwise no holes. Unusually Dutch made. Fully maker marked in Helmond, Holland, followed by the markings 'KR.FL.80 x 135'. |
| 50 YEAR NATIONAL FAITHFUL SERVICE MEDAL. The various grades of the National Faithful Service Medal are extremely common with the exception of the 50 year. This example is with good gilt to its wreath, undamaged enamel to the central swastika and complete with its short section of ribbon with its breast fixing pin. |
| 6 AWARD GROUP CITATION - RUDOLF MEIER. Scarce and interesting group of 6 award citations to an infantryman who fought on the Eastern Front in two different infantry regiments and in two different divisions. Awarded both classes of the Iron Cross as well as being wounded five times. The area of operations were North Russia, Demjansk and in 1944/45 Kurland and West Prussia. All citations are of A5 size, have been punch holed and folded plus worn and stained, thus indicating that Meier carried these citations with him during the huge retreats of the German Armed Forces. The Wound Badge in Black dated 15th October 1941 as a Schutz in the 11th Company, 6th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division. Signed by Doctor of the Reserve Hospital. The Iron Cross 2nd Class dated 10th May 1942, pen signed by General Major Allmendinger who was awarded the Knights Cross on the 17th July 1941 and was 153rd recipient of the Oak Leaves on the 13th December 1942 as General Officer commanding of the 5th Jager Division. The Winter Medal in the East citation dated 21st August 1942, signed by a Major in the 6th Replacement and Training Battalion. The Wound Badge in Silver dated 10th May 1943 with three individual dates indicating three separate wounds entered onto the citation, signed by Chief Doctor of Reserve Hospital. The Wound Badge in Gold, awarded 15th September 1944, this is a field typed citation with Meier now as a member of the 2nd Battalion 82nd Grenadier Regiment, part of the 31st Infantry Division with the dates of his 5 wounds all typed to the citation, signed by the Battalion Major. The Iron Cross 1st Class citation dated 2nd October 1944 signed by General Major Von Stolzmann, who was awarded the Knights Cross on the 29th September 1940 and the German Cross in Gold on the 28th February 1942. Accompanying these documents are 7 A4 sized double sided printed pages of research, both in text and map form, as to the operations and construction of both the units that Rudolf Meier was part of. This is a superb fighting soldier's group of documents. Although he achieved nothing higher than the Iron Cross 1st Class, we can only begin to imagine the conditions and type of service he was involved in from 1941 to 44 all on the Russian Front. All of the research put together by the foremost researcher in the U.K. on the German Armed Forces, a former British Army Tank Major from whom this excellent grouping was obtained from. |
| 9 AWARD DOCUMENTS - OBERST MEDER-EGGEBERT. A good group of 9 award citations and four accompanying documents to a former German Army signals officer who served in both world wars, plus the Police Service in the intervening years. Certificates comprise of the Third Reich awarded 1914 War Honour Cross for combatants, with swords, awarded 8th January 1935, punch-holed. The Armed Forces 18 year Long Service Cross, A4 size, punch-holed, awarded 2nd October 1936. The Bulgarian 1914-18 War Commemorative Medal, awarded 20th June 1938, it is a slightly larger size than A5, punch-holed, highly attractive. The Hungarian 1914-18 War Commemorative Medal awarded 13th September 1938, small pink colour printed citation, punch-holed. The 1st Oktober 1938 Commemorative Medal for the Entry into Czechoslovakia with the Prague Castle Bar, dated 1st January 1940, A4 size, punch-holed. The A5 sized punch-holed 1939 Bar to the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class, dated 18th March 1940, pen signed by General Der Flieger Volkmann to Oberstleutnant Kurt Meder-Eggebert, who was Commander of Signals Unit 194. The A5 size punch-holed Iron Cross 1st Class citation dated 18th May 1940, signed by General of Infantry Geyer, who was awarded the Knights Cross on the 25th June 1940 and subsequently committed suicide on the 10th April 1946. The A5 sized punch-holed Armelband Afrika cuff title citation, awarded 1st February 1944 with a pencil signature of General of Infantry Glokke, Meder-Eggebert now with the rank on the citation of Oberst. The A5 size punch-holed War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Sword citation, dated 20th April 1944. The four accompanying documents relate to the Police Sports Festival Prize, accompanying letter for the War Honour Cross, plus two printed notes accompanying the Hungarian and Bulgarian Medals. Accompanying these citations is a single A4 size double sided sheet of research into the Signals Unit that Oberts Kurt Meder-Eggebert was Commander of, put together by the foremost researcher in the U.K. on the German Armed Forces, a former British Army Tank Major from whom this collection was obtained from. |
| 9 GERMAN COLONIAL TROOPS PHOTOGRAPHS. An exceptional small collection of period photographs of German Colonial troops and Marines. The 9 photos consists of various excellent uniform and equipment photos. There are 2 photos showing Schutze troops, South West Africa, one wearing the corduroy tunic with the characteristic leather equipment and the Colonial hat, posed in a studio with his rifle, short knot clearly showing. Another NCO wearing his Colonial hut, again and the Colonial belt buckle can clearly be seen in the photo. There are two from the East Asia expedition and pre First World War, one clearly showing the 1900 straw hat and the lightweight drill tunic. Another showing a side view of the hat and there appears to be a soldier on some sort of botanic expedition. Another set of photos shows the East Africa working uniform and the lightweight feldmutze cap. A further 3 photos seem to pertain to service probably in China in Shanghai area, one photo is a large group photo showing German Marine troops with Colonial straw type hats posing alongside Japanese soldiers, another photo shows German sailors in white tops with blue caps with a Chinese boy, another shows the same group of sailors alongside a Chinese family and their cart. The photos are particularly good in their clarity. The overall condition is excellent there is some minor bending to corners and little yellowing to some of the cardboard however the photos are highly useful reference tools. |
| A GROUPING OF HUNGARIAN, SLOVAK & AUSTRIAN BUTTONS AND INSIGNIA. We have recently acquired a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. The grouping comprises of 2 Hungarian Air Force buttons, 3 Hungarian officers buttons, one Slovakian piece of insignia, the upper part of an Austrian portapee with slight verdigree of oxidisation. |
| A PAIR OF ARMY INFANTRY REGIMENTAL TRUMPET BANNERS. To find one infantry trumpet banner is rare, to find a matching pair is possibly unique. A beautiful pair of trumpet banners from Infantry Regiment 46. this Regiment was formed on the 1st October 1934 in Neumunster near Lubeck. It was one of the Infantry Regiments of the 30th Infantry Division. During the 1939 Polish campaign it suffered very heavy casualties, it went on to fight in France 1940 and in Russia. The Division was one of those surrounded at Demjansk. In October 1942 it was re-titled the 46th Grenadier Regiment. After heavy fighting throughout the Russian campaign it was fully surrounded in the Kurland Peninsular and destroyed in 1945. These two trumpet banners with the face side being in lightweight red flag cloth, fully trimmed in heavy silver wire fringe with the eagle over the letters ‘JR’ with Roman numerals ‘II/46’ are all executed in the typical very fine quality German silver wire embroidery with the black chain stitched swastika. The reverse side has, again, the classic chain stitched swastikas in silver to each corner with the wings picked out in black, all laid onto a white/cream lightweight flag cloth with a very finely embroidered Coat of Arms of the City of Lubeck to the centre. On this reverse side the edge is not only trimmed with the silver fringing but with the addition of a black, red and white national colour corded edging. There are some light areas of mothing across the white section of both the banners. The red side is perfect. They both have their original sprung loaded attachment clips fitted, for some reason the leather tabs that surround the trumpet have been removed. |
| A PAIR OF TRENCH ART TWO POUNDER SHELL CASES. An interesting pair of two pounder shell cases, the two pounder was the naval weapon used during WWI as a quick firing anti aircraft and anti tank weapon. The lightweight weapon could fire in salvos or in single shot, both cases are First War dated, both appear to be 1916. They have the naval broad arrow marking to the base. Each of the cases has had the neck flared out and have the words ‘Kemmel and Ypres’ written. It is unusual to see trench art using these rare small calibre shell cases. The overall condition is excellent, the cases have received much polishing over the years, they do remain good and clear. |
| A POSSIBLY GREEK ISSUE FRENCH GRAS BAYONET. A very unusual modification to an 1876 dated bayonet for the Gras rifle. Blade excellent in standard French configuration with the exception of a muzzle ring added to the back side. Mismatched number to bayonet and scabbard. |
| A RARE PAIR OF BRITISH No.3 COMMANDO TITLES. British made titles, red on black, wartime produced. Unworn pair. No.3 Commando were the first Army Commando unit formed. |
| A SUPERB JAPANESE TACHI. A magnificent museum quality Japanese tachi all finished in Cloisonne work. This sword has never been altered or repaired in any way. We believe it has at one time in its life been in a museum as there are accession numbers painted to the habaki at the top of the blade. The blade itself is virtually perfect apart from one tiny stain. The hamon (hardened edge) is narrow and straight but is clear. The sword is in original Japanese polish. The blade shape is of an elegant style and is 28 inches long. The tang is unsigned but the blade originates from the 17th century. The tang has two holes, one for when it was original fitted in its standard Samurai mounts and the second hole was when it was fitted into its present Cloisonne mounts in the mid 19th century. The Cloisonne work is in a mixture of a deep blue base with covering colours of light blue, white, red, pink, dark blue, yellow, light green and gold, it is absolutely superb. The full hilt, both sides of the central tsuba and the complete length of the scabbard are finished in the Cloisonne manner. All the enamel is clean and no damage or cracks, floral and butterfly designs on a nice dark blue ground. The sword is complete with all engraved tachi fittings including the ashi (hangers and tassel), also the original tachi tassel is fitted to the top of the hilt, the edge of the tsuba is in gold colour. Cloisonne is a method of enamelling an object whereby fine wires are used to delineate, the decorative areas, into which enamel paste is applied before the object is fired and polished. The area of Nagoya, the old Imperial capital was the centre of Cloisonne work. The peak of artistic and technological sophistication was reached during the years 1880 to 1910, a period often referred to as ‘The Golden Age of Japanese Cloisonne Enamels’ and superb pieces were made for display at the Great World exhibitions at that time as well as for general export. This sword is undoubtedly one of those pieces. Some of the very fine threads from the twin tassels are delicate. Accompanying this sword is a complete written description in English using Japanese terms. |
| A U.S. Gauntlet type Gloves. Summer flying gloves. Marked inside 'Summer Flying type B3A' 1944 production. Size 10. Marked to exterior with U.S. Army Acceptance Stamp in white. Some minor wear use. |
| A WWII BRITISH WOMENS NAVY TRICORN HAT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A high quality female officers hat In a velvet fabric, complete with WREN pattern blue leaved cap badge. Mohair center badge and black silk lining. |
| ADMIRAL RAEDER SIGNED CARD. A good Rohr of Magdeburg signed card of the famous German Admiral Raeder. The image shows him half bust wearing his Admiral’s visor cap and full dress uniform with Knights Cross at his neck and a full row of medal ribbons. Pen signed ‘Raeder’ to the lower left hand side of the card. |
| ADOLF GALLAND SIGNATURE. Pen signed Adolf Galland on the front of a Willerich card, which was Wolfgang Willerich's charcoal image of Adolf Galland in the cockpit of his aeroplane. As well as the full signature, the card has been posted from Berlin to Herman Schneider, Munich 19, with a field post stamp to the left hand side to reverse of card. It is interesting to note that in this collection there was another Adolf Galland card, which was a Hoffman image, also posted from Berlin on the identical date that the Willerich card here offered was posted on. On the original Hoffman card it is addressed to Rudolf Schneider, on the Willerich card it is addressed to Herman Schneider. It is obvious that both cards were sent to Berlin at the same time for signing but not wishing to be observed as wanting two cards from the same person, one was most probably addressed to the father. During WWII the collection of Knights Cross Winners autographs was as important to the youth of Germany, as the collections of baseball cards, cigarette cards, marbles and other items have been for generations of youngster world-wide since. We had two complete books of a Hitler Youth collection. We have decided to break the books up, the multi signatures are on the original pages. The single signatures we have removed from the page and have photocopied the original page that will accompany the autograph when purchased. |
| ADOLF GALLAND SIGNATURE. Pen signed 'Galland' below a magazine photograph of Galland half bust, hatless, standing in one of the classic poses of his describing a fighter action. |
| ADOLF HITLER BRONZE PLAQUE. This Adolf Hitler bronze plaque is relatively easy to obtain, but it is normally found loose. This example is in its original presentation case, which is of the highest quality. The bronze plaque measuring 3 3/4 inches x 5½ inches shows Hitler's head side on view with cast inscription below with raised swastika. To the reverse side the maker's mark in Hannover is cast to centre. It is fitted into its elaborate black pebbled leather covered case, which is grey velvet lined to the base and grey silk lined to the upper inner lid. Laying inside the box is a yellow red and white ribbon printed in black '9.Gaulingen, 13th June 1937'. Minor rust staining to the lower left hand corner of the box. Two minor scratches to the rear lid of box. |
| ADOLF HITLER BRONZE WALL RELIEF. A very impressive bronze wall relief of a side on view of Adolf Hitler measuring 9½ inches by 13½ inches. The view of the head is very distinct. There are two creases to the bronze relief, one to the cheek and one to the lower neck. It has the sculpture’s initials ‘IWF’ with the last two digits of the date 1938. It has wall hanging applicator to the rear. |
| ADOLF HITLER BRONZED HEAD. A very impressive 1½ times life size head of Adolf Hitler. An indistinct casters mark on the back of the neck, all fitted onto its heavy granite base. At one stage in its life it has been dropped and a crack has appeared behind the left hand ear. |
| ADOLF HITLER HEAD BUST. A very impressive virtual life size head of Adolf Hitler. Unusually constructed in heavy cast aluminium, painted over, all set on a marble base. An extremely good image by the original artist of Adolf Hitler. Cast into the base is the casting company's name 'schmidt-Hofer'. At one stage the head has broken away from its cast base and has been repaired. There are also patches to the head where the original olive green close to black paint is flaking from the head due to the oxidisation of the aluminium below. Prospective purchasers should consider speaking to us with regard to delivery costs by virtue of the extreme weight. The size from the neck to the head is 11½ inches in height with 6½ inches width from ear to ear. The overall height including the base is 15 inches. |
| ADOLF HITLER PLAQUE. A very finely constructed wall plaque showing the side profile of the head of Adolf Hitler, constructed in silvered tin. It is signed below the head with a facsimile Adolf Hitler signature. Situated in its original black wood frame. The plaque itself measures 6½ inches x 8 inches, overall within its frame 13 inches by 11 inches. |
| AFGHAN M.16 STEEL HELMET. An interesting model of helmet that has come to light in recent times is the helmet worn by the Afghan Army. It is believed these helmets were exported to Afghanistan from Czechoslovakia in the 20’s and 30’s. the Germans and Austrians were restricted and could not sell military hardware, however huge amounts of German and Austrian equipment remained in Czechoslovakia. The helmet itself is the Austrian fabricated M.16 helmet that has been relined and painted in Afghanistan. Most of these helmets on the market today are in bad condition and show poor storage, however this example is the best we have seen. |
| AFRIKA DOCUMENT GROUP. ERHARDT. A three document and letter grouping belonging to Martin Erhardt, who is a member of Army Group Afrika. A5 citation for the Wound Badge in black, dated 15th January 1942 whilst a member of the 10th Battalion Rifle Regiment 115. The wound occurred on 18th December 1941. A slightly trimmed from A5 size document for the Arm Band Afrika to Obergefreiten Martin Erhardt dated 24th February 1944. A field printed A5 citation to Obergefreiter Martin Erhardt for the Panzer Battle Badge in bronze, dated Afrika 1st April 1942, signed by the Unit Commander. Half A4 size page letter, field typed, 'Afrika 20th May 1942' informing Erhardt's wife that her husband or son had been awarded the Panzer Battle Badge in bronze. A hand written letter, half A4 size, annotated 'Afrika 28th April 1942' also to Frau Erhardt |
| AFRIKA KORPS GREATCOAT SHOULDER BOARDS. A very rare set of shoulder boards for an Afrika Korps greatcoat. The material used for the Afrika Korps greatcoat epaulettes was of the olive fluffy material identical to the greatcoat. These are light blue piped for transport and supply units, they are both with their slip-on tabs. There is some light moth tracking to the underlay cloth of one shoulder board. |
| AFRIKA KORPS IMAGE, LARGE SIZE. Excellent large size image of an Afrika Korps man measuring 9 inches by 11 inches, which is situated in a wall mounted frame, which measures 15 inches by 18 inches. The head and upper shoulders image shows clearly the 1st pattern Afrika M.41 visored field cap with dark waffenfarbe, the image is so good that the stitches can clearly be seen on the eagle. It also shows the collar patches and the shoulder boards. |
| AFRIKA KORPS IMAGE. An excellent studio shot measuring 4 ¾ x 6 ¾ inches, of an Afrika Panzer NCO. This image was probably taken in Tripoli or one of the other towns of North Africa, shows him half bust, wearing his sun bleached Afrika M.41 visored field cap with soutache, his matching bleached tunic with Panzer skulls on each collar fold of the tunic. He is wearing the Tank Assault Badge below with the Wound Badge in black. His slip-on shoulder boards are clearly evident. It would be difficult to find a better image of a battle seasoned Afrika soldier. |
| AFRIKA KORPS INFANTRY SINGLE SHOULDER BOARD A single Enlisted Mans tropical shoulder strap with white piping for Infantry, Blue wool underlay eaten by moths or mice. |
| AFRIKA KORPS MOUNTAIN TROOPS SINGLE SLIP-ON SHOULDER BOARD. A rare mint unworn condition mountain green silk piped shoulder board worn by an Afrika enlisted man. The exterior of the board is in the ribbed tropical tunic material. The underlay is in European grey/green wool cloth. The tab, the exterior in the tropical tunic material with the interior being of light gauge cotton. |
| AFRIKA KORPS PANZER GRENADIER OFFICERS TUNIC. A very good worn 2nd pattern Afrika Korps Panzer Grenadier officers 4 pocket combat tunic. The tunic has seen light service wear. There are some black stains close to one of the rear belt hook supports, some smoothing of the material around the collar and general rubbing overall. The tunic retains good olive colour. It is the four pocket configuration of the 2nd pattern without pocket pleats. The breast eagle fitted is of the continental type, in aluminium wire weave with dark green backing for officers. Collar patches are slightly oxidised silver weave on dark green backing with light apple green centres. A pair of Leutnant's slip-on light apple green Panzer Grenadiers shoulder boards. Loops are fitted for two awards to the left breast plus three very small loops for a short medal ribbon bar above the pocket. The tunic is maker marked and size stamped to the inside flap of tunic. |
| AFRIKA KORPS PHOTO ALBUM. 129 images of an Afrika Korps man. Opening page image shows possibly the owner of the album wearing the 1st pattern pleated pocket tunic, visored field cap with soutache, followed by images of the Afrika Korps unloading their vehicles, possibly in Tunis Harbour and preparations for the route down to southern Italy to Africa. Camp life in southern Italy prior to embarkation. The standard shots that we seem to see in every Afrika album of the route across the sea, the unloading of vehicles, which are possibly not private but part of a set which was available. Images in Tripoli. Afrika Korps band playing. Tented life wearing full Afrika Korps uniform with both visored field caps and many images of the trophelm being worn. Parades. Sunken ships in harbours. German tanks coming through Arab towns. Excellent images of German Kubelwagons with officers wearing full tropical kit including long boots and wearing the visored field caps. Many images of local tribal life. Images of Roman ruins with Afrika Korps soldiers touring. Life in the desert wearing sunglasses, trophelms, shorts. Lined up vehicles. Guard duty. The last image in the album where it shows the owner wearing his tropical uniform, hatless, with the annotation 'Heimat Erlaub' Home and Leave. |
| AFRIKA KORPS PHOTOGRAPH. An excellent studio shot, half bust, of an Afrika Korps enlisted man wearing his well worn and bleached 1st Model Afrika Korps field cap with soutache, which looks like white in the black and white photograph, wearing tropical shirt and tie with his slip-on shoulder boards. The photograph is marked on the back for a studio in Catania, Italy. It is dated '1941'. Also hand inscribed in pencil is the unit name and number. An excellent image. |
| AFRIKA KORPS RING. A white metal locally produced ring having North African buildings as the design of the shank, with the square face having the palm tree over the swastika with lettering 'DAK 1941', for a large size finger. |
| AFRIKA KORPS RING. A bazaar made ring worn by a member of the Afrika Korps. The face having the inscription ‘Tripoli’ with minarets and palm trees. To either side of the shank are more images of palm trees and minarets. Large size ring. |
| AFRIKA KORPS SHIRT. The rare long sleeved woolly olive drab shirt. Two breast patch pleated pockets. The shirt is of the pullover type with four buttons. All of the buttons are of the fibre construction. Size stamped into rear collar. Two moth nips above the upper right hand pocket with one, possibly rodent, bite to the elbow of right hand sleeve. |
| AFRIKA KORPS Y STRAPS AND RUCKSACK SET. A completely untouched set of equipment found recently by us at a German militaria fair, they consist of a rare pair of early 1942 dated Afrika Korps webbing Y straps. The Y straps themselves are in good condition and are faded to an off white colour. The rear leather tab is clearly maker marked and dated ‘42’, making this pair of Y straps indeed good for the Afrika Korps period. All metal attachments remain, there is some rust staining from oxidisation to the metal fittings, however the condition is stable and excellent. Complimenting the set is the original Afrika Korps all webbing back pack, this back pack unit has clearly always been attached to these suspenders and probably used for many years after the war. There are some period repairs to the stitching of one of the front pouches, this does not affect the appearance whatsoever. There is no fraying, one or two minor field repairs but again the condition is the same as the Y straps with the excellent fading to all the heavy webbing elements. To find untouched items of field equipment such as these is now extremely difficult. |
| AIKUCHI DAGGER. A short dagger mounted in typical military mounts being leather stretched over wood and bone, very much in the format of a normal Japanese officer sword. These short daggers were carried as an extra weapon and appear to have been used by many branches, often associated with air crews and tank crews, they could be carried in cockpits or the confines of a vehicle. The dagger itself is a good heavy piece with a short blade, the blade has some staining, the edge is good and sharp but bright. It appears to have been mounted using lead into the grip. The matching handle and sheath cover are in good dark brown pigskin leather and are extremely tightly fitted to their inners. There is a typical press stud arrangement to keep the weapon closed. The belt hanging loop is now minus. The patination and colour to the leather is excellent. A rare and interesting Japanese side arm. |
| ALLACH 1939 SPORTAPPELL PLAQUE. A superb example of the 5 inch circumference circular plaque for the 1939 Sportappell, beautifully constructed at the Allach factory in the subdued unglazed finish. The 8 sided octangle in raised relief on the reverse side having the SS inter-twined runes with the name ‘Allach’ in the lower flat level. The face detail is absolutely superb with two athletes running across the cogwheel surrounded swastika with the letters picked out in gold ‘Sportappell Der Betriebe 1939’. |
| ALLACH BOX. A cardboard box with the exterior in black having white edges, which is the construction of the classic Allach presentation box. We have not been able to ascertain as to which figure this box contained, however the measurements are 5 3/4 inches in depth, 3½ inches in width, 8 inches in length. The edges of the lid of the box are slightly frail, remainder of the box excellent. |
| ALLACH MUNICH MAIDEN, BOXED. The Allach Munich Maiden is one of the more commonly encountered Allach factory produced figures, however a boxed example is extremely rare. This example is in absolutely mint condition, the raised fingertip is normally the part of the item that is damaged on a Munich Maiden, even this is totally intact. This figure measures 6 3/4 inches high with the Allach trademark in green paint into the glaze within a raised octangle on the base. The designer's name Professor T. Karner is impressed into the base with the model number '81'. The figure fits snugly into its original factory box, which is a yellow/orange colour in a flock material to the interior with its black Rexene imitation leather covering to the exterior. The Coat of Arms of Munich with eagle and swastika above are to the top left hand side of the box, with the lettering below describing the item under the City name of Munich. It would appear that its upper inner lid packing material has been removed, splits to the edge of the lid. |
| ALLACH WINTERSPORTKAMPF PLAQUE. A rare item from the Allach factory measuring 3¼ inches x 4¼ inches. The plaque represents the 1937 Wintersportkampf, this would have originally been issued in a velvet based presentation box to either the competitors or the winners. The finish is in the subdued non glazed effect with the exception of the Allach trademark within its eight sided octangle with the inter-twined SS runes with the name ‘Allach’. The designer’s initials ‘TK’ for Professor T.Karner are in raised relief to the lower left hand corner. |
| ALLGEMEINE AND WAFFEN SS PHOTOGRAPHS. Four photographs, one pen signed, by Waffen SS man Ludwig Rahm. A postcard size photograph of Rahm whilst serving in the Allgemeine SS Totenkopf unit wearing his Allgemeine black uniform with visor cap with Totenkopf collar patch with numbers below. Pen signed to the base ‘Ludwig Rahm’. A smaller pass photograph of Rahm wearing his Allgemeine uniform with Totenkopf collar patch, without a number, hatless. Another pass size photograph of Rahm wearing his Hitler Youth uniform and a rather battered front line photograph of Rahm in a battlefield dug-out wearing his SS officers uniform and cap looking at the camera with a 31st November 1945 dated inscription to the reverse side, when first obtaining these images we were informed that he was a German Cross in Gold winner, we have been unable to ceritfy that he was in fact a winner , further research may be neede to verify the award of the German Cross in Gold |
| ALLGEMEINE SS ENLISTED MAN/NCO OVERSEAS CAP. A very rare piece of Allgemeine SS headdress being a large sized stamped ‘58’ enlisted mans overseas cap. Good nap to cloth overall, fitted to the side of the cap with its machine embroidered triangular shaped Waffen SS eagle with the totenkopf skull button at the front. The interior is black lightweight cotton twill with a sheen which is labelled and stamped in three places, it is white ink stamped ‘VA 1938’ white ink stamped size ‘58’ with its slightly faded linen ‘Feldmutz Fur SS’ label sewn to the lining. Obviously the cap at some time has been stored in damp conditions as one side of the linen label has laid flat against the inner lightweight cotton lining side of the cap and the white image has rubbed itself onto the inner body. The reverse of the Totenkopf button is ‘SS’ and ‘RZM’ marked. |
| ALLGEMEINE SS ENLISTED MANS AND NCO'S SHOULDER BOARD. The black and silver twisted cord shoulder board with black underlay for an Allgemeine SS black uniform. Stitches where removed from tunic. |
| ALLGEMEINE SS ENLISTED MANS VISOR CAP. A well service worn but still generally good condition Allgemeine SS enlisted mans service cap. Constructed in the heavy black twill material. White piped to the crown, upper and lower sections of the centre band. There is no moth or damage to the main body of the cap, however there is moth damage on the lower back edge which hopefully has been picked up on our web site images. It is complete with its matching set of eagle and skull, its correct leather chin strap which is RZM stamped to the interior of the strap. It has its large gold blocked SS runes in the area of the centre celluloid lozenge of which the majority of the celluloid has broken away, some is intact. It is clearly size stamped '56'. The mid tan leather sweat band has evidence of much wear use especially in the forehead area where the colour has darkened somewhat, the remainder of the sweat band is present but does have some light moth or rodent damage. There are faint traces of an original owner's name 'Zebrak' hand applied to the liner band. The remainder of the inner area is lined in the heavy cotton russet brown material. There is evidence of Statni numbers to the interior upper inner crown. The Statni numbers indicate that this was at one time in the previously Communist dominated Czechoslovakian State Film Company's Costume Department. After the breakdown of the eastern barriers in 1989 a huge amount of exceptionally good and original material came from this source. |
| ALLGEMEINE SS FOOT REGIMENT NO.39 PHOTO ALBUM & PAPERS. A medium size photograph album that belonged to Allgemeine SS Mann Arnold Schmidt. Album contains 137 photographs of life within the 39th Allgemeine Standarte. Album begins with pictures of the Standarte band with a large disc to the front surmounted by SS runes Wachkommando Kamp 1937 with the men wearing a mixture of black uniforms and the early field grey uniforms with black visor caps. Parades. Sports Events. Band practises. Concerts. Barrack life. Large group images. Hut building. Guard duties. Marching parades. Allgemeine mann with his lady wearing his model 33 dagger. Life on the beach. Excellent image of one of the officers of the Standarte wearing his model 36 dagger. Pictures of Horst Wessel's grave. Large third Reich monuments. Images of the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Some tourist shots in Berlin. Interesting view of Berlin Police band on parade. Nuremberg rally fields with excellent images of all the large swastika drapes and Fuhrer standard. More Allgemeine men on parade. Life in and around the Nuremberg fields. All of the images of the Allgemeine men show good uniform detail and close-up's. Accompanying the album are 3 items of paperwork, one dated 1936, recording Arnold Schmidt's transfer from the Hitler Youth into the SS, plus two further promotion documents within the 39th Standarte. A small citation for his sports award in bronze, plus the sports award book with photograph of Schmidt in civil dress. |
| ALLGEMEINE SS KEPI. A very rare piece of headdress from the early years of the Third Reich period being the Allgemeine black kepi. This rare item is constructed from a very fine doeskin wool, it has twin air vents to each side of the piece. It is fitted with a matching set of insignia being the M.29 short winged political eagle with the large jawless skull. The leather strap is the standard single buckled centred strap with two adjusting rectangular buckles to each side a fixed to the cap with two domed black buttons. The interior is completely lined in a matching lightweight black cotton twill. Of the light coloured sweat band only the front portion is remaining, the rear part has possibly rotted away, in the area where the remaining part of the sweat band connects to the peak area material there is evidence of human body sweat on the very edge. The coffee can shape still has a good original form, even though at some period in its long life the inner body has been cracked through crushing. The cut of the side flaps of this cap are identical in form and shape to the example shown on page 43 of Headgear of Hitler's Germany' volume 4, by Wilhelm P.B.R.Saris, published by Roger James Bender. In our long years of handling artefacts of the Third Reich we cannot even remember having one of these rare pieces in the past. |
| ALLGEMEINE SS PHOTOGRAPH IMAGE. A good image of an Allgemeine enlisted man measuring 10 inches x 5½ inches. The image is full length, studio shot, with the Allgemeine man standing in full black uniform with his number ‘10’ cuff title clearly showing, swastika armband, black visor cap with all insignia. He is standing next to a table and within a frame is a picture of Adolf Hitler. The image is still in its original wood frame with the photographer’s details stamped onto the backing board. |
| AMERICAN OSS SMATCHET. Designed and virtually copied directly from the British smatchet, made by W.R.Case & Sons Cutlery Company, this excellent condition American OSS smatchet. The blade has virtually all its original Parkerizing, it has not been reprofiled and still retains its tear-drop shape. Grips perfect. Heavy aluminium pommel excellent. Unusually fitted into a British made wooden scabbard, which is covered with leather. The reverse side angled belt fitting all riveted and in place. Slight scuffing to leather but generally good and strong and not rotted. |
| AMERICAN WOMAN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICES UNIFORM. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A scarce woman’s Voluntary Services uniform of WWII. The all mid grey four pocket tunic with its ‘A.W.V.S.’ gilded buttons attached. To the upper left hand side of the tunic is the rectangular badge of the American Woman’s Voluntary Services. Red and blue collar patches. Matching skirt and matching hat with the machine embroidered ‘AWVS’ Motor Transport badge affixed. The American Woman’s Voluntary Service saw service in the USA and abroad supporting the Armed Forces. A rare uniform, unusually a mixed race organisation. |
| AN INTERESTING GROUP OF SPANISH WAR INSIGNIA.MOSTLY UNISSUED CONDITION. From a highly interesting collection of Spanish Civil War items recently purchased by Regimentals. A Bevo type insignia for the CNT, which was the anarchist Union of the Spanish Republic, they fought bravely against the Fascist forces, made by the maker Tovaaaa and beautifully silk machine embroidered in mint unworn condition. These were worn on the worker’s overalls and combat clothing that they wore in the front lines. A machine gun section badge, a simple brass badge with prongs to the rear, red painted, these again were worn by both sides. Anti tank unit badge, a rare zinc pressed badge with the skull and cross bones of the anti tank artillery badge below. A Fascist woman’s Falange section white woollen badge with yellow embroidered yoke and arrows, together with their male equivalent, this again is in a Bevo fashion with the red arrow and yoke on the deep blue background. |
| ARGENTINIAN CAMOFLAGED FIELD CAP An interesting camouflaged field cap made in the Argentinian produced woodland camouflaged cloth on a mid-weight denim type material. Identical helmet covers have been found in this material and this was the latest issue. Various camouflaged jackets can be seen worn by Argentine personnel, particularly by Special Forces units, during the conflict. The cap is in the basic style of the Africa Corps cap and is a well-constructed item. To the interior one can see an inked Argentinian name as well as size stampings. The sweatband is of the same camouflaged material. The cap has been a little worn and has some washes however the overall condition is very good and there are no holes, rips or tears. An extremely rare item of Falklands related headdress. Small pictures of these can be found in the Osprey book Argentine Forces in the Falklands: there is a good picture on page 47 of this type of jacket and cap being worn by prisoners of war from Pebble Island. |
| ARMED FORCES BREAD BAG WITH SHOULDER STRAP. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A mint condition RB numbered Armed Forces bread bag with its RB number and 1943 dated full length strap. All leather fittings bright. All white stitching bright. Correct zeltbahn buttons. Unused condition. |
| ARMED FORCES FUR BACKPACK. The early issue fur backpack with virtually all of it's fur remaining to the exterior flap. All fittings are good and it is complete with it's wide shoulder straps which are RB numbered to the interior. All buckles are in working condition. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMED FORCES GREATCOAT OR ZELTBAHN STRAPS. The black leather 53 cm long leather strap with 17 buckling holes for securing the greatcoat and/or zeltbahn. Good white stitching showing, complete with securing loop. |
| ARMED FORCES M.42 COMBAT HELMET WITH WIRE COVER. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An extremely good condition 'CKL 64' stamped M.42 shell, never issued with a decal and complete with a frail wire covering. A section of string has been used to pass through the back of the wire covering and under the front of the helmet, the purpose of this string is unknown to us. The helmet is complete with its original chin strap, which is RB numbered and in mint condition. |
| ARMED FORCES TAN AND WATER PATTERN MITTENS. A mint condition pair of the tan and water pattern reversible to white mittens, which are part of the winter padded suit. Complete with their original canvas ties. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMED FORCES WATER BOTTLE. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An excellent example of a 1942 dated bottle with a 1939 dated drinking cup. The cup retains virtually all of its original olive drab paint with two minor indentations and light scratches to the edge. All the felt to the water bottle is undamaged with one slight stain. The bottle is complete with its good condition canvas tropical web cradle. |
| ARMY 1936 CAVALRY COLLAR PATCHES. A used pair of Bevo woven yellow centred collar patches mounted on their dark green backing cloth, as removed from tunic. Some evidence of glue on the reverse side where attached to a collector's display board. |
| ARMY 1936 PANZER MANS COLLAR PATCHES. A mint unissued pair of Bevo woven Panzer pink centred grey Bevo weave collar patches on their dark green backing cloth. |
| ARMY ADMINISTRATION SERVICE OBERLEUTNANT’S SLIP-ON SHOULDER BOARDS. A matched pair of field service used shoulder boards for an officer of the Administration Department of the Army. Excellent gilt to the ‘HV’ central motifs and to the rank pips. One moth nip to a slip-on tab below the board. Subdued grey lace good with three strands loose. |
| ARMY AFRIKA PANZER OFFICER'S INSIGNIA GROUPING. A grouping of insignia and award badges for a Panzer Leutnant who served in Afrika. All contained in a small card German box. These are the effects of a German Panzer Officer's war time service. All obtained together as can be seen by the natural and matching wear on all of the pieces. Comprising a full length service worn Afrika with palms cuff title. Clear evidence to the edges and the fraying where this has been removed from a tunic. One end of the cuff title which has been folded over is a slightly different colour. A matched pair of well service worn Panzer Leutnant's slip on shoulder boards. An enlisted man's eagle for the black Panzer wrap over jacket. The early white eagle on black backing with again stitches where removed from a tunic. A non maker marked single stamped tank assault badge with a number '30' marked Wound Badge in silver which has lost it's finish. The finish to both the Tank Assault Badge and the silver Wound Badge are identical. Also contained in the box are two small sections of Iron Cross Second Class ribbon. A nice little group removed from the tunic and untouched since WWII. |
| ARMY ALUMINIUM BELT BUCKLE. Recently we have been able to acquire a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia, as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer, who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. One piece aluminium Army enlisted mans belt buckle. Much service wear. Detail thin to the eagle. One slight indentation to face side. Maker marked on the reverse 'R.S & S' with some minor oxidisation to the aluminium. Condition: |
| ARMY ARTILLERY HERRNGBONE TWILL MITTENS. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A pair of mittens from the Army Artillery late war suit, constructed in the green herringbone material. Extra re-enforced thumb in a grey leather. Complete with both their canvas adjusting straps with the roller buckle adjustments. |
| ARMY ARTILLERY NCO'S M.42 TUNIC. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A highly interesting and modified tunic of an army artillery. As has happened in many instances this NCO has had his tunic re-modelled. The garment has had a dark green NCO's pointed collar fitted. The tunic has been slightly shortened and the lower pockets moved upwards approximately 1 inch and the bellows effect from the lower pockets have been removed. Also, interestingly, a Bevo woven grey on dark green eagle has been machined to the tunic over an existing mouse grey Bevo woven eagle and a further interesting point is that the first eagle had been machine stitched in a zigzag pattern directly through the tunic lining. On placing the fingers on the eagle the lower eagle can be felt underneath, this is a trait that we have noticed on many modified tunics. Slip-on field grey centred silk red piped Army Oberfeldwebel shoulder boards. Red artillery Bevo woven collar patches laid onto a section of dark green backing cloth. To the upper left sleeve is fitted an army Krim Shield on field grey backing. Loops to the upper left pocket for two awards with two further loops for a short medal ribbon bar above the pocket. To the lower right sleeve is a yellow embroidered army trade patch surrounded by NCO twist cord for an Army Schirmeister (saddler). The tunic has no moth, damage or staining. Interior grey silk lining profusely stamped with size numbers plus an unidentified 'B.A.F.' (army clothing depot - F?). One seam of the lining is open. |
| ARMY ASSAULT GUNNER'S PHOTOGRAPH. A scarce studio shot of an Army Assault Gunner in his field grey wrap over uniform. Seating, three quarter bust, wearing his M.38 overseas cap, field grey wrap over tunic, skull collar patches, Obergefreiter patch to left sleeve, army belt and buckle, carrying his gloves, wearing a shirt and tie. |
| ARMY ASSAULT GUNNERS COMPLETE UNIFORM. A very rare combination of an Army Assault Gunners jacket and virtual matching trousers. The Army Assault Gunners tunic modelled exactly on the black Panzer Army tunic in wrap over style, four closing buttons to the front. The tunic is full length, we state this as it is quite common for a lot of wrap over jacket wearers to shorten their jackets, which was very prevalent amongst the armoured troops wearing the black uniform. The tunic retains virtually all of the nap of the cloth, there is one small moth nip to the front closing flap of the tunic, apart from that one hole it is moth free. The insignia fitted are slip-on shoulder boards red wool piped dark green centred with semi subdued NCO lace, subdued NCO lace to the collar, Bevo woven red and grey collar patches laid onto a rectangle of dark green backing cloth piped in red artillery artificial silk waffenfarbe to each collar, the breast eagle is of the standard Bevo grey on green variety. The interior lining is lightweight grey cotton, which is size stamped and has the initials 'KW' below the size stamping. To the opposite side of the lining just above the open inner pocket is the name 'J.Silmanson'. Some minor nicks to the interior lining otherwise the lining is as good as the exterior of the jacket. The tunic is complete with its very close matching colour Assault Gunners trousers, which are in the correct configuration having the Panzer style three pronged hidden waist belt, single button flapped pockets to the front, twin flapped rear pockets. Some area of the trouser nap of cloth is very thin, there is a considerable moth hole just to the right hand seam of the trouser close to the right hand pocket flap as the trousers are worn. There are two moth holes to the upper front thigh area. The crotch area, surprisingly, is moth free. To the white cotton lining, profusely size stamped with the designation 'E.44'. To find a complete Assault Gunners uniform is rare. |
| ARMY BALLOON BADGE A very good slightly worn example of the extremely rare Army Balloon Badge in silver. We have only had approximately three Army Balloon Badges in the past 30 years, two of which were the bronze examples and were both unused. Our previous silver example was also unused. This example, although an obvious silver colour from the face side, has lost the majority of its semi frosted finish from the high points of the badge, but still retains some of the silver wash in the lower parts. The reverse side has virtually all of it silver wash in the lower field with the high points being rubbed. The construction is the standard one piece stamping with the Iron Crosses on the balloon repeated on the reverse side in raised relief. Thick needle pin, which shows wear on the upper part, which indicates its fitting to either a uniform loop or to a hole directly through the tunic. Simple circular hook to base. |
| ARMY BELT BUCKLE. All steel belt buckle retaining small traces of original olive drab paint finish complete with leather tab. |
| ARMY CAVALRY BLACK WRAP OVER TUNIC AND TROUSERS. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very rare uniform being the all black wrap over tunic and trousers of an Army Cavalry Oberleutnant. The tunic is an enlisted mans quality, fluffy black wool, grey cotton lining. Size stamped to the interior plus RB numbered. The Bevo woven white on black breast eagle to the upper right hand breast. To the shoulders are a set of slip-on Army Cavalry Oberleutnant's yellow wool based shoulder boards. The collar patches are black wool, yellow piped with aluminium skulls attached. To the upper left breast are loops for three awards. All of the buttons are of the DAF swastika centred style, which we have encountered many times over the years on Panzer uniforms. The tunic has been very slightly shortened as was quite common amongst the Panzer arm of the service. The trousers are a large size, absolutely matching in colour and texture to the tunic, correct Panzer style with single button down flaps. Unfortunately the inner hidden belt is missing from the trousers. Profusely size stamped to the white lining with the depot coding 'E44'. |
| ARMY CAVALRY HAUPTMANN’S SHOULDER BOARDS. An extremely good pair of cavalry yellow based subdued grey overlay wire Hauptmann’s shoulder boards for a cavalry Hauptmann. Stitch-in style. Virtually unused condition. |
| ARMY CAVALRY LEUTNANT'S STITCH-IN SHOULDER BOARDS WITH STRING TIE. A mint unissued pair of army golden yellow cavalry wool underlay stitch-in shoulder boards with subdued grey exterior. Still with original manufacturer's cotton tie surrounding the boards. |
| ARMY CAVALRY MAJOR'S STITCH ON SHOULDER BOARDS. A pair of service used Army Cavalry Major's stitch on shoulder boards, golden yellow wool underlay with the inter-twined outer material being slightly oxidised in the button closing area. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY CAVALRY OFFICERS CRUSHER CAP The classic old style visor cap worn by an army cavalry officer, constructed in a material quality that would appear to be half way between an enlisted ranks and an officers. The nap of the cloth is good on the overhang areas, thin on the crown. No moth damage on any areas of the main body of the cap. The dark green centre band is absolutely moth free. The cavalry yellow waffenfarbe standing out proudly against the two tones of the green body. Fitted with the standard Bevo woven flat silver wire national eagle and a rather subdued officers cockade below. The cap is not size stamped but on test appears to be size 56. The crushable leather peak with creases where it has been folded. To the interior the cap has seen much service wear. The tan bordering on gold artificial silk lining has grease stains on the upper inner crown from hair grease. There is what appears to be owner’s initials hand applied to the crown. The all leather Erel stamped maker’s mark is to the brown leather sweat band, which is all complete and undamaged but with obvious wear use. |
| ARMY CAVALRY OFFICERS EREL PRODUCED CAP. A very fine condition large size Erel produced cavalry officers visor cap. Classic saddle shape, manufactured in fine quality Melton cloth. No trace of moth in any position on the cap. The golden yellow waffenfarbe for cavalry standing out against the light green and dark green of both the crown and the centre band. Fitted with a high quality stamped army eagle with deep struck national cockade. Standard officers wire cap cords. The interior celluloid lozenge in place and undamaged with the faded retailer’s name of Eduard Salhs, Berlin, Dresden and Hamburg with the Erel Sonderklaas marking within a horizontal lozenge below the retailer’s name. The silvering to both the retailer’s name and the Erel trademark has virtually disappeared. The interior artificial silk lining shows light wear use. The all leather sweat band in excellent undamaged condition showing service wear. The original foam orange cushion behind the forehead has crystallised and broken away. |
| ARMY COPPER BROWN PIPED SHOULDER BOARD. A slip-on shoulder board, field grey centre, with silk copper brown piping for motorised reconnaissance unit for an army enlisted man. By the length of the shoulder board it possibly would be fitted to a greatcoat. Rare colour waffenfarbe. |
| ARMY DAGGER WITH STRAPS BY PUMA. Clean blade with some very light stains the rare maker for army daggers of Puma. Deep orange grip. All black patina finish remaining to the lower field of the pommel and the grip ring. Good finish also to cross guard. Some staining to scabbard with slight lifting of plating but good early heavy quality, |
| ARMY FORESTRY SERVICE OFFICER'S UNIFORM. A rare complete uniform of an Army Forestry Revierforster uniform, comprising:- Beautiful quality visor cap, virtually mint unworn, forestry green piping and matching centre band. Stamped aluminium forestry eagle with the rare silver wire embroidered cockade, which has been embroidered directly onto the centre band of the cap. Standard army officers cap cords. The interior has gold lining and undamaged centre celluloid lozenge with a full maker's name gold blocked to the lozenge. Light tan sweat band, which is marked 'Stirnduckfrei' with DRGM patent numbers. Matching open collar four pocket uniform in forestry green with beautifully constructed silver wire woven on light grey collar patches for the rank of Revierforster. Silver piped dark green collar. Stitch-in shoulder boards with dove grey underlay and one gilt rank pip to each board. Army NCO's silver wire breast eagle on dark green backing cloth attached above the upper right hand pocket. A hole has been tailored into the left hand lower pocket for the hanging strap for the hunting/forestry side arm. Uniform breeches in matching colour to the tunic and completed by it forestry green all leather service belt with its dark patinated oval forestry service buckle. |
| ARMY FORESTRY SERVICE OFFICIAL'S VISOR CAP. A magnificent condition Army Forestry service official's visor cap. Size stamped 54 to a small paper tag. The cap has a very high saddle shape. It is in absolutely perfect un mothed and un damaged condition to the exterior. The Forestry service eagle and cockade still have frosting to their highlights. The cap is fitted with it's original double buckled strap. The light tan pure leather liner is in excellent condition with just minor evidence of wear use. The interior gold lining is mint with an un damaged central celluloid lozenge with the retailers mark 'Uniforms Fabrik W Michovius Of Cottbus Sonderklasse.' |
| ARMY GENERAL'S BREAST EAGLE. A mint condition cellion constructed gold General's breast eagle laid on dark green backing cloth. |
| ARMY GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD WINNER'S DOCUMENT GROUPING. A fine and rare document grouping to German Cross in Gold Winner Army Oberfeldwebel Arthur Jorg, who was a member of the 11th Company 119th Infantry/Grenadier Regiment part of the 25th Infantry Division that was part of the 25th Grenadier Division. The group comprises the A5 sized preliminary German Cross in Gold document awarded to Feldwebel Jorg, which is marked '11/Gr.Rgt.(MOT) 119th' award date '18th March 1943', facsimile signature of Field Marshall Kietel. Iron Cross 2nd Class awarded to Unter Offizier Arthur Jorg, same unit as the German Cross, A5 size, awarded 8th June 1940, signed Clossner, who was a Knights Cross, German Cross in Gold Winner as General Leutnant and General Officer commanding the 25th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Knights Cross on the 29th September 1940 and the German Cross in Gold on the 15.7.1942. Iron Cross 1st Class A5 size, same unit as the German Cross in gold and Iron Cross 2nd Class, awarded on the 4.3.1942 also signed by Lt.General Clossner. Infantry Assault Badge in bronze, to Feldwebel Arthur Jorg, same unit as previous documents, awarded 1st September 1941 signed by Oberst Grasser who was a Knights Cross and Oak Leaves Winner, also German Cross in Gold Winner. Winter War Medal in the East citation A5 size to Oberfeldwebel Arthur Jorg, same unit as previous documents, awarded 30th January 1944, signed by the unidentified Major and Battalion Commander. There is an additional document being an enlistment certificate signed by Arthur Jorg as Feldwebel. Two certified copies of telegrams congratulating Jorg on his award of the German Cross in Gold. A letter from the General officer commanding 25th Infantry Division to Lt.Merz Company Commander from General Grosser, a copy was passed on by Lt.Merz who was the Company Commander of the Assault Detachment of the operation in Russia in May 1942. A letter from the Mayor of Stuttgart congratulating Feldwebel Jorg on his award of the German Cross in Gold. All of the citations are unfolded and not punch-holed. Accompanying this superb Russian Front grouping are 14 typed pages of research which relate to the history of the 25th Infantry Division and all its movements and combats in WWII including photocopies and maps of the areas in Russia that the division served. This whole grouping was formerly in the collection of one of the foremost researchers and collectors of document groupings in the United Kingdom, a former ex British Army officer. This is a commission sale and unfortunately no trade or part exchanges can be considered. |
| ARMY HOLLER 21 SWORD. One of the most desirable patterns of all the army swords, known in the Holler catalogue as Pattern No.21. The hilt has the unusual lion’s head with the finely detailed main, red jewelled eyes, the arte nouveau style langet with the large eagle and swastika with the remainder of the hilt being deeply floriated. This is the brass version gilded, which retains virtually all of its original gilt, which is brighter obviously in the lower areas that have been untouched. The fineness of detail to the lion’s main and the breast and wings of the eagle are superb. The original grip wire is in place, two strands are slightly loose, the blade is absolutely mint, non maker marked. The sword is in its original scabbard which has no dents and retains at least 85% of its original black painted finish. |
| ARMY INFANTRY NCO'S SHOULDER BOARDS. Recently we have been able to acquire a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia, as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer, who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. A slightly mismatched but worn as a pair 1942 pattern slip on shoulder boards for an Infantry NCO. Light grey centre. Matching subdued tress surrounding the board with imitation silk white piping. One board slightly longer than the other. |
| ARMY LEUTNANT WEISSWEILLER DOCUMENTS. Soldbuch with photograph of Weissweiller head and shoulders, hatless. Weissweiller was a Zahlmeister of the reserve. Was an army veteran of the campaigns in Russia and France. Awarded the Wound Badge in black and silver, Iron Cross 2nd Class and Infantry Assault Badge. Later on in the war he served in the Reichbahn as a paymaster. Two A5 citations for the Wound Badge in black, dated 1940, field printed style. The Wound Badge in silver issue style, pre printed, dated 1941 as part of Infantry Regiment 407, we can only imagine that through his wounds he was not fit for front line duty and served in the Reichbahn. Six accompanying documents up to February 1945 relating to his post military service and service within the Reichbahn. At the rear of the soldbuch is a postcard photograph of Weissweiller in uniform wearing his service dress uniform with saddle shape visor cap and his awards. Soldbuch is well worn and is held together on spine with cellotape and extra strengthened cardboard. |
| ARMY M.35 DOUBLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A Q64 size shell originally issued as an apple green double decal army helmet, it would seem to have been ordnance over painted with a darker shade of matt apple green. When getting into the hands of a collector the over paint in the area of the decals has been removed to expose the original decals below. Some abrasions overall. On inverting the helmet the original apple green is clearly visible. The inner liner is intact with its original drawstring, it is supple, it has darkened considerably but no damage. Early aluminium liner band with square edged buckle attachments. Original chin strap, which is non maker marked. |
| ARMY M.40 SINGLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An ET64 size shell. At least 95% of the original paint finish is remaining with minor abrasions. The colour is closer to a green than a grey indicating that it is possibly an early M.40. The decal is good and clear with abrasions as can be seen in our web images. The liner is all complete and appears to have been covered in mud at some time, however the leather is firm and strong with its original drawstring, the strap is missing. The zinc liner band is distorted in one area. |
| ARMY M.42 ENLISTED MANS INFANTRY COMBAT TUNIC. An extremely good condition M.42 enlisted mans infantry service tunic. Good nap to cloth overall. No moth, damage or staining. White artificial silk piped shoulder boards with grey centres of which the cloth matches the tunic exactly. Subdued Bevo woven grey on green collar patches. Bevo woven grey on green breast eagle, which has been machine sewn directly through the lining, the pockets are also sewn directly though the lining indicating that the pockets were applied with the eagle after the garment was constructed. Artificial silk lined. RB numbered. Size coded and depot issue H43. Loops for two sets of awards to the upper left breast pocket. |
| ARMY M.42 ENLISTED RANKS OVERSEAS CAP. A very good example of the Model 42 enlisted ranks overseas cap constructed in the grey green wool material. One single air vent eyelet to each side of the cap. Slight thinness to the nap of the cloth in places but no visible moth damage. All the paint remaining to the twin buttons. The insignia fitted is the T shaped one-piece Bevo woven national eagle on grey green background with the national roundel below. Unusually the interior is lined in the light grey blue heavy cotton weave lining material, it is clearly stamped size '58' maker marked 'G.A.Hoffmann, Berlin' with the date '1942'. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY M.42 NCO'S COMBAT TUNIC. A very good large size Army M.42 combat tunic, constructed in the grey green material. All of the nap of the cloth is good. One minor moth nip found in the back panel, otherwise the garment is moth free. Five button front, four pleated pockets. Slashed adjustable cuffs. Loops to the breast for two awards. The tunic is fitted with a twin medal ribbon bar comprising the Iron Cross and the Eastern Front medal. Collar patches are the universal mouse grey on grey type with the standard Bevo woven enlisted ranks grey on green breast eagle. To the upper left sleeve is fitted the Krim Shield on identical colour backing cloth as is to the tunic. A set of slip-on white artificial silk infantry piped shoulder boards with subdued tress with one pip attached for the rank of Feldwebel are fitted, it is quite obvious that the newly promoted NCO never had the matching tress fitted to the collar of this tunic. The interior is lined in grey artificial silk and has traces of its maker's name stamped to the inner lining, which is unidentifiable, but the town of Munich is quite clear with the size stampings below. Two different shades of colour of the interior lining have been used in its original construction with one further larger moth hole to the lower rear bottom skirt of the garment. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY M.42 SINGLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. A CKL 64 sized helmet with 85% of its original paint finish remaining with the crown rubbed through to steel, with other minor abrasions. The army decal good and clear with some abrasions as can be seen from the web site images. The original owner's name 'Geissler' hand painted in black to the interior rear skirt of the helmet. The liner is all complete, it appears to have been treated with leather food. The tips of two tongues have been strengthened with non contemporary tape. Drawstring present, strap missing. |
| ARMY M.42 SLIGHTLY BATTLE DAMAGED HELMET. An army M.42 raw edged helmet. Non size stamped but approximately size 58 liner size. The exterior shell has lost the majority of its paint finish and has had one dent to the crown area. The army decal is still clear as can be seen from our web images. Original interior liner all complete with obvious service wear but with the leather still supple and all intact. The helmet is with its original chin strap, which is RB numbered. |
| ARMY M42 NON DECALLED COMBAT HELMET. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very good size 59 M.42 non decaled combat helmet. The exterior having all its original finish with some light rust flooding through. The interior liner having good colour remaining, some light roughness and degrading to the leather at the lower edge. The liner is with its original drawstring. The helmet band is of the zinc type but is unusually fitted with the earlier square edged buckle straps normally associated with the M.35 helmet. |
| ARMY MANS UNIT MARKED BELT BUCKLE. A standard army aluminium pebbled finish belt buckle, which is maker marked in raised relief on the reverse side. Attached to the belt is its scarce leather tab, which is maker marked and also dated to the centre of the maker mark the ‘193’ are visible, the last number is obscured by the over-stamping of the unit markings, which in itself makes this buckle tab rare. The unit markings are ‘2.NBL.A.II’. |
| ARMY MEDICAL OFFICERS LATE WAR COLLAR PATCHES. The late war style machine embroidered subdued silver thread with blue wool plaided centre on a background of artificial silk dark green backing cloth, collar patches for an Army Medical officer. One patch heavily stamped 'DRGM' with number. Evidence of stitch marks where removed from a tunic. Interesting late war insignia. |
| ARMY OBERGEFREITER'S M.44 COMBAT TUNIC. An excellent example of the rare M.44 combat tunic. Excellent nap to cloth. Worn by an Obergefreiter in a transport supply unit. Slip-on set of artificial silk light blue piped shoulder boards with the Company slip-on number in a chain stitch even lighter shade of light blue with a number '2' attached. Universal Bevo woven collar patches. The breast eagle is of the triangular M.44 style grey on green Bevo weave, which has been stitched directly through the tunic lining and is a replacement as it can be clearly seen the original stitch marks where again the Bevo woven eagle had been stitched directly through the outer cloth and the lining material from its inception. To the upper left sleeve is a double inverted rank patch for an Obergefreiter. All of the six original buttons are present. Loops to the upper left breast for three awards. Lined in the grey artificial silk lining. Heavily stamped with clear RB numbers, size stampings and designation 'F.44'. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY OBERSCHUTZ ARM PATCH. We have recently acquired a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. Army Oberschutz arm patch for the herringbone twill uniform. Machine embroidered white rank star on a green herringbone twill circular patch. |
| ARMY OBERSCHUTZ PATCH FOR WORK UNIFORM. We have recently acquired a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. A circular rank patch on light tan herringbone twill cloth with a subdued machine embroidered rank star to the centre for wearing on the fatigue uniform. |
| ARMY OFFICER'S BREAST EAGLE. On removal from tunic the right hand wing tip was severely damaged and it's bottle green backing wool rendered ragged. |
| ARMY OFFICERS DAGGER, NEAR MINT. A virtually mint condition non maker marked bladed army officers dagger, the blade with all of its cross grain finish remaining. To the exterior the quality and colour of the dagger match overall. The deep orange grip is totally without any blemishes. The dagger is with its correct length army silver portapee knot and is fitted with a pair of the deluxe pattern hanging straps, which again match the dagger exactly. There is some minor oxidisation in small areas to the straps, they are marked ‘DRGM’ to the upper swivel sections and have undoubtedly been fitted to this dagger since WWII. |
| ARMY OFFICERS M.43 VISORED FIELD CAP. An unusually but totally original army M.43 officers field cap. The exterior of the cap is constructed in the correct form for an army officer M.43 cap. The silver waffenfarbe that surrounds the crown has degraded leaving only faint flecks of silver visible. The insignia fitted is the correct silver Bevo wire officers eagle with matching officers silver Bevo wire multi coloured national cockade. The interior lining is a satin artificial silk is what is believed to be scraps from lining from suit material, there is one oval section with old stitch marks where a garment has been destroyed to produce the lining for this cap. It is fitted with its leather sweat band which is split in places and unusually the sweat band is clearly Munich maker stamped and dated ‘1937’ in two places, we believe that the cap obviously introduced after 1943, has had its interior completed by using scraps from the original factory and spare liners bearing an earlier date. There is obvious natural wear to the forehead area. The lining material obviously showing wear use from an earlier garment also shows the different shade of the material which is lighter in the area protected by the leather sweat band and darker in the unprotected area. |
| ARMY OFFICERS PANZER BERET INSIGNIA. A rare pair of flat silver wire silver woven national eagle and swastika with the cockade below that fits as a pair to the Panzer beret. Stitches still remaining where removed from the beret. Some erosion to the left had wing of the eagle as the eagle is viewed and some threads missing from the lower part of the wreath. Extremely rare set. |
| ARMY OVERSEAS CAP EAGLE. We have recently acquired a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. The Bevo woven eagle for wearing on the enlisted mans M.43 cap. Slightly creased, this has been pressed, when found it was completely crushed and curled. Some light rust spotting. |
| ARMY PANZER ALBUM. An extremely good Panzer album containing 155 images belonging to Unteroffizier Siegfried Geiss 1st Company 2nd Panzer Regiment 16th Panzer Division. Good album with 157 photographs which records Geiss’s military service in the Panzer arm of the German Army. It begins with a photograph of Geiss as a Panzerschutz taken in Hargen 1941 and an ID photograph of him as an Unteroffizier, both wearing the black Panzer wrap over tunic. It appears that Geiss joined 2nd Panzer Regiment either just before or when the Regiment was in Bulgaria. Photographs indicate that he was a crew member of Tank 111. (Troop Leaders Tank 1st Company). During the time leading up to Stalingrad it would appear that Geiss was amongst some 4,000 men of the division who were not taken at Stalingrad. After this disaster when the battalion was equipped with Panthers it was evident that he was a Tank Commander of Tank 123 (2nd Troop 1st Company). At one time an Oberfeldwebel Gros who was later awarded a German Cross in gold in 1942 and a Knights Cross on the 4th December 1943 was his Crew Commander and troop leader. Excellent photographs go through the album of parades of the unit wearing their black Panzer uniforms with Panzer berets. Many images annotated with dates and places. Visits by high ranking officers to the unit. Destroyed Russian buildings. Medal award ceremonies. Black Panzer men wearing all their awards to their breast. Great close-ups of the full black uniform. Good close-ups of all different models of tanks. Destroyed Russian units. German tanks in snow camouflage. A great shot of crew standing next to Tank 123 with one of the tankers wearing a Luftwaffe flying helmet. Track changing in the field. German Cross and Knights Cross Winners. Accompanying the album are many pages of research on the unit and the unit’s history compiled by one of the top researchers in the U.K. an ex Major in the Royal Armoured Corps. |
| ARMY PANZER BEVO COLLAR PATCHES. PATTERN 40. A mint unissued pair of non-mounted Bevo woven collar patches. Green and grey with pink piping. |
| ARMY PANZER CAVALRY SHOULDER BOARD. A single stitch on shoulder board with wool golden yellow piping, black centred with NCO's tress with silvered number '2' to centre, worn by an NCO in the 2nd Company of a Panzer Regiment formerly a cavalry regiment. |
| ARMY PANZER ENLISTED MANS OR NCO'S VISOR CAP. A very fine condition saddle shaped privately purchased Army Panzer ordinary ranks or NCO's visor cap, produced in officers quality material. The pink waffenfarbe against the grey/green material is outstanding with the dark green wool centre band. Exact matching stamped aluminium national eagle and central cockade. Standard ordinary ranks or NCO's double buckled visor strap with the very tip of the strap on the left hand side broken away, the strap is held to the button by thread. There are no moth holes or moth tracking to any part of the exterior of the cap. The visor is of the green variety on the interior with wear marks where the green has rubbed away through fingering of the wearer. The mid green leather sweat band good with one tear. Minor evidence of old collector glue repair in the area where the visor fits underneath the lower velvet edged sweat band of the cap. Green artificial silk inner lining with a complete central celluloid lozenge, which has one split, silver blocked below the lozenge 'Stirndruckfrei Deutches Reichspatent', the original wearer's name and unit label is tucked within the lower area of the celluloid lozenge 'P.Z.Schutz Steiner 6/PZ RGT 7'. The cap is approximately size 59 or 60. |
| ARMY PANZER GRENADIER HAUPTMANN'S COMBAT TUNIC. A rare enlisted mans quality officer worn four pocket combat tunic for a Hauptmann of Panzer Grenadiers. Heavy fluffy wool enlisted mans quality tunic, deep turned back cuffs, four pockets all with pleats, dark green officers collar, light apple green underlay with the subdued grey wire embroidered outer edge, twin gilt rank pips to each board, heavy wire embroidered officers collar patches with a twist style light apple green centre to each collar patch, the heavy wire embroidered officers breast eagle which matches the condition of the shoulder and collar insignia exactly, twin loops above the left upper breast pocket for a medal ribbon bar, one set of loops to the central pleat of the upper left hand pocket with the remains of loops just to the right hand side of the pleat, a moth hole to that upper pocket. Faded Iron Cross 2nd class ribbon to the second button hole. Grey silk lining, twin inside pockets, a tailored hole through the lower left hand bellows pocket for the threading of the Army dagger hanging straps. Nap of cloth good. No other moth damage. |
| ARMY PANZER GRENADIER M.43 TUNIC. A good example of the Model 43 four pocket combat tunic, having four patch pockets without pleats. Matching collar. Tunic retains much original nap of its late war quality cloth. No moth, damage or staining. Slight discoloration of cloth due to sunlight and light wear to high spots of pocket flaps. Collar insignia is the late war universal mouse grey Bevo woven collar patches. Slip-on Panzer Grenadier late apple green silk piped shoulder boards on earth brown cloth. Standard Bevo woven enlisted mans breast eagle, which has been replaced. The original breast eagle was machine sewn directly through the tunic and the lining. Grey herringbone twill silk lining, which does have some wear and two small holes close to the collar area.890 |
| ARMY PANZER GRENADIER OFFICERS VISOR CAP. One of the rarer colours of the German Army being the light apple green for Panzer Grenadier units. The cap is constructed in officers quality cloth with light moth tracking and one moth nip to the upper crown area. To the lower sides the material is clear. There is some moth damage to the upper section of the light apple green waffenfarbe and to both the upper and lower sections of the dark green centre band. To the interior the sweat band is of the ersatz variety of which the outer dark tan skin has come away from the base cloth and with further creases but no actual damage. To the interior the cap is lined in a mid brown lightweight cotton with a non maker marked totally undamaged centre celluloid lozenge. |
| ARMY PANZER GRENADIER SHOULDER BOARDS. A rare pair of model 36 Panzer Grenadier Unteroffizier's slip-on shoulder boards. Dark green centres, surrounding tress. The light apple green wool piping has faded slightly. Absolute matching pair. |
| ARMY PANZER HAUPTMANN'S SINGLE SHOULDER BOARD. A single stitch-in shoulder board with bright aluminium braid with gilt Panzer Regiment No.2 and two gilt rank pips. Rose pink underlay cloth. |
| ARMY PANZER M.36 TUNIC AND CAP. A tunic and cap belonging to an enlisted man in an Army Panzer unit. A very large size five button standard M.36 configuration, four pocket combat tunic having all the nap of the cloth in virtually unworn condition, four pockets with pleats. The only moth damage is one moth hole in the area between the upper right hand epaulette and the dark green collar. Stitch-in dark green centred pink wool piped shoulder boards. Bevo woven pink centred collar patches laid onto a rectangle of collar backing cloth and applied to the collar. Standard Bevo woven Armed Forces national eagle. The interior of the tunic is heavily stamped with sizes, coded ‘F40’, maker marked ‘Max Muller, Nuremberg’ with its matching large size 59 ½ semi Tellerform visor cap constructed in enlisted mans ribbed material, one minor moth nip to the crown, bright pink wool piping to the complete cap, dark green centre band excellent with its exact matching stamped aluminium national eagle and cockade. Double buckled patent leather chin strap, standard visor. The interior brown leather sweat band with evidence of some wear use, russet brown heavy cotton interior lining. Stamped 59 ½. It would appear that there was a celluloid lozenge, which has been removed. On turning back the sweat band the interior is heavily stamped with the maker’s name and address plus the date ‘1936’. By virtue of this huge size jacket and large size cap we have to assume this is the same owner, although there are no names attached. |
| ARMY PANZER NCO'S VISOR CAP. A heavily mothed Panzer NCO's Tellerform visor cap constructed in the ribbed material normally found on the Tellerform early period hats. Moth damage, which can be seen from our web images. Pink waffenfarbe good and clear. Good quality stamped aluminium matching national eagle and cockade with standard NCO's strap to the front. In size stamped to the upper inner crown size '55'. Ersatz style liner all complete to the inside and undamaged apart from generally crazing to the surface. Fully lined with the russet brown lightweight cotton. |
| ARMY PANZER NCO’S SHOULDER BOARD. Recently we have been able to acquire a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia, as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer, who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. A pink wool piped light green centred shoulder board for a Panzer NCO with one single row of tress surrounding board. Still with slip-on tab which has one moth hole. |
| ARMY PROPAGANDA COMPANY OFFICERS INSIGNIA SET. An ultra rare set of insignia for an Oberleutnant in an Army Propaganda Company. Both the shoulder boards and collar patches are extremely worn. Evidence of where removed from tunic. The outer section of both shoulder boards are oxidised. The gilt remains to the Oberleutnant's glass rank pip. Stitches across the base of each board where removed from tunic having the dove grey underlay for the Propaganda Company. Collar patches, again, strands of wire worn and loose with the central sections of each patch having the dove grey centres and once again stitches remaining where removed from tunic. |
| ARMY SERVICE CORPS OFFICERS COMBAT WEIGHT TUNIC. A nice combat weight four pocket tunic as worn by an officer of the Army Service Corps during WWI. The tunic itself has been converted from a cuff rank tunic, this was very common from the mid to late war period as the high attrition rate of officers often due to their distinctive rank lacing and stars to be found to the cuffs presented an excellent target for enemy snipers, the tunic shows evidence that the cuffs have been converted, the stitching to the mitre of the cuff is completely different to other areas of stitching by machine found on the tunic. To the epaulettes is mounted the khaki worsted crown for Major. Deep bronze patinated Army Service Corps buttons. To the collars are a pair of Army Service Corps two-piece layered high quality collar insignias. To each upper arm are red ‘T’s, these are made from red tapes that have been laid onto the tunic and sewn in the form of a ‘T’. To the lower cuffs are two blue overseas stripes. The significance of the battle insignia is unclear, we do know Army Service Corps transport column wore ‘T’s to the upper arms but we have not worked out the colour combination. The tunic is manufactured in heavy wool, very similar to other ranks tunics. These types of tunic were a working tunic, the officer probably served as a mounted officer and would accompany the transport to and back from the front line. The Army Service Corps could be found in every theatre of operations during the Great War. To the interior of the tunic is a label reading ‘V.S.Grey’, a Photostat can be found with the tunic, which lists a V.S.Grey promoted 15th May 1918. The overall condition is excellent, there appears to be no major moth damage, one nip to the rear of the tunic, the nap of the cloth seems good. |
| ARMY SIGNALS NCO’S VISOR CAP. A very large size officers quality saddle shaped visor cap for an NCO in an army signals unit. The upper area of the cap produced in the finest quality Melton cloth. There are little areas of moth tracking to the crown itself and various moth nips to the lemon yellow waffenfarbe in the upper area, which we have tried to illustrate in our web images. The dark green centre band is totally moth free. The cap is fitted with a stamped aluminium national eagle and a silver frosted deeply struck national cockade. It is with its correct double buckled NCO’s style strap. The interior is in superb condition having its complete maker or retailer’s lozenge complete and undamaged attached to the ribbed gold artificial silk lining. The logo features an outspread winged eagle with the wording ‘HOCHSTE LEISTUNG’ embossed in black to the ribbed silk lining. The side lining is in lightweight yellow gold cotton. The sweat band is all intact and has the original owner’s initial ‘WD’ stamped into the sweat band by a series of perforations. The sweat band retains much original colour with some light wear use around the forehead area. The original orange rubberised cushion is in place behind the forehead area and that has not crystallised or solidified. |
| ARMY SIGNALS STANDARD-BEARER'S ARM PATCH. A lemon/yellow Bevo woven standard-bearer's arm patch for an Army Signals unit. These arm patches are the best and most colourful examples of machine weave from the Company of Bevo, Wuppertal. Cut from roll. |
| ARMY SMOKE & CHEMICAL WARFARE OFFICERS COLLAR PATCHES. An excellent condition pair of wire embroidered collar patches for an officer in the Smoke & chemical Warfare Section, all laid onto dark green backing cloth, Bordeaux red centre. |
| ARMY SNIPER SMOCK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very fine example of the army tan and water pattern sniper smock, complete with its hood. On close inspection it would appear that this hood was never fitted with a veil, the garment is in virtually mint condition, it is RB numbered to the interior of the right hand pocket flap. Normally these garments are size indicated by Roman numerals from size I through to III, although we cannot find those size stampings by the general size, it would appear to be the largest size. The garment is complete with all its waist adjuster ties, its closing tape for the neck and is completely free of moth damage or staining. |
| ARMY SONDERFUHRER OFFICERS TUNIC. A rare tunic of the German Army of WWII being a standard five button model 36 enlisted mans issued combat tunic being worn by a Sonderfuhrer officer. The standard dark green enlisted ranks collar has been replaced probably at source with the lighter green collar in enlisted ranks shape for the Sonderfuhrer service. The shoulder boards fitted are for a Sonderfuhrer Oberleutnant with the matching collar patches which have some oxidisation. The breast eagle is the standard army officers heavy wire weave style. The tunic is standard M.36 configuration with four pleated pockets, three holes for the adjustment of the belt adjustment straps. There is one small area of moth between the two upper button holes and one moth nip between the third and fourth button holes otherwise the tunic has all the nap of its cloth remaining and is in excellent condition, it is fitted with the enlisted ranks issue light cotton twill lining, which has an Osnabruck maker with the coding ‘H39’ with the size markings, an officers dagger hanger has been fitted to the interior. The tunic is also of a large size. |
| ARMY SPLINTER PATTERN NON REVERSIBLE WINTER SUIT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very good condition army issue splinter camouflage pattern hooded padded jacket and matching trousers. The jacket, which shows slight discoloration to the grey silk-like lining up near the collar area shows it has been worn. It is constructed in at least three different pieces of slightly different shaded stitch pattern camouflage material. One slight nick to the cloth on the right hand side of the jacket as it is viewed. Very minor discoloration showing light wear to the cuff edges with two abrasions to the material in that area. The remainder of the jacket with its hood is in absolutely perfect condition. All original buttons fitted. It has its original waist adjuster internal belt. It has its ex owner's initials 'GMH' applied in indelible ink to the interior back panel. There is also one 'L' shaped stitched repair to a tear that has gone through the lower back panel, with its matching trousers, with matching interior grey silk-type lining with no apparent wear use to the trousers at all, which are complete with their original braces made from light tan canvas and splinter pattern material. Inside the fly area of the trousers are size markings which are a '12' within a block, plus Roman number 'III', which was quite a commonly used size measurement for camouflage garments. |
| ARMY SPLINTER PATTERN REVERSABLE TO WHITE PADDED HOOD. The hood from the winter padded uniform. Good strong splinter pattern camouflage finish. Reversible to white with some age staining to the interior white. Otherwise generally good with it's neck tie. |
| ARMY SPLINTER PATTERN REVERSIBLE MITTENS. A mint unissued slightly mis-matched pair of the padded mittens in the splinter pattern camouflage, which is part of the reversible to white camouflage suit. The only difference being between the two gloves are the interior markings, the RB numbers are different. |
| ARMY SUPPLY OFFICERS INSIGNIA SET. A service used matched set of insignia from the army Supply officers tunic. Comprising a pair of stitch in light blue underlay shoulder straps with supply service motifs attached. With their matching collar patches in heavy wire weave with pladded light blue centres. Some threads loose from one board and light oxidation. The blue underlay of the boards are slightly darker than normally encountered on transport officers but not as deep as medical blue. |
| ARMY TAN AND WATER PATTERN ANORAK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The anorak in tan and water pattern camouflage as part of the four-piece army issued camouflage reversible to white winter padded suit. Very minor fading in parts of the camouflage. The jacket is generally in good condition with slight nicks and some wear through the material in the lower cuff area. All buttons remaining. One patch repair to the back panel. Complete with its fitted non padded but reversible to white hood. |
| ARMY TAN AND WATER PATTERN HOOD. A good example of the tan and water pattern reversible to white hood which is part of the army four part winter padded suit. Complete with it's neck tie. It is stamped sized '59' plus various other RB numbers. |
| ARMY TAN AND WATER PATTERN MITTENS. A mint unissued set of army tan and water pattern camouflage mittens, which are part of the winter padded camouflage suit. A matched pair in size and unlined in a slightly different material than usually found, being a thick pile wool. Complete with their strap for securing around the neck of the wearer. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY TAN AND WATER REVERSIBLE TO WHITE CAMOUFLAGE ANORAK. A service worn but generally good condition tan and water pattern reversible to white anorak which is part of the winter padded suit. Good colour to the camouflage. RB numbered to the interior front flap. All of the interior white is good with just minor age staining. Slight strengthening repairs have been made around the upper edges of the garment and it would appear a rodent bite in the area around the third button hole has also been repaired. One L shaped tear to the back panel has also been repaired. Slight surface discoloration otherwise no undue damage or problems. It is complete with all its buttons, its canvas hidden waist belt with its original hood that has its own integral hood ties present. Good collectable condition. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY TAN AND WATER REVERSIBLE TO WHITE WINTER PADDED ANORAK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A good service worn hooded anorak, reversible to white, which is part of the winter padded suit. Interior white finish excellent, the camouflage to the exterior is good and pronounced. There are some snags to areas of the material and two patches, one between the third and fourth button hole, which has been patched with SS camouflage material, another small patch on the top left hand shoulder patched in tan and water pattern material. All buttons are present, complete with its waist tie. The base of each cuff are strong with some light repairs with all cuff adjusters complete. |
| ARMY TRANSPORT LEUTNANT’S STITCH-ON SHOULDER BOARDS. A matched pair of leutnant’s shoulder boards for an army transport unit. Light blue underlay with subdued grey lace. |
| ARMY TRIANGULAR M.43 CAP EAGLE. We have recently acquired a large quantity of Third Reich and Croat insignia as collected by an ex British 8th Army Intelligence Officer who was interrogating German prisoners of war and Fascist Croats on the Italian/Slovenian/Yugoslavian/Austrian border at the end of the war in May 1945. Some of the insignia is obviously used and some unused. This Intelligence Officer made his way back to the U.K. overland through Germany and collated some of the unused items en route. With each item offered we are showing on our internet site a photograph of the grouping as it was found. Many of the items were covered in years of dust and many of the cloth items are slightly distorted. We are showing the items in their original state. For sale we have cleaned and pressed some of the cloth items and they are being offered individually. With the grouping there were effects of the officer and a quantity of both allied military Government, Croat and Greek banknotes. The late war M.43 field cap eagle machine embroidered grey eagle on a lightweight cotton background cloth. Some upper edge trim loose. |
| ARMY TROPICAL 2ND MODEL FIELD CAP. An absolutely mint condition size 57 Army tropical 2nd model visored field cap. Over 20 years ago a huge quantity of tropical long trousers, breeches, webbing belts without buckles and bundles of tropical overseas caps were found on the Bavarian/Austrian border area, many of the overseas caps were made by the Company Hans Brandl of Magdeburg and were stamped with their name and address plus the numbers '842' which to date the identification of these series of numbers has not been identified. Recently a small quantity of possibly 15 of the 2nd model visored field cap have been discovered in the same area, also produced by the Hans Brandl Company with the 842 numbers stamped to the inner red lining. Amongst the fifteen at least twelve were of the same material, three of which were of a slightly lighter weight ribbed material. We were able to purchase three of the more popular heavyweight versions, one has since been sold, two are remaining. They are both with their complete and original Bevo woven tropical cap eagle and cockade, the interior sweat band can be seen in our web site images. The 2nd model field caps were never fitted with the Army of Service waffenfarbe. Over the years there have been other mint 2nd model field caps on the market but generally these have been in the sizes 52 to 55, these are in the generous sizes of 57. |
| ARMY TROPICAL 2ND PATTERN FOUR POCKET COMBAT TUNIC. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A magnificent condition tropical 2nd pattern four pocket combat tunic worn by an Infantry NCO. The tunic is in excellent condition, standard five button configuration, four non pleated pockets. Subdued tropical tan tress surrounding the collar and the edge of the shoulder boards, of which the central material matches the tunic exactly. The white infantry piping has subdued to a grey colour, with its correct matching Bevo woven collar patches and blue over tan Bevo woven breast eagle. Loops for one award to the upper left hand breast pocket. RB numbered to the interior flap of tunic followed by size stampings and code 'M.43/4'. The buttons are the removable type. The tunic is in virtually unworn condition. Stitch marks to the lower right hand sleeve where the cuff title has been removed. |
| ARMY TROPICAL ARTILLERY OFFICERS TUNIC. A good example of the 2nd pattern tropical tunic worn by an artillery leutnant. The tunic is in excellent condition, no moth, damage, staining or repairs. Size stamped to the interior flap with the coding, which appears to be 'W42'. The insignia fitted to the collar is the standard enlisted mans Bevo woven brown on blue collar patches with the exact matching blue on brown Bevo woven national eagle. To the shoulders there are a pair of slip-on leutnant's shoulder boards with red underlay indicating an artillery officer, all of the removable buttons are present and retain their original paint. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY TROPICAL STRAIGHT LEG TROUSERS. An absolutely mint unissued pair of the rare army tropical straight leg trousers, these trousers were modelled on the M.36 straight leg army trousers but with the addition of a hidden canvas belt with a three pronged buckle. Two standard slash pockets, one reverse pocket that is buttoned, watch fob pocket to the front. The interior is lined in the heavy duty white/cream lining material with clear original maker's mark and size stampings. The trousers are completely unissued and unworn. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| ARMY TRUPPEN SONDERDIENST OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A rare colour piping for the army being the Truppen Sonderdienst. The waffenfarbe colour is mid way between medical deep blue and supply light blue. The upper body of the cap is in excellent condition without any moth, damage or staining. There is slight wear to the nap of the cloth on the edges of the crown. Dark green centre band all complete and without moth. The waffenfarbe surrounding the cap in all three sections is also moth free. The inner hard core of the cap has been damaged in places giving the green centre band a slightly non-level feeling. The cap is fitted with a high quality stamped aluminium national eagle with a wire woven officers wreath below. Fitted between the two pieces of insignia is a tradition eagle. Standard narrow officers cap cords with silver side buttons. This is a late war Erel production cap, the interior is in gold artificial silk with faint traces of the Erel maker’s mark still embossed to the upper inner crown area, the celluloid lozenge is missing. There are also various tears to the late war ersatz cardboard sweat band. It is a relatively large size, approximately size 58. The Truppen Sonderdienst was the judicial branch of the army who administered the Field Ministry, Courts and Court Marshalls etc., |
| ARMY UNTEROFFIZIERS SCHOOL CUFF BAND. A mint unissued example of the Bevo woven NCO's School cuff band. Silver Bevo wire on green background. Full length, uncut. |
| ARMY/WAFFEN SS CAMOUFLAGE INSIGNIA. A single section of camouflage clothing insignia, being the rectangular section of material, green on black, for the rank of Army Oberleutnant or SS Obersturmfuhrer. Excellent condition. |
| ARNHEM GLIDER GROUPING Uniform, documents and medals belonging to Cyril Lloyd Jones. Battledress blouse, Army issue shirt, red beret, France and Germany Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, 1939-45 Medal and letters. A signed letter by Cyril Jones dated 20th March 2001 where he describes his wartime history. He was a member of the Oban Air Landing Anti Tank battery. In 1940 to 1941 he trained at Catterick in North Yorkshire. He was sent to Dover on anti tank coastal defence duty, where they received shelling from the French coast. He then went to North Africa, then on to Italy, back to England and then trained for Gliderborne forces. He landed at Arnhem in a glider, under siege for 10 days, he was located on the north side of Arnhem, on the north side of the bridge. He was captured whilst looking after a wounded officer, Lieutenant McGuinness. He then endured months of captivity in Germany, with worse to come, whilst being moved by the German authorities away from the advancing Russians he was left by the roadside at least three times to die and was saved by local German civilians and was released by U.S. troops and eventually flown home to the U.K. This is just a precis of his own written statement. Accompanying this letter there are seven accompanying 1945 dated letters to his family informing them that the German authorities had announced on German radio that Cyril Lloyd Jones prisoner no.93713 was safe and well, a prisoner of the German High Command. The medals are all in their original packets and all located in their original addressed official ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’ box. Within the box there was one plastic war economy collar badge of the Royal Artillery. 1944 dated red beret, 7¼, with the manufactured white ink marking being rather indistinct, the date luckily can be made out as 1944. It would appear that the beret has never had a badge affixed. 1943 dated 1940 pattern Belfast made battledress blouse, size 9, having the each sleeve the printed Pegasus, a straight Airborne title with Lance Corporal’s rank below. To the lower right hand sleeve are four inverted red chevrons printed on one piece of backing cloth, indicating four years overseas service. It is obvious from the condition of this blouse that it was issued to him on his return in 1945, it has hardly been worn and we would imagine he was demobilised from the forces shortly after his return from Germany. 1945 Army issue shirt, unworn. Cyril Lloyd Jones came from Liverpool, this grouping appeared on the market from the family approximately 4 to 5 years ago and was brought into a militaria shop in Liverpool, it has subsequently been in the hands of a serious collector and is now offered for sale here. |
| ARVN AIRBORNE CAMOUFLAGED HELMET. An exceedingly rare helmet of the Vietnam war being the airborne helmet worn by soldiers of the South Vietnamese Airborne. This was an elite unit who wore their own distinctive pattern of camouflage uniform. This was also applied to their steel helmets, this was done using a form of net-like stencil which was spread over the helmet and sprayed. The colours are quite bright, this was typical of ARVN colouring. The helmet shell itself is the standard M1, the chin strap brackets are in place, however the chin straps are now lost. The helmet has seen considerable wear, there is a good patina overall and a considerable area of paint loss to the crown of the helmet, the colours remain good and clear. The liner of the helmet is standard airborne configured M1 liner of the Vietnam period with its correct four-holed chin strap cup. The South Vietnamese Airborne fought almost to the last man during the advance of the North through Vietnam. Helmets of this nature are now extremely rare. This helmet originated from the famous collector George Peterson who found this helmet himself during one of his early tours to South Vietnam following the end of the war. |
| ARVN AIRBORNE UNIFORM GROUPING. An interesting matching set being of the ARVN ERDL type camouflage, this was the first locally produced ERDL type camouflage and was of fairly low quality and has a very lime green colour about it. The uniforms are of typical Vietnamese manufacture and have the thin buttons with the shaved backs. The uniform grouping consists of a four pocket shirt jacket in the safari style, the jacket has the pen pocket under the arm characteristic of Vietnamese garments. There is some minor wear and fraying to the rear of the collar. The overall appearance is excellent, one or two minor stains and usual combat use. There are very faint traces of the stamp to the rear of the neck, however this is impossible to read. One can make out faint traces of where name badges were once attached. The uniform also has the matching trousers, they are in excellent condition showing only minor wear and are in the same small age and size. The ink stampings are slightly clearer to the interior of the garment. Completing the outfit is a matching cap in exactly the same camouflage cloth and is a locally tailored version. The vinyl head band and pink silk lining are in place. To the front is the Master Parachute wing for Army Airborne. The size is again very small and typical of ARVN items. A rare item of Vietnam headdress. XJLV |
| ARVN BATA BOOTS. A scarce pair of the boots known as the Bata boot after the famous manufacturer, these boots were contracted in Asian countries and were supplied to members of the ARVN as well as members of the CIDG programme, they were a lightweight jungle type boot with a rubberised sole. The American manufacturer jungle boot proved too heavy and cumbersome for the small framed Vietnamese soldiers, therefore a contract for a cheaper and lighter boot was completed. These boots are in a characteristic Vietnamese four wide size and are in unissued stored condition, there is no wear whatsoever to the soles. The uppers are complete with no damage whatsoever apart from storage dust. Their original laces are in place. To the inside of the boots are ink stamps with various issue codes. Footwear such as this is extremely scarce to complete an ARVN mannequin and because of their fragile nature these boots seldom survive the conflict. XJLV |
| ASSMANN & SON LUFTWAFFE PARATROOPER BADGE. A good original example of the Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge manufactured by Assmann & Son. At least 75% of the gilt remains to the diving eagle. The patina finish to the oak and laurel leaf wreath good. Thin needle pin to reverse side with the very distinctive letter 'A' for the family name Assmann impressed to the rear of the diving eagle. Two flat securing rivets. |
| ATS LEATHER JERKIN Scarce jerkin worn by female ATS personnel. Label reads 'JERKIN LEATHER ATS CAMOUFLAGE' dated 'November 1941 Size 1' |
| AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN'S KHAKI DRILL UNIFORM. A tunic and shorts, as worn by an officer in the Australian Division in North Africa. Khaki drill four pocket tunic with the two upper pockets and two lower pockets with flaps. Four button front. Buttoned cuffs. Fixed belt. To each epaulette is affixed a canvas slip-on with three embroidered rank pips with white on the tan canvas backing 'AUSTRALIA' to the base of each slip-on. Marked inside '8' broad arrow '45'. The waist band of the shorts are marked 'ZWD' over '823'. The whole outfit is in mint condition. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO KNIFE. This rare Australian commando military knife is the example plate 407 on page 173 of 'British & Commonwealth Military Knives' by Ron Flook. A variety of the knives were made in Australian by Whittingslowe & Greg Steel. Blade design taken from the British Fairbairn Sykes knife. They were made in various varieties with also the hilts modelled on the Fairbairn knife. This example has a totally different style of hilt The original owner of the knife has undoubtedly removed the rather badly designed thin ribbed hilt and fashioned his own three grooved pommel style hilt. All fitted into its original R.G.Brown 1943 broad arrow 'D' Australian marked scabbard. The original hilt retaining strap is missing. |
| AUSTRALIAN HBT BATTLEDRESS SUIT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very rare piece of Commonwealth uniform, being the Australian produced in Australian herringbone twill material battledress uniform. The tunic, modelled exactly on the pattern 37 British designed blouse, with two upper patch pockets with pleats and button down flaps. Adjustable waist belt. Stitched on epaulettes. Inside the suit is a label reading 'Made in Australia 1942'. Some wear with a slight repair to the left hand shoulder seam, otherwise good very lightly service worn condition. Complete with its equally rare battledress trousers, which have two rear flapped pockets, two angled side pockets without flaps and were different in design than the British 37 pattern trousers in not having the large cargo pocket. Matching condition to BD blouse. No label. |
| AUSTRALIAN ISSUED JUNGLE MACHETE. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A British Sheffield made jungle machete in it's U.S B.M.Co '1945' dated fibre scabbard with fittings for the U.S equipment belt. Marked 'A1' to the reverse side of the scabbard and 'A' in yellow to the face side. Typical composition of war aid equipment supplied to allied troops in the Pacific. |
| AUSTRALIAN MADE SURVIVAL KNIFE. A very good example of the scarce Australian made aluminium hilted survival machete. These knives are profusely illustrated in the excellent work 'BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH MILITARY KNIVES' by Ron Flook on page 163 and 164. This example marked 'East Brothers, Sydney'. Blade excellent. Alloy hilt broad arrow marked with the initials 'HN'. In it's original leather scabbard, which is marked 'Goldseal Sydney 1944'. Broad arrow marked with the initials below 'FP'. The scabbard has been personalised with the initial 'JWM' followed by 'JACK' followed by an ace within a heart. To the back of the scabbard is also marked 'JACK'. The hilt retaining strap is held together by male/female pop stud. The legs straps are all intact, although the tip from one is missing, the other is delicate. Accompanying the knife is an excellent National Archives large size photograph of two presumably RAF personnel with just the base of their legs showing wearing RAF leather flying boots, one with the same knife attached to the outside of the boot, the other flyer having a different style of knife tucked inside his boot. |
| AUSTRALIAN P.15 WATER BOTTLE SET. An extremely rare set of equipment being the water bottle cradle unit for the 08 water bottle. The Australian P.15 leather equipment commenced production in 1915 to try to equip the hugely expanding Australian Army. The equipment set is very close to the British webbing equipment, however Australia had no advanced textile industry but had a very good leather industry at the time. The thick hide characteristic of all parts of this equipment is actually kangaroo hide. The colours can vary from green to a light orange tan. There are various stampings including ‘Australia’ and broad arrows. There is also the ‘WT’ stamp, this stood for Western Territories. Items issued within various regions and military depots used the area initials. The equipment saw extensive use in Egypt and in Europe, many photos of the battle of Poziers in France show Australian troops equipped with this set. The leather is excellent and supple with little or no discoloration, there is one minor snag to one of the rear straps, however the item remains very stable and strong. There is normal brass verdigree. The unit comes with an interesting blue enamelled water bottle with a black woollen covering. |
| AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM DATED SLOUCH HAT. Extremely nice example of the standard issue Australian slouch hat. The side badge is to the Royal Australian Regiment. To the inner sweat band the hat is clearly dated ‘1968’ and made in ‘Melbourne, Australia’. The thin brown leather chin strap is still present. The hat remains in good overall shape with its folded puggree still present. The hooks to the side still present. The overall condition is excellent. Interestingly this item was bought in America, these were highly popular items for exchange, American soldiers were known to exchange extremely generously with Australian troops to secure one of these hats as a souvenir. |
| AUSTRIAN CAVALRY SWORD. An excellent condition Ausrtian officers sword . Excellent condition piped back grade. Clearly marked Weyesburg of Solingen. The blade has been sharpened, excellent condition with minor chipping to the blade's edge. Some old cleaned corrosion at the tip. All fitted into it's unique all steel fretted hilt, Ray skin to the grip is good with all grip intact. All complete with it's original steel scabbard which has two indentations to the base area. To the throat are the regimental markings of fourth company second dragoon regiment. Unusually the letter D has been officially crossed out. The issue numbers on the reverse side of the throat, although clear have been crossed. The upper of the two hanging rings has been officially removed. |
| AUSTRIAN FIBRE BOARD AMMUNITION POUCH. A scarce single ammunition pouch made of a composition material, similar to cardboard, where only the closing flap and the belt loop and hinge are constructed of leather. Some scuffing to fibre material but generally good and strong with all leather complete. An excellent example is shown on page 431 of The Emperor's Coat, Uniforms and Equipment of the Austro/Hungarian Army from 1914-18. |
| AUSTRIAN JAGER STATUE. A very scarce statue measuring 15 inches in height of an Austrian Jager of the pre WWI period. Very fine detail. Totally undamaged condition, complete with full marching pack, ammunition pouches and an Austrian rifle. Possibly constructed in the spelter-like material often found in French statues of the same period. |
| AUSTRIAN LEATHER FROG. A very long 13 inch leather frog with belt suspension loop, for the M15 sword for mounted troops |
| AUSTRIAN LORENZ RIFLE BAYONET. Good example of the Model 1854 socket bayonet with triangular blade for the Lorenz rifle, many of which were exported to the United States during the American Civil War. This example being marked 'USA' to the elbow of the socket, thus should be considered scarce. Slight split in muzzle ring. No scabbard. |
| AUSTRIAN MODEL 1891 OFFICERS SWORD. Blade excellent and bright, marked 'AK' to flat side of top of blade. Reverse side has unidentified maker's mark with 'Solingen' below. Fish-skin grip and wire in excellent undamaged condition. All fittings to sword in matching colour. The leather to the metal scabbard has broken away in many places. The section between the middle and upper scabbard mount is complete but cracked. The longer section between the middle scabbard mount and the lower scabbard mount has at least 60% of the leather missing, the remainder very loose. Condition: |
| AUSTRIAN STYLE 4 SECTION MEDAL RIBBON BAR. Comprising the Third Reich awarded 1914-18 War Service Cross without swords. The Third Reich 25 year Faithful Service decoration with its enameled swastika motif attached. The Hungarian Cross of Honour with swords. The Hungarian Cross of Honour with swords. The Bulgarian WWI Commemorative Medal with swords. |
| AUSTRIAN WRAP BAVARIAN & THIRD REICH MEDAL RIBBON BAR. Comprising the Imperial German Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon. The Bavarian Military Merit Order 4th Class with swords and crown. The Third Reich awarded 1914-18 War Honour Cross with swords. The NSDAP National Faithful Service decoration with its enamelled motif. The Hungarian Fire Cross. |
| AUSTRIAN WWI ENTRENCHING TOOL AND CARRIER. A scarce complete Austrian WWI entrenching tool and leather carrier. The leather carrier generally in good condition with slight splitting to the lower left hand section, with the closing strap across the back of the haft frail, otherwise all complete, with its correct shovel, which is maker marked. The dome at the top of the wood haft has been slight shaven. |
| AUSTRIAN WWI TRENCH CLUB. A good hand made trench club with the head being the base of an Austrian rifle grenade. Much woodworm damage to wood haft, which has been killed. 18 inches long. Do not mistake this trench made piece with the proliferation of copies of Austrian trench clubs. Recently acquired on our buying trip in southern Germany and Austria. |
| AUSTRIAN WWI TRENCH HELMET. The exterior of the helmet retains virtually all of its original Austrian brown paint which has suffered from corrosion and lost their paint, which can be viewed on the images. Of the interior liner, the liner band remains with the relic remains of one pad with its inner horse hair. The chin strap is all complete but extremely frail and care needs to the taken in the handling of this helmet. Excellent Austrian stampings with clear date 1915 to the lower left hand inner skirt of the helmet. |
| AUSTRIAN WWI TRENCH HELMET. A very good example of a correct Austrian WWI trench helmet. The helmets shell is stamped 'AW64.' The exterior has at least 80% of it's original Austrian brown paint finish remaining, as can be seen by our web images. Some areas of corrosion. The interior liner has all of it's three liner pads attached to it's inner steel band. One is complete with both it's tongues but minus it's inner cushion. Another has the tip gone of one tongue with the second tongue to that pad completely missing. The third inner pad has one tongue complete and the second tongue half complete, again with the inner cushion missing. Austrian chin strap complete with rust around the metal eyelet holes. |
| AWARD CERTIFICATES & SOLDBUCH TO GUNTHER HEIMERMANN. Heimermann was part of the 14th Anti Tank Company of the 409th Grenadier Regiment 122nd Infantry Division. Born in 1917 in Essen, soldbuch begins with the date of the 15.1.1940. Various units and stations, until being sent to the Russian Front and was involved in the breakthrough to the Demjansk pocket. Soldbuch in good condition with image of Heimermann wearing M.36 combat uniform, hatless, with many notations to all of the pages in the soldbuch. Certificates comprise: The Drivers Proficiency Badge in Silver, A5 size, no punch holes, dated 24th December 1942, pen signed by Oberstleutnant Lehmann who was awarded the German Cross in Gold as a Major on the 6th January 1942. The Iron Cross 2nd Class A5 size citation, no punch holes, awarded 13th April 1943 and signed by General Major Chill, who was awarded the Knights Cross on the 25th October 1943 and the German Cross in Gold on the 1st December 1941. The Wound Badge in Black citation, as an Obergefreiter with the 409th Grenadier Regiment, signed by the Chief Doctor of the Hospital 916. Although there is no award certificate present, the entry in the soldbuch indicates that he was awarded the Medal for the East Front. Accompanying the soldbuch and citations are 5 double sided A4 sheets of research into the deployment, battles, actions of the 122nd Infantry Division, all on the Eastern Front all put together by the foremost researcher in the U.K. on the German Armed Forces, a former British Army Tank Major from whom this soldbuch and award certificates were obtained from. |
| BADEN ARTILLERY ENLISTED MANS SWORD WITH ENGRAVED BLADE. Excellent condition Baden artillery enlisted mans sword. The blade is in excellent condition. Both sides have 2/3rds length foliate etched panels of which the etching is good and deep. One side has a central motto, the reverse side having Baden eagles and foliate patterns. Standard D shaped nickel plated hilt with ray skin covering, which is undamaged. It is of the style that never had grip wire attached. Slight lifting to the plating in places but generally good. Regimentally marked '14.A.1.39', which identifies the sword as belonging to Field Artillery Regiment No.14, 1st Battery, sword number 39, Baden Field Artillery Regiment No.14, formed in 1850 in Karlsruhe and they were a part of the 14th Army Corps. The scabbard is in excellent undamaged condition, still retaining virtually all of its original blueing. |
| BADEN ENLISTED MANS PICKELHAUBE A good large size 58 all leather pickelhaube with field grey fittings for enlisted man in a Baden Regiment. Skull generally good. Minor crazing and distortion to rear and front peak. All grey metal fittings matching complete with its leather chinstrap. Correct national and State cockades. Helmet interior stamp size 58. Liner complete and showing good original mid tan colour. Tips of three leather liner tongues broken away and some dryness showing to lower edge of liner. One domed rivet in field grey missing from spike base. |
| BADEN FIRE OFFICIAL’S HELMET. A rare all leather pickelhaube worn by an official of the State of Baden Fire Service. The helmet is identical to a military leather pickelhaube with ball top, domed chin scales, national and Baden State cockades. The Baden griffin plate still has its Imperial crown indicating that this helmet was worn prior to 1918, if the crown had been removed it would be a Weimar period helmet. To the base of the Baden griffin plate it has the scroll which reads ‘GOTT Z.EHER DEM NACHSTEN Z.WEHR’ which translated into English is For God’s honour help your next. The interior all leather sweat band is complete and in good condition. The inner artificial silk lining is missing. The skull is excellent, no distortion, some light crazing, square cut front peak, all of the fittings match in colour. |
| BADEN INFANTRY OFFICERS HELMET. The superb leather skulled Baden Infantry Officers helmet with large size skull. Gilding subdued to the Baden Griffin plate. This is a late war helmet having gilt chin scales, which at that period the gilt was very lightly washed and as a consequence some of the scales have lost their gilt completely, others are still complete with the gilt. The back strap to the helmet and the front trim are made of steel, which are also lightly gilded. The back strap has lost its gilt completely, the front trim has faint traces remaining. The spike and spike base are brass construction gilded, which is still good. Standard national cockade with the unusual serrated officers cockade for the State of Baden in red and gold. Interior of helmet shows hardly any wear use whatsoever. The front and back peaks still have their original red and green interior lining. The mid brown leather sweatband excellent, complete with its russet brown silk interior. The helmet retains all its original nuts and washers with the remains of a military suppliers label affixed to the interior crown. |
| BATTLE DAMAGED JAPANESE COMBAT HELMET. The standard Japanese combat helmet of WWII retaining virtually all of its original brown paint finish with some abrasions, which has been shrapnel damaged, with one large hole just below the Japanese star, two minor holes to the left hand side of the major hole. The helmet is complete with its original liner, although it is slightly loose from its retaining point. A short section of the canvas neck tie is also present. A good battlefield pick-up piece. |
| BATTLE DAMAGED M.35 DOUBLE DECAL ARMY COMBAT HELMET. A Q64 M.35 double deca Armyl combat helmet that has had a shrapnel or heavy calibre round go right through the forehead area of the skull and has taken away a section of the liner from the inside. The swastika decal is abrased and rubbed but still clear. Interestingly the national tri-colour, in our opinion, has originally been over-sprayed as per the 1940 regulations and the paint has subsequently been rubbed away and the tri-colour exposed. Painted in heavy white paint below the shrapnel hole is the date '9.8.42' with the original owners name hand applied to the interior rear skirt. A hole has been drilled through the lower rear skirt to display this helmet on a wall. The short section of the chin strap only present. The square edged buckle for retaining the chin strap to the opposite side has broken away. An interesting battlefield relic. |
| BATTLEFIELD EXCAVATION PARATROOPER HELMET. A Luftwaffe paratrooper helmet that has been battle damaged and excavated from a battlefield. Large size shell is obviously corroded overall but has battle damage to the skull itself, which has been caused by an explosion. There are faint traces of its tropical finish remaining to it as can be seen on our web images and all of the original three hole spanner bolts are complete with the remains of the liner straps to the interior. |
| BAVARIAN ENLISTED MANS BELT BUCKLE WITH SLIGHTLY DENTED CROWN. A good condition heavy brass Bavarian enlisted mans buckle having the large overlay plate of Bavaria with the motto 'In Treue Fest'. Slight indentation to crown and right hand side of disc. |
| BAVARIAN FIELD ARTILLERY ENLISTED MANS SWORD. A good condition Bavarian magnificent condition curved blade, good and bright, with half of both sides having central etched panels. To the reverse side floriated patterns with a Bavarian motto 'In True Fest' . To the opposite side the full regimental designation '5th Kings Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment King Alfons XIII of Spain. Excellent nickel plating to hilt. Composition grip undamaged with its leather corded knot, which is frail. The scabbard is totally undented with some patches of original black paint missing but generally complete. |
| BAVARIAN FOOT ARTILLERY OFFICERS M.10 TUNIC. A good field grey model 1910 officers tunic worn by a member of the 1st Bavarian Foot Artillery. Standard field grey body. Brandenburg style cuffs. The front two edges of the tunic are piped in red, Brandenburg cuffs are piped in black, rear skirt piped in red, with the collar piped in black. Although the body of the tunic is good it has obviously seen much wear around the collar as the collar has been contemporarily replaced in field grey cloth but of enlisted ranks quality. All matching Bavarian buttons. Some service wear close to the seams of the sleeves and one ordnance repair to the left hand elbow. No moth damage. The interior has had part of the lining replaced, the basic colour is a field grey lightweight cotton, which has been partly replaced by a lighter shade of field grey. The shoulder boards fitted are the M.15 shoulder boards, subdued grey with the Bavarian blue and white fleck, subdued regimental numbers ‘1’ attached to each board being of the slip-on style, rank of Leutnant. A good field grey much service worn tunic. |
| BAVARIAN HEAVY CAVALRY TROOPERS SWORD. A very good example of the early 19th Century Bavarian Heavy Cavalry sabre used by Bavarian Chevaulegers and Uhlan Regiments, this sword is closely modelled on the British 1796 pattern sword. The blade is in excellent condition, fully length. Some traces of old corrosion at the tip otherwise good, it has not been abused or re-sharpened. It is makers mark Weyersberg and Stamm of Solingen. On the flat back section of the blade it is Bavarian acceptance marked, numbered '88' with a further acceptance mark of a crown over the very large letter 'L' possibly for King Ludwig of Bavaria. The three bar very stylised all steel hilt in excellent order, stamped on the underside '3.CH.4.118', (3rd Company Chevaulegers Regiment No.4).Ribbed wood grip in general good order with one section re-pinned to the grip with a split, but no parts missing. It is further Bavarian proofed onto the inner bowl of the hilt. Complete in its original all steel scabbard, which has very minor indentations at the base, both strap hanging rings present. At some time in its life the sword has been mixed with another scabbard, although this is the correct scabbard for the sword it is marked '3232 3.U.R.5' (3rd Company Uhlan Regiment No.5). The Bavarian Uhlan Regiments used this sword up until 1882, therefore it was used profusely in the Franco/Prussian War. A very good condition early Victorian Heavy Cavalry Sword of Bavaria. |
| BAVARIAN INFANTRY OFFICERS HELMET. An extremely good Bavarian Infantry officers helmet having all leather skull with just minor crazing. Good bright overall. Flat chin scales for Infantry. Helmet is complete with its correct officers national and State cockade. Interior leather liner retaining much mid tan colour with some sweat stains to forehead area. Hand applied to skull size ‘57’. Interior silk is complete but frayed slightly. |
| BAVARIAN INFANTRY OFFICERS HELMET. BOXED. A superb condition all leather pickelhaube. Large size. Worn by a Bavarian Infantry Officer. Helmet skull perfect. All Mercury gilt overall excellent. Flat chin scales. Helmet is complete with its correct national and State officers cockades. Interior mid brown leather liner in excellent condition. Helmet has lost its inner silk. The helmet is complete with its carrying box, which has its original owners initials ‘RR’ machine embroidered to section of black cloth, which is affixed to the inner base of box. Accompanying whole is the brown leather field combat belt with the Bavarian circular buckle having both of its runners, plus two extra runners for sword slings. The double-pronged adjustable keeper for the opposite side of buckle is missing. |
| BAVARIAN INFANTRY OFFICERS PICKELHAUBE. A small size all leather pickelhaube for a Bavarian Infantry officer. Some minor distortion to skull otherwise good. Gilt to spike, spike base, and plate matching. Gilding to the flat chin straps are slightly dull. Helmet is complete with it’s national and Bavarian cockade, square cut front peak, dark tan leather liner is undamaged and shows wear use. The helmet is complete with it’s light cream/gold silk inner liner, which has shredded in three places. The interior of the helmet retains all of it’s correct split pins, nuts and matching washers. |
| BAVARIAN LEUTNANT’S MODEL 1910 COMBAT TUNIC. A superb classic model 1910 officers tunic worn by a Leutnant in Bavarian Infantry Regiment No.2. Large size garment. Swedish cuffs, two lower angled pockets. The Bavarian blue and silver fleck shoulder boards have red underlay. Red piping to the stand collar and front two flaps of the tunic. Red piped to the Swedish cuffs and rear skirt. One moth nip to the rear back panel just above the skirt, otherwise the tunic is totally moth free. No stains. Gilt regimental number ‘2’s to each shoulder board. Five loops for a long medal ribbon bar to the upper left breast. Fine quality officers material. All matching Bavarian buttons in subdued grey. |
| BAVARIAN LIEB INFANTRY REGIMENT PICKELHAUBE A very rare large size fibre pattern pickelhaube for an officer in the Bavarian Lieb Infantry regiment. Leather skull virtually perfect with a few minor abrasions. All white metal fittings to helmet. Domed silver chin scales. Correct officers national and Bavarian State cockades. Finish slightly gone from both cockades. Interior leather liner retaining virtually all of its original mid tan colour with a patent mark, gold blocked to leather liner. Complete with its inner silk liner showing signs of some age storage. Skull is of the fibre pattern being a wartime production. Original red and green Rexene type material complete to inner front and back peaks. |
| BAVARIAN MEDAL GROUP OF FOUR. A court mounted Bavarian medal group consisting of the Bavarian War Merit Cross with swords, the Schaumburg-Lippe Service Cross, the Third Reich awarded 1914-18 War Honour Cross and the Bavarian Long Service Medal for 9 years. Medals in excellent condition, slight fading to the Bavarian medal ribbon, the pin fixing is missing from the back of the group. |
| BAVARIAN PIONEER BATALION M10 OFFICER'S TUNIC. A service worn Bavarian model 1910 Officer's field grey combat tunic for an Officer of Bavarian Pioneer Battalion 1. Insignia fitted are silvered blue and white flecked shoulder boards over a twin underlay of red over black velvet. Each shoulder board has a number 1 fitted for the Bavarian Pioneer Battalion number 1. The collar patches are matching black velvet with red piping. The front fly of the tunic is red piped. Each of the turn back cuffs is black piped with the rear skirt being red piped. The collar is black piped. The collar itself is a stand and fall collar. All of the buttons are of the Bavarian style in white metal and matching. The tunic appears as if it has been hung up after WWI and never touched since. There is fading to areas of the tunic conversant with wear use. The bottoms of each cuff have considerable wear with minor repairs. There are minor spots of moth in the lower skirt, rear of one cuff and right upper arm. The shading of the cloth to the cuffs and the collar is slightly different than the main body of the garment however without any doubt original to this tunic. On lifting back a small section of the turned cuff the original colour of the tunic can be seen below. To the tunic collar is fitted a white inner removable collar. All lining is intact with service wear. The hanging loop has the original tailors name 'J.Gissiri of Inglostadt.' Ingostadt is in the state of Bavaria. Loops to the left breast for two awards. The 1st Bavarian Pioneer Battalion were raised in 1900, garrison town of Munich and were part of the 1st Bavarian Army Corps. |
| BAVARIAN POLICE OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL'S PICKELHAUBE. A superb condition all fibre bodied pickelhaube worn by a Police officer or an administrative official of the Bavarian State. To the interior the leather liner is in its original light coloured finish and is made by the company Erel and is complete with its inner artificial silk gold lining. Behind the forehead area there is the remains of the foam cushion, which has solidified. |
| BAVARIAN RESERVE INFANTRY OFFICERS HELMET. A superb condition Bavarian Infantry Reserve Officer's helmet that could be worn by any officer between Regiment No.1 and 23 of the Bavarian Army. A good size all leather helmet. The skull is absolutely perfect. The gilt matching overall to the back strap, spike, spike base, front plate and domed chin scales. The front plate standing out very proud to the skull with the Reserve Officers Cross to the centre. Complete with its correct national and Bavarian State cockade. Square cut front peak with three minor kinks to the peak trim. The green and red interior imitation leather covering to the peaks absolutely perfect. The interior leather sweat band still retaining virtually all of its light tan colour with very light evidence of wear use. The interior artificial silk inner lining also complete. A pencilled script name inside the inner skull, possibly of the owner. The gilt is superb overall. Bavarian officers helmets are generally available on the collectors market, however to find them in this condition is exceptional. |
| BAVARIAN RESERVE INFANTRY OFFICERS PICKELHAUBE. A good size all leather pickelhaube worn by a Bavarian Reserve Infantry officer. Some crazing to skull. Gilt dull to fittings but good to front plate. Large cut out crown. Flat chin scales. Square cut front peak. The helmet is complete with its correct national and Bavarian officers cockades. The interior leather lining is all complete showing normal wear use and still has its original green silk inner liner, which has slightly shredded in places, with the original owners name hand applied to the inner skull, which retains a lot of its original mid tan leather colour. |
| BAVARIAN SENIOR NCO OR OFFICER OF RESREVE CHEVAULEGER PICKELHAUBE. A good all leather pickelhaube for a Bavarian Senior NCO or Officer of Reserve Chevauleger, good undamaged skull with light crazing overall to the leather and minor congealing to the patent leather on the front peak, all of the brass gilt fittings match in colour. The Bavarian cockade fitted is of a Senior NCO with the national cockade being of officers type. Interior leather liner all good with evidence of wear use. Good silk inner lining fitted with one tear. All green imitation leather behind the front peak and the red leather behind the back peak complete and undamaged.the interior colour of the leather to the skull is in perfect original colour |
| BAVARIAN TRAIN OFFICIALS CAP Extremely unusual constructed Bavarian Train officers visored field cap with the main body of cap constructed from grey silk. Light blue centra band with light blue waffenfarbe around crown. Correct national and Bavarian cockades. Leather visor with beaded edge complete with chinstrap. Grey silk to crown of hat has shot in large areas, however even though the condition is poor we feel the unusual construction of this cap is a rarity, plus having an unusual flowered dark blue silk interior lining. Sweatband unused condition. |
| BOER WAR ALBUM AND IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPHS. A comprehensive collection of the most interesting ephemera concerning the progress of the Boer War from 1900 to 1902, most probably compiled by the Provost Marshall Major R.A.Poore. A large album, which contains many original letters, drawings and very scarce photographs. Additionally there are eight very rare hand signed counterfoils for passes issued on June 1st 1902 to some of the leading Boer Commanders, J.B.M.Hertzog, Louis Botha, J.C.Smutz, Jac H. De La Rey, Schalk Burger, Lucas Meyer, Cornelis Oliver, Christian De Wett. The archive is enclosed in a folder which has printed to the front ‘News of the War 1900’. The 8 counterfoil passes are all stamped ‘Provost Marshall Army Headquarters’ and are each individually signed. The album contains a huge amount of ephemera and photographs. April 1900 sketch map of position of troops around Bloemfontein. A list of all the troops marching into Bloemfontein on its surrender, 13th March 1900. A list of runners in Belfast Military Races, September 1900. Eight excellent photographs of British troops and either Boer farmers or British recruited irregulars. Five large format photographs, three of which appear to be Boer prisoners being guarded prior to transportation by train, two of dignitaries of the war including Lord Kitchener, the Duke of York and various Generals and their ladies and the final image being a high ranking group of British officers inspecting Zulu Chiefs, which include the Duke of York and Lord Kitchener. The album then follows with a huge amount of paper ephemera from the war, proclamations in Afrikaans and English, Boer identity cards, many hand written letters, newspaper cuttings, postcards, a wonderful studio shot of three British Yeomanry officers talking in Pretoria wearing their slouch hats and tropical uniforms, excellent sketches of Boer farmers in colour, intelligence reports dated May 1900 with accompanying maps, a copy of the Government Gazette dated 9th June 1900, a list of the 4th compliment of the men of the Mountain Infantry Division, casualty reports, intelligence reports on intercepted Boer telegrams which make highly interesting reading, a letter posted 6th March 1900 from London to a Major McBride in the Irish Transvaal Corps, printed statements by Boer prisoners, a copy of the resignation proclamation of Paul Kruger, the late President of the Boer Republic, instructions for officers travelling by train relating to its security and if attacked, a Government notice about surrendering Boers and how to treat them, a complete booklet being the Provost Marshall’s orders, a complete memorandum to the officer of the Provost Marshall describing his duties in terms of policing, custody of prisoners of war, guarding important places, granting of permits and passes and collection of arms and many more letters and ephemera, one very important one being an original Call to Arms from the President of the Republic for the Burghers to take arms against the British. |
| BOER WAR OR WWI OFFICERS WATER BOTTLE. Private purchase oval semi kidney shaped aluminium water bottle, covered in khaki cloth, with its full length black leather shoulder strap. One of the retaining straps at the side of the bottom has broken. The full length carrying strap is in excellent condition, with its buckle. |
| BOER WAR PATTERN 1888 BAYONET. A very good condition pattern 1888 Mark 1 2nd type bayonet with twin rivets to grips. Produced by Wilkinson, London, dated '11.1897' with many other ordnance marks to excellent condition blade and wood grips. Out of Service WD marks to the top pommel. All fitted into its correct leather scabbard with steel mounted lower scabbard mount. The bayonet is also complete with its frog, which is marked to the 70th Imperial Yeomanry (Sharp Shooters). As is well known the Imperial Yeomanry units were recalled to the colours and saw extensive service in South Africa during the course of the Boer War. |
| BOER WAR SPORTSMAN'S KNIFE, IDENTIFIED. A very interesting and rare sporting/hunting knife owned by Lieutenant Colonel Bonham of Southwold, Suffolk. The 4 3/4 inch multi bladed clasp knife engraved with the name 'H.Bonham', 'Made in Sheffield', having a main blade, two smaller blades, two clasps, one corkscrew and two other tools, this is a work of art in itself. The knife is situated in its original pouch of which the flap is slightly rotted and the belt loop on the reverse side is missing. Accompanying the knife is a 5th Edition of Cartoons of the Boer War, volume I, printed in 1902, which has over 109 pages of cartoons of the Boer War and one large format photograph of a British encampment on the Veldt of South Africa. A copy of a newspaper article printed in 1901, which reads 'Lieutenant Colonel Bonham, Southwold, Suffolk. Excitement was reported in Southwold of the return of Lieutenant colonel Bonham, invalided home from the Boer War on Thursday 7th March. On Thursday the 7th March he changed onto the 6.23p.m. train at Halesworth, arriving at about 7.p.m. in Southwold to be greeted by a large crowd and the Countess of Stadbroke. Following speeches the two dignitaries travelled by closed coach to Southwold House, the route bedecked with flags and to the firing of rockets and coloured lights by a Mr. R.P. Critten, a local chemist, one of whose son's was still serving with the Yeomanry in South Africa.' Although we have not done any further research we would presume that Lieutenant Colonel Bonham was one of the Senior Officers of the Suffolk Yeomanry. A very interesting artefact from the Boer War. |
| BOTTLE MINE. The rare German bottle mine complete with its cap and striker. |
| BRASS ADOLF HITLER WALL PLAQUE. A side on view of Adolf Hitler cast in brass measuring 9 x 7 inches, the artist's signature 'J.Linden' with the date '1933' at base of casting. |
| BRITISH 12TH ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL'S BATTLEDRESS BLOUSE. A good condition Indian made 1942 dated size 11 battledress blouse worn by a Lieutenant Colonel in the 12th Army. Very minor moth nips to the blouse, with its original label. Medal ribbons of the 1939/45 Star, Burma Star, War and Defence Medal. One cloth pip and crown indicating Lieutenant Colonel to each epaulette. Attached to each sleeve are a most beautiful hand embroidered pair of theatre made 12th Army divisional patches. The badge shows a Burmese dragon in white and gold superimposed on a background of two red and one central black horizontal bar above the Roman figures 'XII' in white. 12th Army was originally a Middle East force and re-adopted as Headquarters 33 Corps in Burma in May 1945 and they took part in the final operations against the Japanese which led to the liberation of Burma. It was responsible for the final clearance of the Japanese from Burma after the capture of Rangoon and was disbanded in January 1946. |
| BRITISH 1796 CAVALRY OFFICERS SWORD. An excellent example of the classic 1796 British cavalry officers sword. Highly desirable, these swords are very difficult to find with any semblance of the blue and gilt decoration to the blade remaining. This example has all of its decoration on the first half of the blade is absolutely clear with the gilt still clear within the lettering on both sides. The blueing is extremely distinct on both sides of the blade with one side being a slightly deeper blue. The lower half of the blade including the hatchet point is generally good, some areas of black spotting and one slight chip to the upper area closer to the point. The all steel stirrup hilt also good, matching in colour and age patination to the blade and scabbard with all of its grip intact with its wire wrap. The lower ring of the hilt has one small section missing. The sword fits perfectly and matches perfectly to its original scabbard which has minor areas of restored light corrosion without any denting whatsoever, which is highly unusual. The leather cushion between the stirrup hilt and the scabbard throat is a replacement. This classic sword was used from the late 1700’s through to the post Waterloo period of the Victorian era. |
| BRITISH 1827 PATTERN RIFLE REGIMENT OFFICERS SWORD. A rare sword of the configuration only used by the Rifle Brigade and King’s Royal Rifle Corps. This has the Victorian crown and the strong bugle badge on the cross guard. The blade has various acid etched characters including the Victorian monogram and the strung bugle. There is the approved brass cartouche and to the opposite side ‘Samuel Brother Outfitters, Ludgate Hill, London’. The scabbard is the specific pattern with the large white metal lower chape. It is the combat brown leather type which would be worn with the Sam Browne equipment. The overall condition is good, the blade is clear with some light areas of staining, the blade has been combat sharpened, the patina to the scabbard is excellent with some light areas of rubbing and this would polish beautifully. The snake skin grip is good and intact. There is some minor staining to the cross guard but this would clean well. |
| BRITISH 1917 DATED WEBLEY HOLSTER. An excellent condition all leather holster for the Webley Mark 6 revolver, the standard British side arm of WWI. Excellent colour, good stitching. Maker marked in Walsall and dated ‘1917’. Faint traces of the original name hand applied to the inner flap. |
| BRITISH 37 BACK PACK VARIANT. A scarce variant of the standard 37 pattern soldier’s back pack in absolutely mint stored condition and clearly dated 1944. What makes this pack interesting is that the closure straps and the small straps retaining all buckles are of a rubberised cotton folded material, this is clearly an economy measure and the first time we have encountered this rare variation. |
| BRITISH 37 PATTERN JUNGLE GREEN HOLSTER. A rare example of the standard 37 pattern officers revolver holster for WWII, however these on mass were over-dyed in a typical blue green emerald shade, this was for the campaign in the Far East. Examples of this over-dyed webbing are now difficult to find. The overall condition is excellent, there is a little fraying to one end of the flap and there is light service use. |
| BRITISH 5TH INDIAN DIVISION COMMANDING OFFICERS CAR PENNANTS. A highly interesting and historically important pair of small vehicle pennants. The pair of pennants belonged to Major General D.F.W.Warren, CBE., DSO., Major General Warren was the C.O. of the 5th Indian Division and commanded the Division from September 1944 through to February 1945. Warren was a long professional military career, he was born January 1889, the eldest son of a reverend. Commission 2nd Lieutenant Royal Munster Fusiliers 1915 at the age of 17, transferring to the Indian Army on the 8th March 1918, he was a Lieutenant with Sikh Pioneers. He served in Allanby’s campaign in Jordan. He attended Staff College in 1933 at the time the Commander of the Staff College being a Colonel Slim. He was later his Commander in the 14th Army. Transferred to the 8th Punjabs. On disbandment again back to the Sikh Pioneers. He then commanded the 6th Punjab Regiment. He then served in the Arakan campaign in Burma from July 41 to June 43 where he was awarded the OBE., He then commanded the 161 Indian Infantry Brigade from June 43 through to September 1944. He saw action in Kohima. He played a strong role in this battle and for this he was awarded the DSO. After the illness of the 5th Division’s General Officer he took command of the 5th Indian Division. Sadly General Warren was killed in an air accident on the 9th February 1945. He was made a CBE., for his part of the command of the 5th Division. Warren’s car pennant is a red pennant with a black overlaid square with a red circle, this is manufactured from typical flag cloth and is clearly of Middle Eastern manufacture. There is a small bamboo pole still inserted, which at one time would have been the pennant holding it to the car. The other pennant we believe comes from one of the subs units of the 5th Division, again of grey cloth with a red overlaid circle for the 5th Division and the letters ‘94’ applied to it, again a similar bamboo pole is inserted. There is an interesting booklet on the history of the 5th Division including maps of Burma and mention of their four VC’s, a good full page photo of Warren is published in this fascinating small booklet, an old typed outlay of the career of Warren also accompanies the lot as well as a Photostat copy of small amount of information about the provenance of the pennants. Both pennants are in good condition, they do show the usual fading and weathering consummate with a vehicle pennant. |
| BRITISH AMMUNITION BOOTS. A mint unissued pair of 1945 dated size 6 large British marching boots known as ammunition boots, constructed in the classic black pebbled leather with stitched toe cap. The boots are with their original toe and heel cleats but without the studs. WD marked '6 LARGE' and dated '1945'. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| BRITISH ARMOURED CORPS BATTLEDRESS GROUPING. An exceptionally nice and complete grouping based around a battledress jacket. We were lucky enough to obtain these from a local auction and they have clearly been recently sold by the veteran’s family. The battledress jacket itself is a 1944 dated size 9 battledress jacket. To each upper arm are the printed Royal Armoured Corps titles. Below the titles is printed ‘21st Army Group Signs’, below this the Armoured Corps Armour service stripe, and below this again the bull’s head insignia of the 79th Armoured. The 79th were some of the first units on the beaches of Normandy on 6th June 1944. Their commanding officer was Percy Hobart. His tanks were known as ‘Hobart’s Funnies’; they were specialist tanks with mortars and mine-destroying equipment and were used extensively on the beach landings. As a mark of honour, members who had served with this unit in Normandy continued to wear the bull’s head insignia below their present unit insignia. This particular battledress was worn by Trooper Paine. Trooper Paine was a mechanic and specialised as an electrician during his service time. There is a good deal of paperwork including his pay and release books, exercise books, menus and many other items of paperwork. Paine was clearly a very good soldier and served well throughout his military service. He may well have initially served with the West Yorkshire Regiment and subsequently with the North Hamptonshire Yeomanry. The unit wore to their collars the leaping horse insignia. These are present on the battledress blouse. Also the yellow Armoured Corps lanyard is present: this was once a white lanyard which has been dyed a brilliant yellow colour by using Benzedrine tablets. To the left arm is the artificer’s crossed pincers and hammer badge. The lot contains numerous other items including a well made carved wooden bowl, of probably German origin, for the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, various booklets and dictionaries as well as some Masonic regalia worn by Paine in the post-war years. There is a just post-war black beret. The beret has his name and address neatly glued to the interior as well as a chrome-plated Tank Regiment badge. Paine was clearly a very proud Normandy veteran and wore this beret on many parades. There is also a blazer badge for the Market Garden Operation which he may well have taken part in, as well as his Normandy Veterans’ Association blazer badge. Various other items include a compass in rather poor condition, letters, a British Legion membership badge, 79th commemoration badges, various scrolls and maps. A very complete and interesting grouping and worthy of much more research. |
| BRITISH ARMY GENERAL’S BLUE DRESS VISOR CAP. The blue General’s visor cap of a British Army General circa WWII. Large size. Excellent blue material to the main body of the cap without moth damage. There are minor moth nips to the red centre band on the left hand side of the cap. Correct gilt crossed sword and baton side buttons to the black leather strap. The very finely gold wire General’s badge has toned and matches the toning on the double row of deep gold wire lace to the front peak of the cap. To the interior the cap has its original Herbert Johnson, 38 New Bond Street, London W’ embossed in black into the upper inner crown material, which is a deep gold artificial ribbed silk. Covering the interior of the crown is the celluloid grease protector. The cap is fitted with its mid tan leather sweat band that does have minor wear use. The original owner’s initials were punch-holed into the leather sweat band, all that remains is the first letter ‘J’, the second letter appears to have been removed to protect the identity of the original owner, possibly this was done by a family before disposal. |
| BRITISH ATS HANDBAG. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The canvas issued handbag for member of the Auxiliary Transport Service and other army women’s organisations, with its leather shoulder strap. The zip is coming adrift from the main body. Named ‘Private Perrott A.S.’ with the army number. To the interior is a pair of small size khaki woollen women’s gloves. Slight snag damage to the wool but generally good. |
| BRITISH BATTLEDRESS TROUSERS. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An excellent condition pair of 1940 pattern British battledress trousers. Large size. Some moth around the crotch and knee area. Good nap to cloth. |
| BRITISH BC41 COMMANDO KNIFE. The famous BC41 was issued to British Commandos prior to the introduction of the FS knife. It's design was copied from the George Ibberson knuckleduster Bowie bladed knife of WWI. This example is the cast steel hilt variety and is photographed profusely on pages 35, 36 and 37 on the excellent work of British and Commonwealth Fighting Knives by Ron Flook. It has the standard stamping 'BC41', within the two centre finger holes of the knuckleduster hilt. Blade is dull and does have some minor corrosion marks but is still in its original form and has not been sharpened or re-shaped. The reverse side of the blade is also stamped 'BC41'. Complete with its excellent condition leather scabbard of which the male/female press stud is working correctly, although we believe the male part has been replaced. |
| BRITISH BOX RESPIRATOR The classic respirator worn up until ’44 and worn after that date by second line troops. The set is in excellent condition with its original carrying bag, gas mask with excellent filter. Also complementing the group is the anti-gas dimming stick, the cotton wadding for decontamination, various anti-gas goggles and the anti-gas ointment set all in their individual pockets in the sack. |
| BRITISH CHINDITS JAPANESE SWORD SOUVENIR GROUPING. A highly interesting grouping of paperwork, medals, badges and a souvenir Japanese sword brought back to the U.K. by Army Lance Corporal Charles John Mitchell. Charles John Mitchell was a member of 61 Company Royal Army Service Corps (air Despatch). They were involved in dropping supplies to the Chindits units in the jungles of Burma. The grouping comprises the very delicate remains of Mitchell’s soldiers service and pay book, which list all of his personal details, his records of service and his medals awarded. It would appear that he arrived in Burma in July 1944. The service book shows he was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, the Burma Star, the Defence Medal. Not noted in the pay book was the award of the War Medal 1939-45. all of these medals are accompanying this group with their original ribbons and his medal ribbon bar. There are various other interesting items of paperwork within the soldier’s pay book being the standing orders for drivers of motor vehicles, a Royal Army Service Corps Regimental Association membership certificate dated ‘July 1947’, his Army discharge slip dated ‘1947’, a military training act indicating that he was to attend the Militia Depot in October 1939. It would appear that Mitchell was an accomplished sketch artist, accompanying the group is a very poignant letter from him to his son in Liverpool, England, dated’March 3rd 1945’ where he has drawn beautifully some of the Mickey Mouse characters on this letter to his son. In it he writes ‘Daddy’s son, some place, India, rotting in the sun, when I get out of this dive we will both have lots of fun.’ A page from a regimental news letter showing a group of Royal Army Service Corps air dispatchers, within the group one is marked with a cross with the annotation ‘Taken at Inphal, the man with the cross over his head was the one who was killed when his plane crashed while dropping rice after the war was over.’ Army release leave certificate. Records of service. Soldiers Release Book. Four printed magazines, one South East Asia Commentary 1947, The Campaign in Burma in the official records of the campaign published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in 1946, Burma, A Miracle in Military Achievement, a special publication from the South East Asia paper Calcutta, one other further very interesting booklet called the Chindits, profusely illustrated, excellent colour image of the Chindits badge to the front cover, records of awards won by Chindits published in Calcutta, possibly right at the end of the war. A beautifully embroidered Chindits arm patch and lastly but very importantly to accompany the sword the original certificate allowing Mitchell to take his sword back to the U.K. which reads ‘This is to certify that T/14766461 Lance Corporal Mitchell took part in the initial landings on Malaya and is therefore authorised to be in possession of one souvenir Japanese sword, signed in Signapore May 1947’. The Japanese sword is a standard Shin Gunto officers sword in its leather over wood combat scabbard, which is signed to the tang ‘Kanetsugu’. The sword is in its original polish, a good clear attractive wavy hamon. There is some evidence of black spotting down the length of the blade but this does not hide the hamon design. The sword hilt is unusual in that it is covered in the identical leather to the leather combat cover and there would appear to be no binding below. The sword is with its blue and brown low ranking officers sword knot. Accompanying the sword is a full written description of this sword using Japanese terms in English. A good Japanese sword with a very interesting grouping of medals, paperwork and certificates to accompany. |
| BRITISH COLDSTREAM GUARDS NAMED COLONELS FULL DRESS UNIFORM. The Coldstream Guards remain amongst by far one of the most elite British regiments that ever existed, they are part of the Queen’s personal bodyguards and have remained bodyguards to the Royal Household since their inception. The officer class within the Guards has always been drawn from the highest possible social class within the U.K. The rank of Colonel within a regiment is the highest position a soldier can achieve and remain with his regiment, to be the Colonel of the Coldstream Guards is indeed a unique achievement. The tunic itself is named to Colonel J.E.G.Richardson Drummond Hay. Drummond Hay became the Colonel of the Guards in approximately 1908. He served throughout his career and ended his career as District Commander for the entire Guards District, this would be London. His is a typically interesting career of a professional soldier of his time. Born 5th August 1863, he enlisted into the Guards, he was married on the 29th January 1903, he came from Seggieden in Perthshire, Scotland, he died on the 27th December 1928. during his long career he served in Egypt, Cyprus, Gibraltar, South Africa, was O.C.Coldstream Guards 1914 to 1917 and O.C.Regimental District London. An interesting side note to his career, he was present at the judgement and the execution of the first spy to be shot in the U.K for 150 years, this was carried out in the Tower of London and he was one of the court members during this judgement. He served at the prestigious Twyford School, many of the country’s top elite served there as young men. The quality of the tunic is astonishing and pays testament to the superb tailoring abilities of the London tailor in this period. There is a beautifully hand written label to the interior pocket reading ‘Colonel J.E.G.R.Drummond Hay and dating it 1908. The interior lining is of the finest white silk and is profusely hand quilted to give the tunic its distinct shape to the upper chest area. The cloth is of a deep scarlet Melton wool, the piping is the characteristic white Guards piping. The buttons arranged in pairs are beautiful gilt two-piece Coldstream Guards buttons. The shoulder boards are of high quality bullion embroidery, the two pips are surmounted by the King’s crown also in bullion. To each collar are the Coldstream Guards Bath Garter symbol. To the cuffs are the gilt buttons and heavy bullion decoration. To the rear skirt there are buttons and further decorations directly to the Melton wool cloth. A small hanging hook remains to one side of the tunic. The lower inner skirts are in a white brushed cotton material. The inner waist band is secured by three hooks. The overall condition is excellent, there is some light moth tracking areas to the upper chest however these do not penetrate the cloth. There are a series of small tacks to necessitate the hanging of the various ribbon bars. Accompanying the outfit are a pair of high quality Barathia black trousers with the characteristic wide red stripes running up the leg, these are a good long pair of trousers showing Drummond Hay to be a tall man, this would be correct for Guards units where height restrictions have always played a part. Completing the outfit is a beautiful quality brocade belt, the belt is lined in the finest red Moroccan leather and has provision for sword carriage, there are two wonderful maroon and gold hanging bullion tassels. For the collector to find a named Coldstream Guards Colonels uniform of this age and this superb condition is almost impossible, this is a unique outfit and would not be seen outside of a museum generally. As a final footnote, on entering the name ‘Drummond Hay’ into any computer search engine the information is enormous, this is one of those families that made the British Empire what is was and there is numerous information regarding Admirals, High Church personnel, naturalists and other such people who were derived from such high positions in the British aristocracy at the time. Grace Marguerite, Lady Hay Drummond-Hay (born Grace Marguerite Lethbridge, 1 September 1895 in Liverpool, England – Died February 1946 in Manhattan, United States) She was married in 1920 to Sir Robert Hay Drummond-Hay. She was a British journalist who was the first woman to travel around the world by air, in the Graf Zeppelin. Although she was not an aviator herself at first, she certainly contributed to its glamour and the general knowledge about her aerial adventures by writing articles about it in mainstream. |
| BRITISH COLOURED FIELD SERVICE CAP. This particular cap is in the colour configuration of the Essex Regiment. To the top is the deep burgundy red crown with the lower black curtain area. The badge is a good early bi-metal Essex Regiment badge. The buttons to the front are GS. There are a few small moth nips and one or two slightly larger nips to the upper crown, however the overall appearance remains good. The lining is of a pink material and there are no markings present. The original badge backing remains in place. |
| BRITISH COMMANDO BERET. A classic commando beret with the all-brass insignia of the Royal Marines. The beret itself is made by Supak who was one of the rarer manufacturers of berets. The beret is dated 1945 and has the correct configuration of WD stamp with the Z prefix. The interior leather eyelet cover is present. The beret remains in excellent lightly used condition. There is some surface moth nipping, particularly around the area of the leather headband, however when the beret is placed on a mannequin or display head this is not shown. There are one or two small moth nips to the other side. The colour remains good and fresh. The ties to the rear of the beret show a little fading. |
| BRITISH COMMANDO SMATCHET A very good example of the British produced smatchet. This massive weapon with its long leaf shaped type blade, wood grips having four fitting rivets. Quite often the blades of these smatchet have been re-profiled. This is in its original form. Straight oval shaped nickel cross guard, in its correct leather covered wooden scabbard with its rear angled belt loop. Excellent reading on this knife is on page 39 of Ron Flook's excellent work on British & Commonwealth Military Knives where he states that these knives were very rarely ever marked by either maker or ordnance marks. Very few cases of WD marked knives have ever appeared, subsequently the maker of these knives has never been identified. Also variations of scabbards exist. We have recently had a mint example with an RAF blue web covered wooden scabbard. |
| BRITISH COMMANDO TOGGLE ROPE CLIFF-SCALING STEP An extremely rare item of British equipment being the metal step which was used in conjunction with the toggle rope. Commandos particularly would carry one of these on their bergan rucksack and each man would also carry a toggle rope. The toggle ropes would link together and the steps would each be introduced thus forming a rudimentary rope ladder. The item is in very good stored condition with some surface rusting, however much of the original olive drab paint remains. There is a clear stores set of numbers and maker’s mark in white stencilling and they read 1943 with the broad arrow. The item comes with an original war-time issue toggle rope to complete the unit. |
| BRITISH CROMWELL I. SERVICE INSTRUCTION BOOK. The Cromwell tank, a cruiser tank from WWII named after the English Civil War Leader Oliver Cromwell, was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks in WWII of the British Forces. It was the fastest British tank to serve in WWII and was eventually gunned with a 75mm weapon, however it was still no match for the German heavy armour. It first action was in June 1944 Operation Overlord, D-Day. This hard cover instruction book dated '1944' has 345 pages of text, diagrams and photographs, everything that is needed for the researcher or restorer of a Cromwell tank. |
| BRITISH ENFIELD JUNGLE CARBINE. A good example of the now hard to find jungle carbine. This weapon was a shortened carbine version of the Enfield No.3 Mark 1, complete with a flash hider. A bayonet lug is fitted. Good wood with slight chipping just above the trigger area to the wood. Good metalwork, with its rubber cushion to the butt in place. This weapon was produced for the confines of jungle fighting and proved very successful. Complete with its U.K. de-activation certificate. All of the bolt action and trigger group is full functional. |
| BRITISH ENFIELD NO.3. MARK 1. BOLT ACTION RIFLE. DE-ACTIVATED. A 1958 dated, possibly Israeli used, Enfield No.3 Mark 1 bolt action rifle, de-activated. Good wood overall, marked to receiver ‘calibre 7.7’ with a star, complete with U.K. de-activation certificate. |
| BRITISH GROUPING OF WRENS HAT AND HELMET. A rare to find Wrens soft cap, these caps resembled the male equivalent but they have no stiffening in them. To the front is the standard silk ribbon with the gold HMS embroidered to it. The overall condition is excellent, there is some fluffing to the wool and one or two tiny moth nips however the condition remains good. The original bow is still tied to the side of the hat, the interior has the original size ‘7’ paper label still intact. Accompanying the cap is the Wrens helmet, Wrens carried steel helmets and worked in areas subjected to heavy bombing during WWII. The helmet is painted in deep navy blue gloss paint and in red letters to the front is ‘WRN’. The lining of the helmet has the original liner cradle still in place, there is some dryness and breaking to the black Rexene material. The helmet shell is clearly dated ‘1941’ and has the three-piece sprung webbing chin strap. |
| BRITISH INTELLIGENCE CORPS OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A scarce visor cap to an officer in the Intelligence Corps. The cap itself is standard WWII private purchase officers cap with gold blocked to the mid tan leather sweatband 'Bates Hatters, 21 Jermyn Street, St.James's, London', with the faint remains of the same label below the inner crown celluloid protecting material. Minor moth nips to the leather sweatband but otherwise generally good. Two moth nips below the visor. Exterior of the hat has very slight moth tracking to the rear but otherwise good, with its original brown leather sweatband. The white metal Intelligence Corps badge and the rare addition of the Intelligence Corps side buttons. |
| BRITISH INTER WAR SCOTS GUARDS OFFICERS CAP. a very high quality officers peaked cap to the Scot's guards. Manufacturing label to the interior to 'Herbert Johnson.' The leather sweat band is complete. To the exterior the diced band and bullion peak edging to front. Sterling silver two piece Scot's guards officer's pattern cap badge, with green enamel to the reverse of the thistle. The cap remains in good used condition, with no moth damage. |
| BRITISH KOSB’S GLENGARRY CAP. A superb issued example of an other ranks Glengarry of knitted construction with the integral knitted diced band. An excellent other ranks badge with some wear to the high areas. To the rear of the badge there is verdigris and the badge has clearly been mounted to the hat for many years. There is a KOSB number with 1001. There is a white WD stamp which appears to be T/WD. This is clearly a wartime or earlier example of the classic cap. These caps would have been worn by members of the BEF while serving in France in 1940. There are a few very well executed small repairs to the hanging ribbons that are complete to the rear of the cap. |
| BRITISH LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS COLOURED FIELD SERVICE CAP. An excellent example of the rare and impressive Lancashire Fusiliers’ cap. The body is of a burgundy wool and the inner crown seam area is entirely in yellow. The cap is of other ranks issued quality. There are one or two small moth nips however the cap remains good and fresh colour wise. There is an excellent bi-metal Lancashire Fusiliers’ badge with much deep patination overall. An excellent and interesting item of British military headdress. |
| BRITISH LEWIS GUNNER'S PANIER SET. A rare complete set of the Pannier equipment used to carry the cumbersome Lewis gun drum magazines in the trenches. The set consists of four circular Lewis gun pouches, these are all stamped and manufactured First War, together with their rare wide shoulder brace strap set. The set is in excellent condition, one of the shoulder straps has a very light pea green blanco, the other is clearly marked to the Dorset Regiment. Profuse stamps to the interior. The condition is dusty and stored but excellent, these display well with the infantry mannequin being the No.2 member of the machine gun team. |
| BRITISH MARK 2 STEEL HELMET. An extremely good example of an early British WWII helmet being the standard semi glossed olive finished steel shell with the early stainless attachment, clearly dated ‘1938’. The liner, again, is the early oval pad type and dated ‘38’. The condition of the liner is magnificent, all colour correct and still retains much of its deep gloss shine. The paint is again magnificent with some rust bleed and some minor areas of chipping but overall a very difficult example to improve on. |
| BRITISH MARK 3 CAMOUFLAGE HELMET. The mark 3 combat helmet, dated '1944' to the liner, in a camouflage green and brown pattern. The interior liner is complete, dated '1944' with one short section of its canvas chin strap. At least 70% of the original green and brown splotch pattern camouflage remaining. One dent to the crown with an indecipherable written inscription to the crown. Any of these early 43 and 44 dated mark 3 helmets are scarce, they were first worn in combat on D-Day. |
| BRITISH MARK 3 COMBAT HELMET. A 1945 dated British Mark 3 combat helmet, after issue the liner was removed with the exterior being painted in a heavy all one colour camouflage finish. Very faintly visible to one side of the helmet in a lighter shade of green are three Roman numeral 'XXX' we have been unable to positively identify the unit, it could possibly be either 30 Corps or the 1st Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment, who were in fact the 30th Foot. The helmet liner is dated on the outside of the liner '1945', to view the date the liner has to be removed, this was quite common on these Mark 3 helmets, unlike the earlier Brodie helmets which were always dated on the inside viewable part of the liner. Helmet complete with elastic webbing chin strap. Excellent condition. |
| BRITISH MONTGOMERYSHIRE YEOMANRY 1871 PATT. MANS HELMET. An extremely good condition enlisted mans 1871 pattern cavalry helmet of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry. Good all nickel skull with very minor indentations, complete with its long white horsehair plume, correct white metal chin chain with leather backing. The helmet retains its original undamaged enlisted mans style leather liner which has some age crazing to leather finish. |
| BRITISH MONTGOMERYSHIRE YEOMANRY CAVALRY OFFICERS HELMET. A very fine 1871 pattern officers helmet of the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry. All silvered skull in excellent undamaged condition with very fine detailed central circlet and its correct officers white horse hair plume. Nickelled chin scales. The interior officers lining is unfortunately missing. The chin chain still has its officers maroon leather backing. |
| BRITISH NAMED COMPLETE HOME GUARD UNIFORM GROUPING. A splendid ensemble of items belonging to a member of the Home Guard. The members name is written throughout the uniform. The battledress jacket is a large size 13 and is the early 1940 pattern. The label is good and clear and has an ink issue over stamp of ‘4th February 1942’. The name ‘Nightingale’ is inked to the upper top pocket. To each shoulder are the printed Home Guard titles with the ‘H.11’ titles for Hampshire and the 11th Group. The overall condition of the jacket is excellent, there appears to be one or two tiny moth nips however the overall appearance is excellent. There are approximately two buttons missing to the battledress blouse, these would be easy to replace. The matching trousers in the 1937 cut are again present and they are in a good large size, there are one or two moth nips, these could easily be remedied. All buttons are in place, interestingly one slid button has been replaced with a German glass button. The sizing label is removed as is totally consistent with nearly all battledress trousers of this period, this was done because the label was on the outside and affected the camouflage appearance of the soldier. Again the name ‘Nightingale’ is clearly inked to the liner. A good large size greatcoat in a size 9 is also with the ensemble and is over-dated ‘May 1940’. The greatcoat has the name ‘Nightingale’ inked to the top and has had another name which has been crossed out, clearly a re-issued item, again to the shoulders are the high quality Home Guard woven early titles, below this the printed ‘H.11’ titles. All General Service buttons are present on the greatcoat. The regulation overseas cap, minus its cap badge, is present, again the name ‘Nightingale’ inked to the interior and the date ‘1941’. The cap is in a 7¼ size. The overall condition is excellent, there are two holes where the badge was once present, one can imagine the Home Guard member would have kept the badge as a souvenir on leaving the service. The two most interesting garments with the ensemble is a CC41 labelled fleece lined waistcoat, the waistcoat is of a heavy quality and padded throughout. The zip is a typical Second World War Dot zip as found on many items of flying clothing. There is a name tape of the Cashs variety, also named to ‘Nightingale’ sewn into the neck. A pair of waterproof over leggings complete the outfit, these are in excellent overall condition and have lightning zips, these presumably would be worn for motorcycle or wet weather wear in exposed positions. It is rare to find complete issued and named Home Guard uniforms as the vast majority had to be returned on the disbandment of the Home Guard in 1944 and 1945. |
| BRITISH NAMED GAS MASK. A civilian gas mask in its personalised container, a rectangular with rounded edges hard card container in box form for a British civilian WWII gas mask. Original owner's name 'Mr.Leslie Lee of Camden Square, London NW1' is applied to the upper inner lid. The gas mask is dated '1937' and is in excellent order. These customised gas mask cases are an interesting artefact of the civil affairs of Britain in WWII. Some light distress to the face section otherwise excellent condition. |
| BRITISH NAMED OFFICERS SHOULDER STOCK HOLSTER. An exceptionally rare and well made holster, this holster was to carry a shoulder stock, shoulder stocks were widely available through private purchase by officers and a number of companies made them to fit various revolvers, this was probably to fit a Webley service pistol of some kind. The basic construction is very similar to the normal Sam Browne equipment in fine quality brown leather. To the rear are two D rings for a shoulder strap plus a very wide belt loop which may have been intended to have been worn with the 1908 webbing equipment as well as the Sam Browne officers equipment. To the interior flap is the name 'H.F.C. Cruckshank Grenadier Guards'. We carried out some research and have found Cruckshank to be an officer of some note during the WWI period. Harry Cruckshank became the 1st Viscount Cruckshank, unfortunately due to his injuries during the First World War he could not have children and suffered terribly from these injuries during his life, he ended up as a Conservative MP for Gainsborough as well as many other civil positions including Postmaster General, Minister of Health, Lord of the Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Commons. He died in Chelsea aged 68 in 1956. We have various photostats of the Regimental log and histories plus other research. A group photo all in photostat form. A highly interesting and rare item of British officers field equipment of WWI in excellent condition. |
| BRITISH NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE PAINTED BRODIE. A good Brodie pattern helmet profusely stencilled and decorated to the upper bowl having the National Fire Service decal laid onto a painted triangle of which there are a further seven painted triangles on the complete circumference of the shell. A decalled number '7' on a white oval field is below the National Fire Service decal with the twin decals of the Company ICL Combustion above, this Company produced many items for the War Effort in WWII. The helmet has been given an overcoat of brown but the original dark green can be seen in many places. The stencilled issue number is on the inner skirt with what appears to be the owner's painted initials. The liner is all complete with its elastic canvas chin strap with one of the bands being size stamped, maker mark stamped and dated '1939'. |
| BRITISH NAVAL OFFICERS CAP. A fine example of the naval officers cap as worn by Royal Naval Officers during WWII. The crown of the cap is in fine quality navy blue woollen cloth, the mohair band is complete and undamaged, the patent leather peak has the usual small areas of crazing. The high quality velvet bullion badge to the front has some service wear to the crown area and a little bullion loss and the cap has much character. The original chinstrap is in place and has some green verdigree, this is usually caused by exposure to salty air but the condition remains totally stable. |
| BRITISH NO. 74 STICKY BOMB. This rare grenade was introduced in approximately 1940 and officially designated the number '74', as an anti tank grenade. The bomb comprises a circular glass flask covered with the sticky material, the striker and safety pin are in the throwing handle. For use in combat the protective metal hinged circular shield surrounding the sticky material was removed. This one has all of its sticky material and throwing handle. The metal protective cover is missing. |
| BRITISH OFFICERS 1916 PATTERN TUNIC TO THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. A good example of the tunic worn by officers in approximately 1916 and from then on throughout the war. These tunics were sometimes called wind-up tunics, the high attrition rate for officers in the front line was a constant problem for the British Army, the large cuff ranking lace originally prescribed in the 1902 pattern officers tunic was seen as an obvious target for snipers, therefore officers started to move their rank insignia to the epaulette, this fashion originated from the Guards who always wore pips on the epaulettes, gradually officers of line regiments and other arms adopted this fashion. This tunic is of the classic First World War whipcord fashion, there is a central seam to the waist area front. The large lower bag pockets have the typically First World War large letterbox cover type pocket flaps. The tunic has a pair of matching Worcestershire bronzed officers collar badges, the typical bronzed pips to a Lieutenant to either epaulette, a fully matched set of Worcestershire Regiment buttons. To the upper pocket are the ribbons of the Military Cross and the First World War pair of medals. The First World War medal ribbon is slightly frayed and slightly detached from the tunic. There is one Wound stripe to the lower cuff. These non cuffed rank tunics by the end of the First World War are more common to see in photographs of line officers than their cuff rank predecessors. To the right cuff there are two overseas service inverted blue chevrons indicating two years service. There are a couple of moth nips, one to the lower front, however this could easily be repaired and does not affect the overall appearance of this tunic. |
| BRITISH OFFICERS ORILUX TORCH. A good example of the Orilux torch, privately purchased by British officers during WWI, these were mounted on Same Browne belts and came in specific brown leather carrying pouch with two rear belt mounting straps. The torch itself is in excellent overall condition, all of its leatherette casing remaining, Orilux trade label to the top of the torch, the buttons function, the hinge works for the battery cover. The leather case itself is dusty and has age storage dryness, however a little polish would bring this up beautifully. The hinge part of the closure is a little loose and may require a little re-attachment, however it remains unbroken. |
| BRITISH OFFICERS SAM BROWNE BELT, 1910 DATED. A scarce 1910 dated British officers Sam Browne waist belt, cross strap and ammunition pouch. The only part dated is the cross strap, plus broad arrow mark. |
| BRITISH PARATROOPER HELMET. An excellent example of the steel helmet. These were almost completely unaltered from the WW2 design. This particular example is dated 1965. To the outer shell is a dark green-brown painted finish and to the side the drop zone patch of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. This was the airborne artillery element. To the liner is the soldier’s name, being a gunner, and a member of G Battery. G Battery was known as Mercer’s Battery. There is a G Battery stamp to the leather. The chinstrap is complete and of the webbing variety. The sorbo remains good and flexible but a little crisp in places. The top pad has been removed from the helmet. These helmets were in use until the early ‘80’s. They were extensively used on duties in Northern Ireland and often because of the longevity of their service they had multiple re-paints and are in poor condition. However this is a well above-average example of a classic paratrooper item. |
| BRITISH PARATROOPER JACKET AND GROUP. The following group of three items has been discovered recently in a house clearance in the Northampton area of Great Britain. A WWII US produced war aid battledress blouse, worn by a Captain in one of the British Airborne Divisions. The blouse, which unfortunately has had its labels removed, these were all dated either 43 or 44, is stamped size 6. The collar has been converted for open collar wear. There is one moth hole and some minor moth tracking on the turned back collar, the remainder of the tunic is complete moth free. Good nap to the cloth overall. The insignia comprises three white on blue Captain's rank pips to each epaulette. To the upper right hand sleeve are the yellow on blue printed titles for the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, abbreviated to R.E.M.E. followed by a Paratroopers Qualification wing, printed Pegasus patch and straight Airborne patch. To the left hand sleeve is the same configuration as the right with the exception of the Paratrooper wing, which was only worn on one sleeve. To the upper left breast are medal ribbons for the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, the War and Defence Medal with a Mention in Despatches oak leaf palm fitted. Unusually both sleeve buttons are missing. The blouse shows service wear. Accompanying the blouse was a privately purchased light canvas waist belt worn under the tunic with an internal money pouch, which has fitted to it sixteen regimental or corps badges of the British Army, beginning with R.E.M.E., Hampshire Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, Parachute Regiment, Army Medical Corps, Black Watch, Royal Artillery, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Worcestershire Regiment, Gloucestershire Regiment back badge and large beret or cap badge, Rifle Brigade, the Suffolk Regiment, RAF, Royal Army Service Corps and a Light infantry bugle horn from one of the Lancashire Regiments. The blouse and the belt were found in an undated WWII Commando or Royal Marine Bergen rucksack. Applied to the upper inner leather of the sack is the name 'Tony Hirst' plus broad arrow stamps with an unusual stamping of 'OFF' (officers?). All webbing straps complete. Metal frame non twisted. The initials 'T.H' are applied to the exterior webbing. |
| BRITISH PRE WWI 1827 PATTERN NAVAL OFFICERS SWORD. A classic British naval officers sword of extremely high quality. To the cross guard is the Victorian crowned anchor insignia. The white sharkskin grip is in excellent condition. Much of the original red/gold gilt finish remains to the lion, pommel and cross guard mounts. The naval officers bullion knot still remains in place and is in excellent lightly toned condition. The blade is extremely clean with one or two small areas of discoloration, however much of the blade remains very clean and bright. There is a good suppliers cartouche reading ‘LARCON VEYSEY, OUTFITTERS, PORTSMOUTH’. The Victorian crowned Coat of Arms and crowned anchor are etched to the central area of the blade. The hinged cross guard is good and functions well. The brass mounted black leather scabbard is good and complete. The leather remains good with light age crackling overall, again the colour is a good slightly red toned gilded brass. The two suspension rings remain good and clean. Beautifully etched to the hinged cross guard is ‘Lieutenant Lindop, Royal Navy’. Completing the sword is the brown leather travelling case with the stamp ‘Lieutenant Lindop Royal Navy’ clearly blocked to the outer cover. The overall condition of the carrying case is excellent, the leather is flexible and bright with one small hole to the rear. Overall a high quality British side arm in excellent condition and very complete with its knot and outer cover. |
| BRITISH PRESS FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHS Approximately 40 excellent large press format photographs with some very interesting subject matter including a portrait of two female armoury staff of the ATS walking through barracks. One of the ladies is carrying a boys’ anti-tank rifle, the other is carrying 3 SMLE rifles. They wear armourers’ aprons and are clearly delivering the items. There are various other interesting BEF related photos. A good photo of Scots Guards in training; they are crossing a trench and one can clearly see the diced helmet insignia. An interesting shot of RAF personnel training naval personnel on the Lewis gun: the seamen were being trained to defend their small boats. Various RAF photos showing a small signals vehicle, clearly a civilian commandeered truck that has been camo painted throughout. There are various photos including a good photo of Scottish troops in ’37 battledress marching back to their accommodation area, probably in France. Another good photo of a Scottish soldier with boy scouts with a very good image of the tam headdress. Condition throughout is excellent and the photos have annotations in typewritten format to the rear. |
| BRITISH PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEMBERS OF THE AA The photos show motorcycle patrols and are extremely clear sharp images in excellent condition. They have profuse typed notations to the rear. One reads “AA patrols of home defence duty”. The photo shows an AA box being modified by an AA member so they could be used for civil defence purposes. Parked next to the box is his motorbike which appears to have had camouflaged paint applied. The headlight has the typical light diffuser. He wears his duty armband. One can clearly see medal ribbons on his tunic being an ex-soldier, probably in the Great War. The box appears to be near Guildford. The second photo shows a large group of men taken from the side showing numerous number plates; again the motorcycles are camoed. Interestingly, each member of the patrol wears a steel helmet. There appears to be an AA decal to the front of the steel helmets and the paint appears to be highly glossy. Each man wears his duty pouch and full uniform. The photos are approximately 7” x 6” and both have annotations to the rear. Condition: |
| BRITISH QUEEN’S REGIMENT IDENTIFIED BATTLEDRESS BLOUSE. An American war aid produced battledress blouse, size 10, dated January 1943, with the name ‘EKBERG’ hand applied to the label. The blouse itself converted for open collar wear for officers, in excellent condition with one minor moth nip to the upper left hand breast pocket. Three embroidered and padded white Captain’s rank pips to each shoulder strap with red infantry base colour. Machine embroidered white Queen’s on red felt background titles. Printed 2nd Army unit patches with Infantry arm of service red strip below. Left breast above the breast pocket is a long row of medal ribbons, comprising:- 39/45 Star, Africa Star with number ‘8’ for the designation 8th Army attached in metal. Italy Star, which has faded, France and Germany Star, War and Defence Medal and Territorial decoration. P.R.Ekberg was a pre war territorial soldier, commissioned the 14th of December 1940, he served with the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surreys) originally with the 50th Division, North Africa, Sicily and North West Europe (D-Day). The 50th Division were disbanded November 1944 and he was assigned to the 2nd Army troops thought to be at an Infantry training centre. |
| BRITISH RAF PRIVATE PURCHASE OFFICERS EQUIPMENT SET. An extremely rare inter war set being the blue grey webbing supplied by the Mills Equipment Co. This was purchased by officers on entry into the service. Although basically very similar to British 37 webbing it shows many other characteristics and in fact the 37 pattern general issue equipment was based on this equipment which Mills supplied in this format from the First War onwards. The belt is the three-piece belt with the D ring type buckles to the rear, these were actually designed so a sword could be carried with the webbing equipment. The shoulder straps are the specific type for the equipment set and have the characteristic ribbed webbing. The shoulder straps are dated ‘1938’ ‘1933’ and the belt is again dated ‘1938’. The automatic pistol holster for the Colt 1911 is present, this has the straight flap with the middle press stud, again ‘M.E Co 1936’ dated and the very wide bottom plug area to accommodate this automatic pistol. The extremely rare element is the twin automatic pouch for two magazines for the automatic pistol, again in the blue grey, clear M.E Co marked to the rear and dated 1936. Also there are two brace attachments characteristic of this equipment in the ribbed webbing with the large D ring type bottom. Any twin automatic ammunition pouch is considered extremely rare in British service however this RAF version is the first we have seen. Some wonderful information can be downloaded from the Internet from the excellent khaki web site. This site is dedicated to webbing equipment for Commonwealth and British use. Photos do exist during the Battle of Britain and after period of air crew members carrying automatic pistols with these double automatic pouches. |
| BRITISH RIFLE BRIGADE COLOURED FIELD SERVICE CAP. An excellent example of the deep green rifles’ side cap as worn by an other rank. The item appears to be of private purchase. To the side is the rifle brigade insignia, nicely toned with a little wear to the highlights as well as the twin black horn rifles’ buttons to the front. The liner is of brushed black cotton material. The overall condition is excellent, there appears to be little or no moth and only moderate service wear. Complementing the group are some small items belonging to the soldier who wore it including his pair of dog tags that read ‘Private Harris 6924939’, a printed single rifle brigade title, an early black on khaki rifle brigade identification slide, as well as various family photos and several photos of members of the rifle brigade with the side cap worn tucked under the epaulette. The same man appears in many other photos in civilian dress and is clearly the owner of the cap. The photos number 13 in all. There is also a small newspaper cutting appertaining probably to his father who was wounded during WW1. There is a pen written list of names regarding the photos, and each of the photos has profuse annotation to the reverse which makes interesting reading and lists the history of the various soldiers within the photos. An exceptionally complete and interesting grouping of items pertaining to one wartime military family. |
| BRITISH ROYAL ARTILLERY OFFICERS SWEETHEART BROACH. A most beautiful piece of jewellery being a sweetheart broach for the wife or girlfriend of a Royal Artillery officer in WWI or WWII. Although no maker’s name to the badge or to the box, obviously produced by a very highly regarded jewellery company. The half size image of the Royal Artillery badge with blue enamel to the lower scroll and within the scroll it has the regimental motto ‘UBIQUE’, very slight chip damage to the enamel in this area. The remainder of the gun and the crown in paste diamonds. To the multi constructed reverse side are the maker’s initials ‘STR’ plus ‘England’. The pin is held in place by a security hook. All fitted into a jewellery box, which is not the original to the broach. |
| BRITISH SAS WINDPROOF SUIT. A good condition example of the smock windproof, size number ‘3’, maker marked and dated ‘February 1944’, broad arrow stamped, with its central zip, originally these were issued without zips , the zip fitted has some old corrosian and is similar to the zips fitted to RAF flying jackets, The camouflage is bright and in excellent condition with very faint traces of an old red paint stain on the back of the jacket. Matching trousers, with its label dated 1943 size 7. Complete with the suit is a British camouflage scarf face veil. This suit was actively worn by the SAS units in France just before and after the invasion of Normandy. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| BRITISH SMALL BOX RESPIRATOR BAG. This is the finest example of the bag that we have had in many years, the overall condition is superb throughout. There is a clear Waring & Gillow 1917 stamp as well as various broad arrow stamps to the inner flap; a large ‘Size 3’ stamp to the external flap. The original waist cord is still present as is the leather securing tab. Normally these items are highly worn and the colour of them is often very pale; however this retains all its original beigey-orange colouring throughout and appears to have little or no service use. |
| BRITISH SOE NAIL KNIFE. An exceedingly rare piece of SOE equipment from WWII being the assassination knife known as the SOE/OSS nail. The blade is in triangular form and is cut with fullers on each of the three edges of the blade. The hilt is oval. This example is in the nickel surgical finish. Examples are known to exist in a blued or browned finish. This very rare knife is shown illustrated on page 44 plate 86 in the excellent work by Ron Flook of British & Commonwealth Military Knives. It is also shown in the book OSS Special Weapons and Equipment, Spy Devices of WWII by H.Keith Melton in which Melton has virtually reprinted the June 1944 OSS weapons catalogue. It is largely illustrated shown in wear and it is known by the OSS as the sleeve dagger, the only slight difference in the example shown in this last work is that they give the overall length of the dagger as 7 and 5/8ths of an inch where our example measures 7 and 1/8th they took the blade length as 3 ¾ inches our blade is also 3 ¾ inches. Interestingly they photograph the knife with the annotation ‘Actual size’ when our knife is placed up again the actual size knife it is in fact at least ¼ of an inch longer. It is with its original scabbard but is missing its arm or leg strap. Collectors should be aware that copies do exist of this knife, this is without doubt an original example. |
| BRITISH STEEL HELMET An absolutely text book version of the early steel helmet. The liner of the helmet is the early type with the oval pad and is clearly dated 1938. The exterior of the helmet is in excellent condition and is painted in the semi-gloss finish of early war helmets. The chinstrap is the three piece type with the sprung-loaded side sections. What makes this helmet particularly nice is the original British issued net: these nets were known as shrimp nets. They were an extremely fine netting and can be found worn throughout World War II. But of all the camouflaged nets this is the hardest one to find. The net appears never to have been off the helmet and has its original khaki tie still neatly threaded through the net’s edge. Complete units such as this with their original nets are now extremely hard to find. Condition: |
| BRITISH TIN UNMARKED TUBULAR TRENCH PERISCOPE. A 15 inch very simple tubular tin khaki painted trench periscope, which is non maker marked. Support wooden handle with hole through for attachment strap, which unfortunately is missing. Virtually all the paint finish remaining to scope. |
| BRITISH TRENCH PERISCOPE. A splendid example of the periscope No.30manufactured by Adams & Co, in 1917. This is an issued item of trench equipment and was used by spotters and snipers in front line areas during the war. The large tubular metal body is painted in a khaki finish with large broad arrow stamped front. The Adams & Co paper label is completely intact with some rust staining, however completely readable. There are a set of instructions and 'Periscope No.30 Adams & Co., 1917' written on it. The two lower angled housings for the mirrors are complete and are of zinc metal. The khaki cotton covered black Hessian carrying bag is complete, however it is a little shredded at the ends and the closure strap is minus. The shoulder strap is complete and although delicate it displays well with the item. The item is dusty and stored but in excellent overall condition and a rare item of issued British trench equipment. |
| BRITISH UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE GREAT WAR. 1914-18. Volume 1 describes clothing and necessaries. It is with great pleasure that we announce publication of a book collectors have been requesting for years. This is an amazing work by John Bodsworth. A huge volume ( 422 pages ) with an enormous amount of information and some fine illustrations. Many period photos, in colour and black and white and excellent copies of period advertising. A wealth of information for the advanced collector of WWI commonwealth militaria. It's not often one can say that a book will become the bench mark. However, this we believe has already reached this milestone. In the forthcoming armourer magazine the reviews are excellent. These books are printed to order so there is no back stock. We have ordered a small number of these books. The subjects covered within the volume include badges and insignia, other ranks service dress, officer's service dress, head dress, foot and leg wear, khaki drill, coats and greatcoats, steel helmets and body armour, other items of clothing, miscellanious, other uniforms including RFC, female, scouts, volunteers, Derby scheme, training reserve plus a section on the Dominians, Volume 2 is expected soon. |
| BRITISH UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE GREAT WAR. 1914-18. Volume 1 describes clothing and necessaries. It is with great pleasure that we announce publication that a book collectors have been asking for for years. This is an amazing work by John Bodsworth. A huge volume ( 422 pages ) with an enormous amount of information and some fine illustrations. Many period photos, in colour and black and white and excellent copies of period advertising. A wealth of information for the advanced collector of WWI commonwealth militaria. It's not often one can say that a book will become the bench mark. However, this we believe has already reached this milestone. In the forthcoming armourer magazine the reviews are excellent. These books are printed to order so there is no back stock. We have ordered a small number of these books. The subjects covered within the volume include badges and insignia, other ranks service dress, officer's service dress, head dress, foot and leg wear, khaki drill, coats and greatcoats, steel helmets and body armour, other items of clothing, miscellanious, other uniforms including RFC, female, scouts, volunteers, Derby scheme, training reserve plus a section on the Dominians. Condition: |
| BRITISH VEHICLE TATICAL SIGN. A rare and interesting Tatical sign as used on British military vehicles in WWII, these signs were detachable so they could be removed in security high zones. The sign itself appears to be the mythical creature 'CENTAUR ' with a bow and arrow and a horses body. This is a decal and has been overlaid over a much used vehicle panel, the panel clearly shows signs of an underlying sign, the sign clearly underneath the decal is a red triangle, this appertains to the 3rd Division who fought so hard to liberate Caen in 1944, the reverse of the sign is a deep maroon red. The reverse of the sign would be displayed at time again for tactical reasons and the sign would be turned and hung on the vehicle with the reverse showing. The reverse is in the deep maroon associated with 3rd Brigade in most Infantry Divisions. The sign is in good used condition, there is some congealing and crackling to the decal frontage. There is some rust bleed and patches of paint loss to the rear. To the front corners there is some minor rusting and rust bleed, however highly interesting and evocative item of British military memorabilia. |
| BRITISH WOMAN'S ATS LEATHER JERKIN. A scarce leather jerkin, generally in good condition, with some wear use for members of the Women's Service the ATS. Label dated 1942, which reads 'Jerkin leather ATS size No.2' with maker's name 'Castle Golf Company Limited', with adjustable belt at the rear. |
| BRITISH WOMAN'S LAND ARMY GREATCOAT, BREECHES, PULLOVER. Three scarce items of the woman's organisations of WWII being a mint condition Woman's Land Army overcoat with label reading 'Greatcoat Woman's Land Army Size No.3' dated '1943. A pair of the corduroy ladies breeches with label 'Woman's Land Army Size 7' dated '1943'. Excellent condition with slight storage staining. No moth damage. Woman's Land army 'V' neck pullover with the brass and enamel Woman's Land Army badge affixed to the upper right hand top of jumper. Original owners red embroidered label into neck area with '1943' size 2 label affixed. Some light moth to front of pullover as shown in our images. |
| BRITISH WOMEN'S ANKLE BOOTS. A virtually unworn pair of size 5 black pebbled leather British women's boots. They are stitched with a broad arrow mark just above the toe and are maker marked 'John White 1942' to the interior. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| BRITISH WOMENS BOOTS A mint unissued pair of wartime dated woman's black pebbled leather ankle boots. Size 4. |
| BRITISH WW 11 AIRBORNE USED ENTRENCHING TOOL HOLDER. A 1937 pattern entrenching tool holder, dated '1943'. It has the 1943 modification, which was many used by Airborne troops. |
| BRITISH WWI KNUCKLEDUSTER MILITARY KNIFE. A very good example of the Bowie bladed military knife privately purchased by officers during WWI, complete with its aluminium knuckleduster composition chequered grips. The grips are totally undamaged, there is one small spot of rust at the very top of the blade. The knife is fitted into its correct and near mint condition brown leather scabbard with its unique folded and stitched fixing loop that folds over the top of the knife and then closes with a male female pop stud system. This is identical to the example shown on page 23 of the excellent work by Ron Flook 'British and Commonwealth Military Knives'. The example shown as the maker's mark Hippert, example also known by George Ibberson, this example is non maker marked. |
| BRITISH WWI LEE METFORD BAYONET. A fine example of the Lee Metford bayonet, this particular example has been issued to South African units and has the ‘U’ and broad arrow stamp to the pommel. To the reverse of the pommel is the South African 2nd Infantry and his service number. There is a good proof mark to the wood of the handle and the Wilkinson London address to the blade with WD and broad arrow stamps. The blade is clean and bright and has been lightly cleaned overall. A good looking British side arm. |
| BRITISH WWI OFFICERS BREECHES. A very good service worn pair of whipcord British officers breeches, which are bleached by the sun, possibly used in the Middle East. Some service staining on the knees and lower part of the legs. All of the buttons are Manchester, England marked. |
| BRITISH WWI ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE MEDAL GROUPING AND INSIGNIA. An extremely rare grouping to a Royal Naval Air Service Petty Officer, F.C.Wheeler. comprising the 1914/15 Star, named. British War and Victory Medal, both named. The medals are loose contained in their original cardboard boxes accompanied with their correct ribbons. To the exterior of the lid are the typed attached labels describing the enclosed medal and the recipient’s name. All three medals are mint, unworn. They have never had their ribbons fitted. Situated in a nicely crafted painted decorated edged oval frame measuring 5 x 4 inches is the ultra rare Royal Naval Air Ship Coxswain Badge, which is beautifully embroidered in heavy gold wire on dark blue backing cloth. Surrounding the Coxswain’s Badge are examples of his three WWI medal ribbons and two items of V shaped rank lace. To the reverse of the frame there is old paper covering with a hook for wall hanging. Also accompanying the group is an 8½ inch length of pierced aluminium frame with an engraved plaque attached to the wooden mounting plate ‘Naval Airship C.18’. Petty Officer Frank Charles Wheeler enlisted into the Royal Naval Air Service as a Petty Officer Mechanic in May 1915, he remained at this rank until February 1917 and is then shown as an Air Mechanic 1. He saw service at Cranwell and the Naval Air Station at Wormwood Scrubs in London, which operated airships. He was appointed a Leading Mechanic in August 1917 and was later re-appointed a Petty Officer. Any items whether it be medals or artefacts to the Royal Naval Airship units are extremely desirable and rare. Accompanying the grouping is a photocopy of his WWI service record. |
| BRITISH WWII 13TH DIVISION PRIVATE PURCHASE BATTLEDRESS SUIT. A private purchase battledress suit made by Henry Poole & Company in Savile Row, London, constructed identically as a 37 pattern blouse from fine quality khaki woollen cloth. The jacket is fully silk lined, red backed insignia of a crown and pip to each epaulette, for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and to each sleeve woven Royal Artillery titles plus a printed flash for the 13th Division, plus embroidered Arm of Service strips. Medal ribbon at chest show WWI War & Victory medals, 1939-45 Medal, Africa Star, Defence Medal and 1937 Coronation Medal. Lt.Colonel J. Hooper served as a Lieutenant in WWI with the Royal Field Artillery, he remained in the army between the wars and was promoted Major on the 1.8.1938 and then Temporary Lieutenant Colonel on the 9.1.1944, serving in North Africa and Greece. The 13th Division insignia is rare, it was raised in Greece in 1945 to help control the civil unrest in that country, they chose as their sign the horseshoe, which was thought would offset the possible bad luck from their number. The matching trousers have the original maker's label inside, which is rather faint. The trousers, which are also styled on the 37 pattern battledress trousers with the large cargo pocket. No moth. Magnificent condition. The separate belt for the trousers is also labelled clearer than the trouser label, typed to the label 'Lt.Colonel J. Hooper RA.' |
| BRITISH WWII 1940 PATTERN BATTLEDRESS TROUSERS. A good medium size pair of trousers with some wear to the nap of the cloth, they appear to have no holes or damage, there are one or two tiny moth nips. The WD stamp to the interior is ‘Z’ over ‘WD’, this would indicate 1945. There is one button missing to the rear pocket and one small repair to the lower right buttock area. The small shell dressing pocket is also missing one button. The label, as ever, is removed, this was done for tactical reasons as it was on the exterior of the garment. A usable pair of battledress trousers that would display well on a British WWII mannequin. |
| BRITISH WWII ENLISTED MANS BRODIE WITH WHITE COVER. A standard British WWII Brodie pattern helmet, stamped size 7 to its interior liner with the first two digits of the date '19' only being visible. Chin strap missing. Fitted with a highly unusual white cover, the cover is white linen typical of the material used for clothing in Indian or Egypt. It has been crudely wrapped over the edges of the helmet and tucked into the outer edges of the liner band. A simplified Indian style pagri has been hand applied to the cover close to the area where the base of the skull meets the rim, in fact similar in style to any tropical helmet with a pagri. Good condition, it has had rust flooded through from the shell of the Brodie. Minor pin holes in the light cotton cover. Under the pagri it can clearly be seen the original pure white colour of the linen below. Various theories can be brought to bear on this helmet as to its usage, it could possibly be for a parade use by Indian troops or for the use of deflection of the sun in combat situations. However a very interesting rare variation of a British WWII helmet. |
| BRITISH WWII FRENCH INTERPRETER'S TUNIC. A very interesting 4 pocket officers service tunic belonging to Major Temporary Colonel Dessains. The tunic has its Royal Artillery bronze officers collar badges to each collar. All Royal Artillery Kings Crown buttons. Khaki lanyard to left hand shoulder. Major's crowns to each epaulette with two pin holes visible of where a star was attached for the rank of Colonel. The only reason we can imagine that the rank has been reduced is that he was possibly a Brevett Colonel (Temporary). To each sleeve is a halves lozenge in wine red and cream with a County of Cheshire acorn and leaves embroidered.This is the insignia of the Cheshire Cadet Force, The double row of medal ribbons stand both the First and Second World War, they comprise British War Medal, the Victory Medal WWI, the Defense Medal 1939-45, the French Croix de Guerre with pal leaf attached, the French Operations of the Exterior Medal with star, a French Foreign Legion North African Decoration in blue and white with a red and white striped French War Medal. Although we have the name of the owner, we do not have written history, but we are led to believe he was a member of the French Foreign Legion between the wars and somehow was entitled to the British First and Second World War Medals, maybe through mixed parentage. The tunic originated in the County of Cheshire in England. The loose belt is with the tunic in its pocket. |
| BRITISH WWII MARK 3 MARCHING COMPASS. A nice example of the British Government issue marching compass. The compass itself is in good functioning condition. The locking screw functioning correctly. The compass movement is fluid and good. All hinges working correctly. Glass unscratched with no breakages. Bevelled ring complete. Some perishing to the rubber cushioning ring to the base. Broad arrow marked, dated '1940'. Completing this unit is the rare mounted pattern compass pouch, these heavy compass pouches had an extra strap so they could be mounted to the D rings of a saddle. The leather is of beautiful quality, it has names and markings stamped and scratched into the surface. The leather is supple, some light flaking to the closure strap however this does not effect the functioning of the case. |
| BRITISH ’44 PATTERN WEBBING SET A rare set to find is the ’44 pattern equipment dated ’45. This equipment was made in fairly small numbers and was developed for jungle warfare. Due to the rapid finish of the war it was not used in great numbers before the war’s end. ’44 equipment can be found with post-war dates however war-time dated equipment is rare. The set consists of the small pack. This is a multi-pocketed item: the condition is used but very good with many of the hanging straps remaining. There appears to be the date 1945 to the underside of the top flap. The waterproof material remains good to the inside and is slightly crispy; the later models had a more rubberised material to the interior. The two ammunition pouches are dated 1945 and they are the typical infantry configuration. The shoulder yoke strap is again dated ’45. The belt has been well used and has lost some colour as well as the date. However this entire set came from one source and were used by an officer of the Royal Engineers who wore them at the end of World War II and into his service in Cyprus. |
| BRITISH/OSS BURMA COMPAIGN OFFICERS BLOUSE AND PAPERS. A highly unusual grouping, formerly the property of John Archibald Caddy, born 25th September 1908, died April 1989 in London. Second Lieutenant 31.1.1929, Temporary Lieutenant Colonel 1.12.1942. Retired Full Colonel 15.3.1952. We believe John Caddy was originally an artillery officer, other than that we have been unable to find any further research on the interesting story of this officer. The group comprises his 1949 pattern battledress blouse with Staff Officers gorget patches, medal ribbons include Burma Star, War and Defence Medal, Coronation Medal. Two white embroidered on red rank pips and a crown ranking insignia. To each sleeve is fitted a circular unit patch, which we believe to be a patch designating membership of the Ministry of Supply. A large private tailor's label to the interior. Named to Lieutenant Colonel J.A.Caddy. Battledress blouse mint. Two passports, the first being an Australian passport, where it confirms he is of Australian origin by birth and a British subject, which holds a photograph of John Caddy in battledress, hatless. The passport was issued in 1949 and has many stamps in it from 1950 onwards. A British passport issued to Lieutenant Colonel John Archibald Caddy in which strangely he had annotated as British subject by birth, which is at odds with the comment in his Australian passport, which clearly states he was born in Melbourne, Australia. Photograph also in military shirt and tie, passport issued by the Foreign Office on the 11th September 1941. This passport is the most interesting. As is well known travel during WWII was virtually impossible, even by military personnel, he must have been involved in some very serious activities, his passport shows entries during the war into Canada, Australia, the United States, Burma, Iraq, Egypt, Hawaii, Singapore after the end of hostilities. There are many American entry visas, the Republic of Ireland in 1944, Newfoundland, Colombo in Ceylon, India plus other stampings which we have been unable to identify. Every page in the passport is full, with an accompanying letter heading of the Military of Supplies headed paper reading 'To all whom it may concern that Lieutenant J.A.Caddy is an officer of the Military of Supplies in the service of his Britannic Majesty travelling in India, Australia and New Zealand on the business of the afore-said Ministry.' Dated November 1945. On the reverse side there is a list of baggage allowances in terms of weight. The most important and rarest item in the group is an ORIGINAL EXAMPLE of the 101 Detachment Burma Campaign metal bar. These have reproduced profusely, this is guaranteed to be an original example and are extremely rare. Detachment 101 was a small unit of the American OSS formed in 1942 from volunteers who had skills in demolition, medicine, communication and Asian cultures. They were involved in many operations in Burma. The insignia for Detachment 101 was a silver bar with the words 'BURMA CAMPAIGN' within the centre a circle with '101' above a flash of lightning. Studying Lt.Col.Caddy's passport entries it can be interpreted he was heavily involved in supplying special forces around the world and was subsequently given the insignia by the US for his assistance with Detachment 101. An intriguing story where with serious extra research could reveal very interesting details. |
| BUCHENWALD AUSWEIS. A very rare and unusual ausweis issued to a Polish political prisoner in the concentration camp of Buchenwald on the 11th April 1945 by the Allied Military Forces. A double sided hard card linen covered booklet in colour brown to the exterior, to the cover is printed 'K.L.Buchenwald' with number '787'. Below a separately applied triangular inverted section of linen cloth having the letter 'P' printed upon it, issued to Boleslaw Chomentowski. To the left hand side of the page printed in both German and English are the details of the recipient, the date of issue, details of his admittance to the camp, which was in March 1941 and it states he was kept in captivity from March 1941 in Nazi/German concentration camps and was liberated from the concentration camp of Buchenwald with stamped at bottom for the Allied Expeditionary Force Military Government. To the right hand side of the page it is headed 'Provisional Identification Card for Civilian Internee of Buchenwald' with the issue number and his own internee number '102601'. Chomentowski was of Polish nationality and born in Warsaw in 1919. There are various other unidentified stamps and annotations across the card including the owners thumb print and signature. Laid inside the card is the printed purple and yellow arm patch, which is the indication for Polish workers drafted for work within the Third Reich. |
| BULGARIAN WWI ENTRENCHING TOOL. An extremely rare piece of equipment from WWI being a 1915 dated Bulgarian entrenching shovel. We have not translated the Cyrillic script but we have been firmly assured it is Bulgarian and not Russian. Maker marked. One rivet missing to shovel head. Good wood. Leather cradle missing. |
| CAMOUFLAGE GERMAN M.17 TRENCH HELMET. A good camouflage M.17 trench helmet marked 'BF64' to the inner shell with its three colour camouflage of dark green, a lighter shade of green and tan, separated by narrow black separation lines. The finish overall is excellent with some abrasions as can be seen from our web images. The helmet has the rarity of having its original chin strap and all three parts of the liner pads, although there is some damage. The chin strap has broken away from one end of its attachment point and is wrapped around the clip. All three inner liner pads are present, one having its inner horse hair pad. Two of the three remaining pads are frail and their attachment to the metal liner band is lightly attached. Hand applied in pencil to the inner rear skirt is the original owner's name and unit number. Condition: |
| CANADIAN CALGARY HIGHLANDERS BRODIE HELMET. A 1944 dated British Brodie helmet, complete with its elastic webbing chinstrap. Interior liner good. The exterior olive drab finish has faded and faintly painted to the left hand side of the helmet is the red and white chequerboard insignia of the Canadian Calgary Highlanders. Some corrosion to crown area. |
| CANADIAN D-DAY PATTERN ASSAULT JERKIN. One of the very rare pieces of allied worn equipment of WWII is the Canadian pattern D-Day assault jerkin. This very rare garment modelled on the British and American assault jerkin is all complete, there is slight service wear, it has all its pouches, buckles and web ties. One small modification has been made, to the lower left hand side within the design there is a web fighting knife attachment loop. To the base of the jerkin below the attachment loops was a canvas protector for the point of the fighting knife. This was generally removed by the Canadians as to have the knife without its scabbard, even in the pouch, proved a dangerous manoeuvre. All of the lift a dot fasteners are present and working correctly. The garment is stamped 'small' within the inner upper back. Due to the extreme rarity of this item, it must be considered experimental, we have recently been lucky enough to find a period image of the Jerkin in use in the Fledgling Canadian Parachute Battalion. On page 105 of the book Tip of the Spear by LT Col Bernd Horn and Michel Wyczynski. It clearly shows at the top image, the Jerkin, one can clearly see the press stud attachments and the angled webbing waist re-enforced belt area thus establishing period use of the garment. |
| CANADIAN WOMENS VOLUNTEER UNIFORM OF THE ''KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.'' This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A most interesting set, consisting of a three pocket tunic, matching skirt, shirt and tie of Canadian women's issue pattern tunic, dated ''43.'' Items have woven tags to ''Marjorie Grimston.'' The tunic bears to each arm, high quality Knights Of Columbus war services patches. To the collars are standard maple leaves. Completing the outfit is a four piece beret of fine felt, complete with rare Knight Of Columbus war service officers quality bronzed badge. The knights of Columbus were a catholic charity organization, originally based in America that undertook charitable work close to the front line in both wars. This is the first female outfit of this unit that we have ever offered for sale. All items are in exceptional condition, there appears to be a few period repairs to the beret, and otherwise a near perfect outfit. |
| CANADIAN WWII AIRBORNE DENISON SMOCK AND TROUSERS. A rare combination of a modified Denison smock with modified trousers for sniper use by the Canadian airborne forces. WWII Denison smock, half zip with label reading 'smock Denison (airborne troops size 1) Maker marked, broad arrow stamp dated '1944,' which has been heavily modified as was quite common amongst the Canadians. The camouflage pattern is good with some wear to edges of pockets flaps and cuff bases but no actual damage. The modifications include the removal of the rear flap, a bandage pocket made from denim material has been attached to the lower left hand sleeve and to the rear of the garment are two large pockets with flaps and another bandage pocket. Again all constructed from denim material, possibly from cutting a denim battledress blouse. To the upper right breast can clearly be seen the outline and stitch marks of the Canadian parachute wings. The half zip has oxidised and a small part of it has broken away from the main body of the garment, rendering the zip inoperable. The trousers are a well service worn pair of Canadian made battledress trousers complete with their original braces, which on the right hand leg have had two upper buttons attached just below the pocket, a closing button flap and a pouch at the base constructed out of the same denim material as used on the Denison smock. This is for the attachment of the Fairbairn Sykes military knife. The pouch at the base was for locating the scabbard in place. A rare combination of a Canadian airborne trooper. |
| CANADIAN WWII CHAPLAIN'S BATTLEDRESS BLOUSE. A good condition blouse, size number 2, '1943' dated with Canadian Ordnance stamp, worn by a Canadian Chaplain Captain. To each shoulder board the white on purple rank patches for the Corps of Chaplains. To each shoulder finely embroidered in yellow on purple, Canadian Chaplain Service with each sleeve having the rectangular patch of the Canadian 3rd Division. To the lower right hand sleeve are two inverted red chevron service stripes. The 3rd Division left Canada for England in July 1941. Its first act of service was the invasion of Europe in June 44, winning distinction in the fierce fighting around Caen and later in the Falaise area, it carried on through France along the Belgium coast and finally in the liberation of Holland. |
| CHINDITS BOWIE MILITARY KNIFE. A very good example of the knife known as the Chindits Bowie, profusely illustrated on pages 205 and 206 of Ron Flook’s excellent work BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH MILITARY KNIVES, with a good clear photograph on page 207 of these knives in wear by two Chindits. This example is 12 inches long in overall length with a horn grip with three fixing brass rivets for the grip to the tang. No visible markings. The blade length is 7 ¾ inches. Some old corrosion cleaned from the blade but the blade in its original form, unsharpened. Nickel plating to the oval shaped cross guard is good. All fitted into its original leather scabbard of which the stitching has split at the base and the Bowie bladed point does appear through the base of the scabbard. Also the hilt retaining strap is missing. There is an old repair to the reverse side of the belt loops with staples. |
| CHOLM SHIELD. A good example of the very scarce Cholm Shield, awarded for operations in the Cholm area of the Eastern Front. This example is with its original backing cloth, which is slightly distorted and all of its paper backing intact. |
| CIVILIAN DRESS NSDAP MEDAL RIBBON BAR. An unusual ribbon being the joint ribbons of the both 10 and 15 year NSDAP Long Service medal with the silver eagle and swastika wreath attached to the face side. Set for wearing on a civil dress lapel. |
| CLOSE COMBAT BAR IN BRONZE, MINT. We have been fortunate to acquire three absolutely mint unissued examples of the FLL produced Armed Forces Close Combat Bar in bronze. All three are slightly convex. In raised relief to the reverse side is the designer's name 'Peekhaus of Berlin' with, in raised relief, below the fixing pin 'FLL' within three circles, indicating the maker Friedrich Linden. PRICED FOR EACH PIECE. |
| COASTAL ARTILLERY HERRINGBONE TWILL SERVICE TUNIC. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A mint unworn condition very large size green herringbone twill tunic worn by an enlisted man in the Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery. All the buttons in subdued grey with the fouled anchor. To the upper right hand breast is the Bevo woven yellow on Coastal Artillery green background with slight distress to the right hand wing of the eagle. Slip-on wool shoulder boards having the artillery gunners motif embroidered in yellow to each board. The collar patches are of the Bevo woven grey, yellow and white type standard for the Coastal Artillery. Loops to the upper left breast for one award with two short loops above for a short medal ribbon bar. Pinned to the upper left pocket is a possibly a post war commemorative medal, which shows the outline of the Marine Artillery motif, with the wording ‘Marine Flak Abt.244 4th Battery’ with an enamel badge above. |
| COASTAL ARTILLERY KAPITAN ZUR SEE TUNIC AND CAP. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An ultra rare uniform of the Coastal Artillery being a 4 pocket tunic in officers quality in the correct Coastal Artillery green. Deep turned back cuffs which are green piped. Front flap of tunic piped in green. Two upper patch pockets with pleats. Two lower pockets angled, non patch. All buttons of gilt naval variety. Loops for four awards on the left hand breast and one award on the upper right hand breast pocket. Loops for a very long row of medals to the upper left hand breast. Matching green collar to the piping of the tunic. Wire woven gold eagle on dark green backing cloth. Slip-on shoulder boards intertwined silver cording with twin gilt rank pips. Officers wire woven yellow on white centred Marine Artillery collar patches. Interior cotton lining. A hole is in the lower skirt of the tunic for the dagger straps to pass through. Unusually the tunic is fitted with a bandage pocket indicating that this could have been an issue item. The tunic is completely free of moth or moth tracking. Accompanying the tunic is a large size officers overseas cap in virtually identical colour to the tunic, being in Coast Artillery green, which is gold piped to the scallop. Marine Artillery gold wire on dark green background national eagle with matching silver wire with gold edging national cockade. To the interior it is grey silk lined. Any officers uniforms from the Coastal Artillery are extremely rare. |
| COASTAL ARTILLERY M.44 BREAST EAGLE. A very scarce breast eagle being the coastal artillery BEVO woven yellow on green triangular shaped M.44 Breast eagle. |
| COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE NAVY FLAG. Third Reich Commander in Chief of the navy flag. A 34 x 34 inch square double sided printed flag for the Commander in Chief of the German Navy. Marked to the heavy canvas selvedge edge with eagle and swastika over ‘M’ with the full printed lettering in German designating the flag as Commander in Chief of the Marine Service. 100 x 100. The printing is excellent as all of these navy flags are. It is liberally spotted with moth, with the exception of one lower corner where the lower hilt of the crossed swords are printed where there is considerably more moth. This flag was liberated from the port of Wilhelmshaven by the senior British naval officer in May 1945, Captain Edward Reignier Conder DSO DSC Royal Navy. We previously owned the Germany Navy sword. |
| CONCENTRATION CAMP/GORING WORKS WHERPASS. An Armed Forces wherpass issued to Franz Faschingbauer who was an office worker at the Herman Goring Werkes at Watenstedt, which was notorious for using forced labour from the nearby Neuengamme concentration camp. Pass showing a photograph of Fashingbauer in civilian dress, hatless. He was called through reserve service in May 1939 and was inducted into the Volksturm on the 3rd March 1945. Very scantily filled out wherpass. Accompanying the pass is his wherpass notice and his ID from the Herman Goring Werke identifying him as an office worker there. Fashingbauer was probably overseeing the forced labour in the Iron Works. The factory averaged 2,700 prisoners working there continuously between 1942 and 1945. His wherpass was issued in May 1939 but he was continually found unfit for military service. With the wherpass is a print-out of details of Kommandos of the Neuengamme Camp showing the averages of labour supplied to the Herman Goring Werkes. |
| CONDOR LEGION SILVER WOUND BADGE. A very nice example of a solid construction Condor Legion pattern Wound Badge in silver. The large M.16 helmet to the centre with its raised swastika. The wreath is dull. The hilts of both swords below the helmet still have much original frosting as has the good silver in the lower field. Some original silver remaining to back to thick wide straight pin. This example, ex George Peterson collection. |
| CROATIAN M16 USTASE HELMET This unit was formed of Croatians and was a para-military milice force. They were supplied by the Germans and wore various insignias. This particular helmet sourced by us from a central European contact bears the red white and blue shield to one side and the U to the other. Both insignias are fairly roughly painted and appear to have been slightly cleaned around. To the rear of the helmet the last remaining rivet is a WW2 type rivet. The helmet shell remains in good sound condition with a dark patination overall. The inner of the helmet has much rust and appears to have had water stood in it for some time. The chinstrap posts remain good and in tact, the helmet appears to have been made by ET and is a size 66. Very close examination of this insignia clearly shows minute crackling overall.
The helmet described above will come with a XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com. PRICE TO BE GIVEN ON FULL XRF CERTIFICATION. |
| CUIRASSIER REGIMENT No.3 OFFICERS VISOR CAP Good condition visor cap for an officer in Cuirassier Regt. No.3. Cornflower blue centre band with white waffenfarbe to crown and upper and lower sections of centre band. Grey Melton cloth crown. Prussian officers State and national cockades fitted. Minor discoloration to the cornflower blue around front of cap where it has been exposed to sunlight. Visor with some light crazing. To left hand side of visor, as cap is being worn, the very far point of the visor has broken away. Interior liner of the ersatz type retaining all of its original light tan colour. Silk to upper crown generally good with Osnabruck maker's mark faded. Some light lifting of surface to celluloid to interior of peak. |
| CUT OUT LUFTWAFFE AIRCRAFT SWASTIKA. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A section including the complete swastika, from a wooden constructed Third Reich Luftwaffe aircraft. Measuring 13 inches x 15 inches, the swastika is all clear, there are some minor abrasions which can be viewed on our web images. The framework of the aircraft is on the reverse side. Pasted to the interior is a photograph of four U.S. Army Air Force aviators wearing tropical dress, with the faint remains of an inscription to the white edge of the photograph, which unfortunately is indecipherable. We can only assume that these were members of a crew which either shot down the aircraft or cut it from this unidentified aircraft. |
| CZECHOSLOVAK M20 WEHRMACHT REISSUE. One of the more obscure members of the German helmet family being the helmet produced in the 20’s by the Czech’s. The helmet outline is almost identical to the Austrian helmet, however to try to give the helmet a national identity a small comb was brazed to the top of these helmets. This was subsequently removed and one can clearly see both dots to the front and rear of the helmets where this was done and also the serial number, which was stamped to the outer of the helmet which would have originally lain below the comb. The helmet has subsequently been painted a field grey colour. It has had an Austrian Berndorfer style lining and Austrian liner band attached. The chinstrap is of Czech manufacture and has been carefully retro-fitted to the helmet using stainless steel brackets. The helmet has the characteristic grey-lined Wehrmacht decal, again this is something found regularly on these transitional reissues. The helmet may have been at one point a double decal and there is slight evidence that a tricolour may have been removed; however, this is not immediately evident. The 3 rivets in place are the classic Czech domed-headed type. The apple green paint is attractive and approximately 75% present with some areas of scratching and rust bleed. Overall, a fascinating early helmet. The helmet describe above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this website and to XRFacts.com.
PRICE TO BE GIVEN ON FULL XRF CERTIFICATION. |
| DACHAU DESK PAPERWORK. Five pieces of extremely rare paperwork regarding the death of a prisoner in Dachau on the 11th March 1942. The death certificate of Hermann Will of Brandenburg, who was born on the 16th August 1892 making him 50 years old, a letter on Concentrationslager Dachau headed paper dated 23rd March 1942 listing all the effects of Hermann Will that are returned to his wife Frau Elizabeth Will, signed by the SS Property Office. A telegram to Elizabeth Will informing her of the death of her husband and the very important A5 size letter on the headed paper, again of the Concentrationslager Dachau, signed the Commander of the crematorium that accompanied Herman Will's ashes back to his home and wife Elizabeth Will. The last piece is the Mitglieds Karte that was carried by Herman Will. We have had many items of both paperwork and other objects from the concentration camps, but never a letter indicating the return of ashes to the family. |
| DAF DRAPE. A scarce near mint condition 7’ x 4 ½’ DAF drape. One slight tear to the bottom edge. Good bright colour to the red flag cloth. Multi stitched large swastika with cog wheel edge for the Deutsche Arbeit Front with fold over top for pole hanging. |
| DAF PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM. A very comprehensive DAF photograph album being a huge series of loose leaf cards laid into an original period ring binder, it appears to cover the period from July 1940 through to 1941. The images are of extremely good quality, there are too many to count, the leaves are held into the ring binder by a very rusty locking system, if we remove the leaves to count them we may not be able to get them back in their correct order. The album seems to be covering at least five tours with this DAF grouping. Very fine detail of uniforms, equipment of the DAF including an DAF band. There are even letters inside the album dated '1941' which relate to the supply of the photographs for this album. Many images of the group on tour with their buses, high ranking DAF members, close-ups of unusual insignia and all aspects of the DAF. An Ideal item for the DAF researcher. Our estimation is that there is probably over 250 photographs all of good medium size format. |
| DAMALS, THE HISTORY OF THE TOTENKOPF DIVISION IN FRANCE. The rare book published in Stuttgart after the campaign in France is entitled Damals. It is a magnificent photographic record of the Waffen SS Totenkopf Division campaign in the west in 1940. it contains 118 pages, virtually every page has either a full size or a half size combat image taken by the SS war reporters during the campaign in the west. The majority of the images are stunning. On opening the book there is a facsimile introduction and the signature of Theodore Eicke, who was the Commander of the Totenkopf Division. Unfortunately the original fly leaf to the book is missing, this is a rare publication and is highly sought-after by collectors. |
| DANZIG TELEGRAPHERS BELT BUCKLE. The ultra rare heavy brass constructed belt buckle for a telegrapher/signalman, complete with the clips at front for the signalmans line reel with the silver overlay of the City of Danzig. We have re-listed this buckle to include it with the large collection of Imperial buckles we have just purchased. |
| DAOV BANNER TOP AND FLAG. The very rare combination of the banner top and flag of the Organisation whose name is abbreviated to DAOV. The German description of this organisation is the Deutsche Arbeits Opfer Vevorg, this was the organisation of the injured factory workers. The flag pole top in cast aluminium is 11 inches in overall height. Generally in good condition, some light casting marks to one side of the top. The main body, as stated, in aluminium, the pole tube is nickel steel. The standard itself, which has its original pole rings still attached measures 4' x 3'9 inches, it is complete with silver fringe and has a double sided applied panel to the red field with the matching insignia of the DAOV Ortsgruppe Osterfeld, which is close to Oberhausen in the Rhineland. The central insignia is all hand embroidered. The flag is in excellent condition with light staining to the edge of the flag. Slight moth nips in one corner. |
| DDAC CAR PENNANT ON ITS ORIGINAL MOUNT. A good example of the DDAC printed double sided double thickness car pennant, the DDAC, the German Automobile Club. The pennant measuring 15 inches by 8 inches is generally available within the flag collecting world, however what is extremely rare about this item is that it is with its original radiator cap and flag pole mounting, it has obviously been unscrewed directly from the original vehicle and brought back by the souvenir hunter, possibly a British or American soldier. Very minor staining to the flag, which is in excellent condition. All of the chrome is good to the radiator cap and pole. |
| DDAC LAPEL PIN. A beautiful example of what appears to be a DDAC 1939 Honour pin. The red, white and black high quality enamelled oval logo in complete undamaged condition with a sprig of silver leaves running around the lower edge with the date 1939 in a central block. On the reverse side the badge is maker marked plus Ges Gesch all in raised relief. Complete with its spiral and grooved lapel fixing pin. |
| DESERT AIR FORCE ARM PATCH. A scarce British made embroidered on felt rectangular arm patch for a member of the Desert Air Force. The short lived combined U.S./British Air Force formed in the Mediterranean, this insignia is scarce. Traces of card adhered to reverse of patch where removed from the Grace Gibson collection card. |
| DEUTSCHE WEHRMACHT ARM BAND. Finely woven on yellow background in black the arm band worn by civilians in the service of the German Army. Mint unissued condition. |
| DEUTSCHLAND RZM FULL LENGTH CUFF TITLE. A full length uncut Waffen SS Deutschland RZM woven cuff title. Machine embroidered in grey, block capital letters having the rarer six strand silver edging to upper and lower sections of cuff title, this example is identical to the example shown on page 19 of Third Reich SS and Political cuff bands by Ulric of England |
| DON COSSACK SHOULDER BOARDS. A pair of the wide Russian style shoulder boards, red artificial silk piped, slip-on. Some minor moth tracking to one small portion of the dark green centre of nap of cloth. One board having a 1 inch section of the artificial silk piping eaten away. |
| DOUBLE STRAP SAM BROWNE SET. A maker marked and faintly 1917 dated officers Sam Browne belt with the double strap system. This system was normally employed for officers actually in the trenches. By using the double strap shoulder system the Sam Browne belt could carry extra weight without unbalancing the officer who was wearing the equipment. Interestingly the standard single shoulder strap configuration closely matches the belt. The added shoulder strap is a slightly different colour indicating the officer possibly added the second belt for combat use. |
| DR. HEINRICH DOEHLE WARTIME AWARDS BOOK. The extremely scarce and desirable book published Berlin 1943, entitled ‘DIE AUSZEICHNUNGEN DES GROSSDEUTSCHEN REICHS ORDEN EHRENZEICHEN ABZEICHEN’. This superb book has 152 pages of text and colour photographs of all of the Third Reich military and political awards that were instituted up to and including 1943. At the end of the book there is a 7 page supplement with awards that were instituted just as the book was being published. It is complete with its original fly leaf cover, which has been protected by cellophane. |
| DR. JOSEF MENGELE SIGNATURE. A very rare signature by Josef Mengele, the infamous SS Doctor who selected 10's of thousands of prisoners to die in the gas chambers of Auswitz Concentration Camp during WWII. Known after the war as The Angel of Death, he conducted medical experiments on inmates of the concentration camps, he especially experimented with the genealogy of twins. He escaped justice at the end of WWII and fled to South America where he drowned in 1979 having become the most hunted war criminal in the history of the world. A picture of Mengele in civilian dress, framed, below is a written description similar to the description we have given on this web site. Between the picture and the description is, in his hand, Joseph. When studying his normal signature, his own style was to spell his name as 'Josef', this signature in his hand, was taken from his original application form to join the SS and in describing the origins of his family his grandfather's name was Joseph spelt in the manner of Josef and this piece was cut from that original application form. His grandfather's full name was Joseph Hupfauer. |
| DUTCH M.15 WWI FIGHTING KNIFE. A good example of the scarce Dutch M.15 WWI fighting knife. Good blued blade, which is stamped on the under side number ‘708’. Dutch acceptance stamps to the top of the blade, the lower ring on the cross guard and to the upper section of the wood grip of which the wood is in excellent condition. Fitted into its all leather scabbard with integral frog with metal base, all undamaged. |
| E62 SIZED M.17 TRENCH HELMET. Strangely one of the most difficult Imperial German helmets to obtain is the very small size, 62. This example having all of its original apple green paint finish with just one minor area of rust. Complete with its mint condition tan leather three pad liner, which unfortunately has lost its inner pads. Complete with original drawstring. Stamped into back skirt 'K62'. Both of the vented lugs have been filled with paper, which was quite a common occurrence with soldiers in WWI. |
| EARLY ERDL CAMOUFLAGE JACKET. An extremely rare version of the later camouflage pattern, this was issued to U.S. forces towards the end of the Vietnam conflict. This particular example is made from the non Ripstop lime dominant camouflage cloth, this was rapidly replaced with Ripstop version As this version proved to be weak and ripped and tore easily in the jungle environments of Vietnam. The size is medium long, there is a full label. The overall condition is excellent, the colour appears good. There is very little wear, a couple of tiny snags, there has been no insignia mounted on the jacket. A rare item of Vietnam war camouflage. |
| EARLY THIRD REICH COMBAT TUNIC. A rare ‘1935’ dated, four pleated pocket, five button front, green collared service tunic for an infantry enlisted man. The tunic is size 36 to 38. There is no moth damage, field or ordnance repairs. The nap is thin in the areas unprotected. It has the skeleton type grey ribbed cotton lining, which can pin this tunic down to a model 1934 and the detail matches exactly the feldbluse 1934 shown in the excellent work ‘Feldbluse, The German Soldier’s Field Tunic 1933-45’ by Laurent Huart and Jean-Philippe Borg. It is maker stamped, size stamped, the designation of the depot is ‘E’ for Erfurt and faintly seen beyond the letter ‘E’ is the date ‘35’. It would appear that two buttons have been replaced. The five inner collar attachment buttons are still in place. The insignia fitted are a pair of slip-on dark green centred white wool piped infantry enlisted mans shoulder boards, Bevo white on grey collar patches which are attached to a rectangle section of dark green cloth then fitted to the dark green collar, the breast eagle is the virtual white on dark bottle green Bevo woven breast eagle. |
| EASTERN TERRITORIES TUNIC EAGLE. The machine embroidered grey on brown backed wide swept winged eagle for the Eastern Territories officials tunic. Some light staining to left hand wing tip and small nip out of cloth above wing. |
| EDELWEISS PATCH. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The Bevo woven edelweiss patch worn by mountain troops, mainly of the army. It has been folded and attached to a tunic and removed. Excellent condition. |
| EDGED WEAPONRY OF THE THIRD REICH. The excellent 1974 1st edition of Major John R.Angolia’s work on the edged weapons of the Third Reich, published by R.J.Bender. The book is in excellent condition, the cover has slight age foxing with original German owner’s library stamp to the cover. |
| ELABORATE FINNISH OR RUSSIAN FRONT SOLDIER ART KNIFE. What is amazing is that after 35 years of dealing in militaria new items constantly appear, which we have never seen before. We have seen aluminium soldier art from North Africa, mainly in the form of cigarette cases, we have seen the hand carved walking sticks from the Russian Front, but never before have we encountered one of the soldier art knives made on the Finnish or Russian Front. This example is a Finnish Made knife compressed wood grip, aluminium pommel, Bowie style blade with central fuller. The overall length of the knife is 7 inches. The knife itself is fitted to a hand made aluminium scabbard by a German soldier on the Russian or Finnish Front in 1941. Engraved to the scabbard is a large swastika with a heart below, then the name 'Kiestinky' the date '17.10.1941'. The only reference we can find to a name Kiestinky is, we found on an Austrian web site the names of many Austrians killed in WWII, one of which was killed in Kiestinky, Russia. Recently acquired from a collection in Austria. Soldier art has been fascinating subject through the ages of war, right from the French prisoners of the Napoleonic War through to Boer War soldiers and prisoners, WWI trench art, WWII helmet art and the other associated items which we have mentioned in this description. |
| ENGLISH 14TH (KING’S) HUSSARS 1861-1901 SABRETACHE. The full dress sabretache being a carry over from the old cavalry message pouches are probably one of the most beautifully embroidered items of regalia of the British Army of the early Victorian period. Beautifully hand embroidered on back cards, they are extremely impressive, this example from the 14th Hussars being the 1861 version, complete with its full strip of regimental lace surrounding the sabretache with a beautifully embroidered centre surmounted by the Victorian crown. To the centre the Prussian eagle with its 12 Battle Honour scrolls, which include Douro, Talavera, Fuentes d’Onor, Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, Peninsular, Punjaub, Chillianwallah, Goojerat, Persia and Central India. The Prussian eagle has long been a device worn by the 14th Hussars. There is no moth to the backing material. Some wear to the velvet of the central Victorian crown. Slight dullness to gilt overall. Only one of the three suspension D rings is present, one of the leather tabs on another D ring is also present but broken and one is completely missing. There are old repairs on the reverse side at the attachment point of the message bag to the main flap of the sabretache. |
| ENGLISH 15TH HUSSARS OFFICERS FUR FULL PARADE BUSBY. A most magnificent condition officers busby for the 15th (King’s) Hussars. The fur to the body is absolutely perfect, these can suffer very badly from moth damage, it is complete with its gold wire woven decoration around the body of the busby. Its gold wire button to the front. The red scarlet bag is completely moth free with all of its gilt lace in place, the strands are cotton affixing the gold lace to the bag slightly loose. The helmet is complete with its full length one colour scarlet plume, the plume is with its correct officers plume holder. The interior officers light tan leather liner is all intact with some signs of wear use but no undue wear. To the upper inner crown area it is beautifully lined in the most highest quality red silk which has been multi stitched in a lozenge form with the good gilt blocked name of ‘Hamburger Rogers & Company, Military Accoutrement Manufacturers, 80 King Street, Covent Garden, London’ with the Victorian Royal cipher above. The helmet is complete with its correct pattern roped ring gilt chain, which is red Morocco leather and red velvet backed. It is all complete in its carrying tin, which is old newspaper lined, which is dated 1915. A brass label reading ‘Captain J. Lees 15th Hussars’ is attached to the exterior of the lid of the tin. This famous British Hussar Regiment, which traces its history back to 1759, has Battle Honours, which include Emsdorff, Villiers-en-Couche, Egmont-Ob-Zee, Sahagun, Vittoria, Peninsular, Waterloo, Afghanistan 1878-80. The Regiment went through various changes in designation from 1759 but in 1806 was converted to a Hussar Corps under the title of the 15th King’s Hussars. It distinguished itself at Waterloo and was present at the capture of Cambray and the march to Paris. It is difficult to find a Hussar officers busby in this condition in its original carrying tin. |
| ENGLISH 1ST DRAGOON TROOPERS HELMET. An extremely good condition Model 1871 troopers helmet for the 1st Dragoon . The all nickel skull is totally undented, it is difficult to even see any ripples in the skull. All fittings good, complete with its side rosettes, correct black horse hair plume. Chin chain with its correct and period leather backing. The interior of the front peak is still lined with its green leather, back peak is unlined as is standard. To the rear interior brass rim it is clearly stamped '1.D', with an issue number. The very tip of the front plate on the left hand side is slightly damaged. We have not cleaned this helmet, it is as discovered and we would advise leaving it in this manner. |
| ENGLISH 4TH (QUEEN’S OWN) HUSSAR OFFICERS SABRETACHE. A very fine example of the full dress sabretache to an officer of the 4th Hussars 1861 pattern. The red cloth backing having very good bright colour, no moth damage. Excellent colour blue below the Battle Honours, which number 12. Gilding generally good overall to the very fine quality embroidery work, with to the centre ‘4H’. Slight scuffing to the red cloth edging to the base of the sabretache, complete with its original red Morocco leather message pouch to the reverse side. One suspension ring missing and complete in its original foul weather red Morocco leather cover. The 4th Hussars can trace their ancestry back to 1685, their Battle Honours include Dettingen, Talavera, Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, Peninsular, Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sevastopol. This famous Regiment, which was involved in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava. |
| ERSATZ BAYONET GEW98 Excellent blade with some grease staining. Traces of original grey/green paint finish to hilt. Many abrasions to scabbard. Remains of frog with belt loop section broken. |
| ET60 M.17 COMBAT HELMET. A scarce small size ET60 M.17 combat helmet. In the realms of collectibility WWII German helmets are highly sought-after when they are of larger sizes. In the First War helmets the small size helmets have a high appeal as they are extremely scarce. This example has been ordnance re-painted a field grey and retains the majority of that finish. The steel protective plate locating lugs have been picked out in black. The interior metal banded M.17 liner is all complete with its three leather pads, two of which are rather delicate and all three have their inner horse hair pads missing. Original drawstring complete. |
| EUROPEAN HELMET BOOK (EUROPAISCHE HELME). A magnificent book, first published in 1971 in the then East Germany relating to the history of armoured and military helmets starting from the middle ages to date. It was extremely unusual for a book like this to be published in the then communist East Germany in the 1970’s. It was an extremely rare book at the time and when it found its way onto the European collectors market was highly sought-after. The book contains 402 pages with virtually every page having a photograph of some form of military helmet from all of the states of Europe. The countries included in the book are too many to mention. There is obviously a predominance towards German helmets but every other country is covered in steel helmets, armoured helmets, soft helmet and leather helmets, the text of course is all in German. The book was put together using all of the helmets that belonged to the old German History Museum in the then DDR. We have had a copy of this book in our library for many years. On a recent trip to Dresden we found this lone copy sitting on the bookshelves of the Rustkammer in Dresden. It is complete with its original fly leaf, which has a few scuffed edges and still with its original card box. We were informed this was the very last copy available to the museum. Published by the Militarverlag Der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. Interestingly on the last page the name of Egon Krenz is printed in the list of contributors to the book, Egon Krenz was the last leader of the DDR and was sentenced to 6½ years in prison for manslaughter for his crimes during the course of the DDR regime. A must for any military library. |
| EXCAVATED M.16 SNOW CAMOUFLAGED HELMET. An ultra rare M.16 trench helmet, clearly stamped ET64 to inner shell, which appears to have been buried but still stayed relatively intact. We have never before encountered an original white painted snow camouflage M.16 helmet. The white is concentrated over the whole of the shell with some abrasions to the crown area, there are various other chips. It would appear also that the helmet may have been struck by shrapnel as there is a 'V' section missing from the lower rear skirt plus a split in the steel. The turned over rim of the helmet is missing through rust to at least 50% of the rim. There is one small hole, again through rust through the skull. There is the remnance of earth solidified in the holes of the armoured plate fixing lugs, also around the chin strap lugs. Interestingly the liner has gone, also the rivets. In the area around where the rivets were original fitted through the holes of the skull the paint has chipped away. Although as stated this is in an excellent excavated condition, this is a very rare helmet to find. |
| FALLSCHIRM-JAGER REGIMENT 1 ENLISTED MANS CUFF TITLE The lettering only and one each either side of the lettering of the enlisted mans cuff title for Fallschirm-Jager Rgt.1. Finely embroidered in silver grey thread on mid green background. During the 1050's and 1960's a superb collection of Third Reich and Imperial items were built up by Colonel C.N. Dodkin's whose name is mentioned in many books published in the 1970's and 1980's. The major part of his collection was sold in the 1980's but a small grouping of Imperial German items and Third Reich items have recently been offered for sale and we have fortunately purchased them. This item is from Colonel Dodkin's collection. |
| FAMILY STEIN, MEDAL AND PAPER GROUP. An extremely historical and interesting family group of artefacts, documents and photographs to a German military family dating back to 1810. The family name was Bruckner. Group begins with two military documents from Bavaria, the first dated 1810, the second dated 1824. Our interpretation of these documents is that they are a testiment for military service. The family came from the town of Kraiburg in Bavaria and is noted as such on these early documents. Both are larger than A4 size. The third document is dated 1853 to another member of the Bruckner family as a member of the 1st Infantry Brigade M1914. It appears there were three brothers who entered service in WWI. Josef Bruckner, Simon Bruckner and Vinzenz Bruckner. We have a half litre china stein in the most superb undamaged condition with no patina, belonging to Simon Bruckner as a member of the 8th Company 15th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, whilst doing his volunteer service time between 1910 and 1912. The lid is surmounted by an Infantryman helping a wounded colleague. Accompanying the stein is a studio portrait of Simon Bruckner wearing the model 1910 field grey combat uniform with pickelhaube and helmet cover with number '15' to the helmet cover with another colleague whilst serving in WWI. We have another half litre porcelain beer stein, again in undamaged condition with the unusual six sided glass lid with military scenes seen through the glass, again with Regiment number '15' to front of stein, named to Vinzenz Bruckner whilst serving his compulsory two year military service dated 1906 to 1908. Accompanying this stein is a photograph of Vinzenz Bruckner standing in the field wearing porkpie hat, ammunition pouches, binoculars and carrying GEW98 rifle. The third brother, Josef Bruckner was killed in action on the 20th August 1914, very early in WWI, his death card with photograph is part of the group. A 3 x 4 inch extremely attractive photograph over painted on glass of one of the Bruckner brothers, probably Vinzenz in a cross hatched wooden frame with number '15' to each shoulder board, wearing the blue parade uniform, hatless. Ten accompanying WWI postcard size studio shots of either other comrades or brothers, this cannot be ascertained. All wearing the 1910 pattern field grey combat uniform. WWI documents to Vinzenz Bruckner comprising the Bavarian Military Service Cross, 3rd Class with crown and swords dated 1920, the Bavarian Long Service Medal 3rd Class dated 1918, Wound Badge in Black dated 4th July 1918, Iron Cross 2nd Class dated November 1916. After WWI Bruckner was awarded the Honour Cross for Front Fighters for 1914, awarded 13th July 1934. After his service in WWI Vinzenz Bruckner rejoined the Military Forces in WWII as a member of one of the most well known Mountain Troop Regiments, Gebisjager Regt. No.100. With this Regiment he was awarded the Entry into Austria Medal which we have in its original case with ribbon, his original dog tag numbered '261 14th Company of Gebisjager Regt. 100'. This Medal is accompanied by both the large format A4 size citation dated 8th November 1938 plus the half size citation for the same award, of which there are two separate versions of, one as Gefreiten Vinzenz Bruckner, the other as Sanitats Gefreiten Vinzenz Bruckner issued later on 15th January 1940. Bruckner subsequently served in the invasion of the Balkans of which there is a double sided printed card record of their advance through the Balkans showing images of all the types of German soldiers in that campaign, the map of the route of march down through Rumania to Athens. A document signed to Bruckner in both German and Greek from the Commander in Chief of Athens Garrison dated 27.5.1941 allowing him free movement around Athens. A hand written letter by Bruckner showing a map, possibly of an important action. A sheet of bread stamps for use whilst on leave. Being a member of GBR.100, he was possibly involved in the battle of Crete. Accompanying the group is a July 1941 newspaper 'Wacht Im Sudosten' reporting the early stages of the invasion of Russia, the whole of the rear page is devoted to the Gebisjager Regiments in Crete. His further WWII decorations include: The Winter Medal in the East dated September 1942 (we have citation only) and War Service Cross 2nd Class with swords dated 1942 (we have citation only). A Soviet air dropped propaganda leaflet, 10 accompanying photographs in various formats of Bruckner wearing NCO's uniform, the short brimmed Mountain Troops visored field cap with standard saddle shaped NCO's visored cap, plus others in the field with comrades, three pre war photographs showing the unit, two in training, one showing Bruckner seated wearing the Mountain Troops parade tunic, hatless. Finalizing the group is another half litre beer stein given to Bruckner on the day of his wedding. Plus the Third Reich Kennkarte, plus Third Reich Arbeitsbuch belonging to Anna Bruckner, Vinzenz Bruckner's sister who this grouping was purchased from. There are three other identified civil documents of the Third Reich period relating to the Bruckner family. All documents are located in a large format envelope address to Herr Vinzenz Bruckner, Kraiburg, dated 1939 over-stamped from the 7th Company Gebisjager Regiment 100 in Berchtesgaden with large eagle and swastika stamp below. After WWII Anna Bruckner married a British soldier and came back to the United Kingdom, where this grouping has been in her possession every since. From historical location point of view the Regiment was stationed in Berchtesgaden, plus other documents relate to Bad Tolz the headquarters of the SS officers training school. |
| FASCIST ITALIAN DAGGER INSET. The rare accessory for the Italian MVSN dagger being the gilded Fascist symbol that is laid into the plastic grips of the MVSN officers dagger. We had a quantity of nearly 50 of these over 20 years ago and have just discovered a small amount left, complete with their screw for fitting to the dagger. |
| FELDGENDARMERIE GORGET. A good example of the Feldgendarmmerie gorget, all of the luminous paint to the two outer buttons and the central eagle is intact. All of the luminous paint to the lower scroll, which reads ‘Felgendarmerie’ is missing with the exception of the three of the four letter ‘E’s and with fractions left in the last letter ‘R’ and the first letter ‘G’. Excellent original finish to the back plate. It is complete with its steel chain. It is the more desirable example with the maker’s letter ‘M’ within a lozenge to the uniform retaining hook and it is complete with its light grey backing cloth. Some rust flooding through the cloth from the steel retaining pins of the Feldgendarmerie front scroll. |
| FELDGENDARMERIE GORGET. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A good service worn all steel Feldgendarmerie gorget. Some minor discoloration to the back plate with evidence of light surface only rusting at the very lower point of the back plate. Virtually all of the luminous paint to the Feldgendarmerie scroll, the central national eagle and the two buttons are present with the exception of one chip to the upper right hand button. The chains are complete with the gorget, again slightly toned, the grey green material to the reverse side of the gorget has one moth hole, otherwise all intact. |
| FIELD MADE SPLINTER PATTERN RUCKSACK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A field made splinter pattern camouflage rucksack, possibly made from a zeltbahn, with its original maker marks to the leather strapping central point. |
| FIELD MARSHALL VON KLEIST FACSIMILE SIGNATURE. As removed from Hitler Youth boys autograph book collection. Head and shoulders image of General Field Marshall Von Kleist wearing General's visor cap, Knights Cross and oak leaves at neck. |
| FINE QUALITY TRENCH ART MILLS BOMB NO.5. A beautifully mounted WWI Mills bomb, this is the number 5 version designed by William Mills who was originally a golf club designer from Sunderland. The Mills bomb was the standard British hand grenade from 1915 onwards and was designated No.5. British Army notes state that a competent thrower could throw this bomb 98 feet or 30 metres with reasonable accuracy. The grenade could be fitted with a rod to convert it into a rifle grenade. This particular example has been beautifully mounted on a green and black marble base. The grenade itself is complete with a 1918 dated base cap, the original pin is in place as is the fly off lever and filler plug. The manufacturer is M & C. The overall condition is superb and would make an excellent desk object or item of trench art display. |
| FINNISH M.15 ADRIAN HELMET. The Adrian was one of the most exported helmets of the WWI era, the Finnish Army had a massive shortfall in equipment when fighting the Soviets in the 30’s, they ordered helmets from many European countries including France, this is an example of a standard blue helmet supplied to Finland and given a subsequent coat of the grey green tone of paint that many Finnish combat helmets could be found in. At some time there has been another badge fitted to the front at some period during its long service history. This helmet has been updated with the removal of the badge and yet another coat of paint. The French liner remains intact and in good order. The chin strap remains in place over the brim of the helmet. Finnish helmets are a fascinating subject in themselves and offer the collector an enormous range of helmets worn in combat by the Finnish soldier. |
| FIRE POLICE EAGLE ON IT'S ORIGINAL CAP CLOTH. A BEVO woven silver on black one piece Police eagle. Still fitted to a section of it's dark blue and red piped overseas cap. |
| FLIGHT TECHNICAL PERSONNEL UPPER CUFF BADGE. Displaying a rotary engine within a winged wreath machine embroidered on Luftwaffe blue backing wool. |
| FLUGHAFEN FRANKFURT DAY BADGE. A magnificent quality octagonal day badge, 3mm thickness, showing a Zeppelin flying over the new Frankfurt Airport with the wording 'Frankfurt A/M' at base. This is an extremely high quality production with very good detail. Standard tinny type pin back. |
| FRAMED RAD PHOTOGRAPH AND INSIGNIA. A large 16 x 12 inch framed photograph of an RAD man, studio shot, seated with his RAD cap on a table to his right with clear detail to the RAD buckle and his left hand sleeve insignia including his cuff band. Both the original insignia in Bevo wire and the cuff band with the letter ‘S’ are framed with the photograph. The reverse of the frame has suffered slight dampness, which has flooded through and damaged the photograph in the area of the upper left hand breast pocket. This RAD man went on to have a distinguished army career, this information is gleaned from the fact that this photograph was separated from the main group of documents. |
| FREDERICK THE GREAT COMMEMORATIVE TOBACCO BOX. A very interesting 18th century German brass and copper oblong tobacco box, measuring 6¼ x 1 ¾ the hinge lid is embossed with a three quarter length crowned portrait of the famous German leader Frederick The Great, in a panel surmounted by an eagle and a Latin motto ‘Pro Gloria Et Patria’ and below the image ‘Fredericus Magnus Borussorum Rex’, the base embossed with crown ‘FR’ cipher above the Prussian eagle and with the mottos ‘HEROS SECULI DEFENSOR GERMANIA PROTECTOR PATRIA ET RELIGIONIS’ followed by the maker’s name. These rare tobacco tins were produced in the 18th century as a commemoration of Frederick the Great. Hinge perfect. |
| FREE POLISH BATTLEDRESS GROUPING. A magnificent and highly representative grouping of items to a Polish Infantry Sergeant. The lot consists of a battledress blouse, originally an issued item. It has been extensively re-tailored, as was the Polish fashion. Of all the allied troops the Polish seem to have taken an enormous amount of pride in their appearance, nearly all Polish battledresses show extensive re-smartening and generally they made the tunic into a far better cut. The collars have had the typical sharp points added, the collar has been made open and faced so as to be worn with a shirt and tie. The pockets have been re-modelled. The waistband brought in and made higher. Various pleats put in. Internal shoulder pads have also been added. The insignia to the battledress consists of high quality slip-on Sergeant’s silver bullion rank badges, printed British made Poland titles, the Maid of Warsaw red and white patch and the arm shield of the 5th Kresowa Division. To each collar is the insignia of the 17th Infantry. To the other arm is the Honorary Badge of the 8th Army in a high quality Italian made bullion example. To the breast is the Maid of Warsaw 2nd Corps insignia, there is also the 5th Division badge to the breast pocket, this is a high quality enamel badge and is an Italian made badge by the famous firm of Lorioli, this firm made badges for the Fascist Party and after the fall of Italy immediately commenced production for the Allied Forces. There is a full compliment of three rows of medals, also a distinctive Infantry lanyard, this is secured in the three row style as worn by Polish NCO’s. There is a ‘43’ dated British whistle attached, which is housed within the pocket for when the battledress is in wear. Medal ribbons are as follows:- Cross of Valour 1939, Army Active Service, Monte Casino 1944 Medal, Order of the White Eagle, France and Germany Star, Order Neisse & Baltic Medal 1945, Italy Star, 39-45 Star, Defence Medal and the War Medal 39-45. This medal grouping shows the extent the Polish Forces fought alongside the British and other allies during WWII. Another highly interesting item within the grouping is an American shirt, which has been extensively re-tailored to be a lightweight battledress, the addition of a typical lightweight belt and buckle and to each shoulder a Sergeant’s epaulette has been carefully constructed from the same shirt material, these are a detachable epaulette. There is a good quality Italian made beret, this appears to have been made from probably greatcoat wool, there is an Italian sand cast copy of the Polish eagle badge, the liner is heavily quilted, the leather sweat band is in a brown leather. There is a standard issue side cap however with the small woven badge to the front of the Polish White Eagle. Fully badged Polish uniforms have always been difficult to find, this set represents a classic uniform worn by a combat veteran of the brave Free Polish Forces who fought with such great distinction in the liberation of Europe. |
| FREIKORPS ARMOURED UNIT CRASH HELMET. The first time we have had the pleasure of owning such a piece of headdress,this helmet is pictured on page 131 of the excellent work German Uniforms Insignai and Weapons 1918 - 1923 by Charles Wooley published by Schiffer. this is a lightweight helmet, probably used by motorised troops and flyers during the First World War, the format is extremely close to the normal issue flyers helmet, however the general sizing is smaller. The helmet itself is brown leather in excellent condition, beautiful patination throughout. The rear leather neck flap has a series of stampings, the first relates to the flying establishment at Doberitz and is dated ‘1918’, the second stamp reads ‘Panzer Zug V’. Mounted to the front is a Prussian cockade, below this the zinc deaths head insignia. Some initial research carried out by us reveals that the Freikorps had various armoured car units and an armoured train unit, this armoured train unit appears to be Panzer Zug V, this was part of the Eiserne Division (Iron Division.) that was in operation from the 20.5.1919, this division carried on the regimental tradition established by the Leib Hussar Regiment of wearing the skull, this is the first time we have encountered such a rare item of headdress of this nature. |
| FREIKORPS CUSTOMS FINNISH MEDAL GROUP AND PAPERS. A very interesting grouping of six medals fitted to a medal bar with accompanying citations. Grouping consists of the Third Reich Awarded 1914-18 War Honour Cross with crossed swords. The Silesian Eagle. National Faithful Service Medal for 25 Years. The scarce Customs Long Service Medal with its blue ribbon and embroidered yellow Customs eagle. Social Welfare Medal plus the 1918 Finnish Freedom Medal. Accompanying the medal group are four citations, all awarded to Franz Libera, who was a customs assistant on the 15th October 1934, the National Faithful Service A4 citation punch-holed with one split to Senior Customs Secretary Libera on the 24th January 1941. A 1938 dated Helsinki issued citation for the 1918 All Freedom Medal to Franz Libera, A4 size, four folds, two splits, two punch-holes. A very large format illustrated citation, which was awarded on the 23rd April 1936 with the pen signature of an unidentified SS Oberfuhrer, the citation is to Libera for service in the Freikorps in 1921. |
| FRENCH 1874 GRAS BAYONET. Introduced for the Gras rifle, which was a conversion of the Chassepot rifle, to take the metallic cartridge, this example engraved along the back 'T' shape of blade at 'St.Ettiene 1877'. Some minor black spotting marks to blade. Light rusting to scabbard and cross guard. Undamaged wood grip. Good brass pommel. Scabbard and hilt matching numbers. |
| FRENCH ALGERIAN PERIOD LEGION BERET. A scarce beret being an unissued beret of the early 60’s configuration with the quilted crown and anti moth labelling. This is in a very large size 60 and is completely unworn. There appears to be no wear and a little creasing to the top of the crown. |
| FRENCH ALGERIAN PERIOD PARATROOPERS UNIFORM. Also within our listing we have the windproof uniform of the same soldier, this is his true combat uniform being a French M.56 parachute soldier’s suit, the jacket has been shortened and elasticated having the lower pockets removed, the trousers have been shortened and taken in for a tighter fit. All these refinements are absolutely classic for the French Airborne soldier during the Algerian conflict. The French Airborne were a true elite and wore uniforms according to their status. Also accompanying the lot are the following items:- His M.56 pattern smock, his M.56 pattern trousers and his French lizard camouflage Begard cap. The cap has had the neck flap removed. Again all of these items are very small in size, this was because the original owner was a Vietnamese paratrooper who escaped from Indo China after the fall of the French, many of these soldiers were incorporated into French Parachute Battalions and went straight into combat in Algeria, many of these Vietnamese fought with great honour and settled in France after the Algerian war. This uniform was purchased in a Paris flea market from the deceased's family and subsequently purchased by us. It represents an interesting link in the uniforms of the French Airborne. It is heavily combat used and there are considerable fraying and some rips to the knee area of the trousers as one would expect from combat in the rocky Algerian mountains. The seat of the trousers has some repairs and one small hole. There is some fraying and a few holes to the jacket however the lot remains a highly interesting set, the colours and tones match extremely well |
| FRENCH ALGERIAN WAR PATUGAS BOOTS. The translation from French to English is splashers, these were lightweight canvas and rubber boots which started to be issued during the Indo China war and were highly popular in the hot climate of Algeria. The boots were bought on mass by the army and were an issued item. This particular pair are from army stores and are in absolutely mint unissued condition, the paper tags for the size 47 are still attached to the rear heels. These are made by the company Vernon, there were three or four companies that supplied these direct to the government for issue. They have their original rope inner soles as well as various issue stampings and to the top cuffs the letter ‘E’ is stamped, this is for European. Sizes issued to indigenous troops such as North Africans would have been marked differently. The original laces still remain with the boots and have never been tied through the holes. |
| FRENCH ALGERIAN WAR PERIOD BELT AND WATER BOTTLE. A rare set being the belt and water bottle for the French Airborne soldier known as Tap 53, this equipment was issued from the very late Indo China war period through the entirety of the Algerian war period. The quick release buckle is known as the Rapco buckle. The water bottle set consists of the standard issue cover with the round press studs and appears to be dated ‘55’ to the inner. The water bottle is also dated ‘55’. The two elements are in good used condition, there is a small element of fraying to the belt but remains highly presentable. |
| FRENCH ALGERIAN WAR WINDPROOF SUIT. An exceptionally rare set of camouflage clothing, this clothing was made from unissued British windproof garments, large size trousers were in profusion and were sold to the French. They were extremely popular during the Indo China War period and a vast amount of garments were produced using the material. Immediately after Indo China elite French troops moved to Algeria, they took with them various elements and traditions from Indo China, known as Cadres these were the NCO element of each parachute battalion and they were considered elite in themselves, most of them were Indo China veterans. These men carried on the tradition and would wear uniforms tailored in this cloth. This highly interesting set is tailored in Algeria from British material and has been worn by an indigenous Indo Chinese person who served with one of the French parachute battalions. On evacuation from Indo China the French took many of their indigenous members. This particular set was bought some years ago in a Paris flea market from the family of the deceased soldier. The garments are small, the jacket is a reasonable size and the trousers are short and small however they would be worn with high boots. The tailoring is excellent, there are many refinements, the zip up jacket has a brass Elles zip and is beautifully tailored. On very close examination you can see areas where the original garment was disassembled to make this garment, there is an 11th Parachute Division insignia to the upper arm. The colour and tone match exactly and are very lightly worn. Also in our catalogue we have his '56 pattern combat uniform listed separately. This uniform is one of the hardest to get of all the French Airborne uniforms. |
| FRENCH CAVALRY BOOTS. A rare pair of WWI enlisted mans high cavalry boots. Generally in good condition. Leather slightly stiff in places, which can be remedied by the application of hide food. All of the original laces and leather straps are intact. The soles still have their original hobnails. The condition of the boots are typical of being found in a French barn. |
| FRENCH COLONIAL INFANTRY ADRIAN HELMET. A good 1915 pattern Adrian helmet with the anchor and grenade badge of the Colonial Infantry to the front, this particular helmet was probably worn by a junior officer or a senior NCO and has a deluxe chin strap fitted to the front. The paint is of a mid grey blue colour. The lining is the two-piece mid war black leather type lining. There are some of the corrugations still present. The lining has some areas of rodent chewing, however the overall condition remains good and would display well. The paint patina is excellent with some scratching and a little surface rust. At some time the helmet appears to have had a coat of a wax type polish, this could easily be removed. |
| FRENCH INDO CHINA WAR MODEL 51 STEEL HELMET. A rare steel helmet being the 1951 helmet designed and produced for the French. The helmet basically resembled the M.1 helmet but had a more rounded front. Interestingly this particular example was manufactured in Germany. Germany was then under occupation and a trade agreement was struck, the company of Menesa from Neunkirchen for a short term produced helmets for the French Government, this particular helmet is dated ‘1953’. It is in stored near mint condition and has clearly never been worn. The chinstraps are the early riveted type. The outer helmet is made by the same manufacturer and is clearly stamped ‘1952’. The inner helmet is of the green pressed fibre type and is produced in 1953, the thin leather chinstrap remains intact and all the interior strapping is complete and good. These helmets were worn by non airborne troops during the later period of the Indo China war and throughout the Algerian war. |
| FRENCH M.15 INFANTRY ADRIAN HELMET. A standard example of the WWI French helmet of mid war manufacture being of the matt shade of horizon blue paint. There is some chipping and rust spotting to the exterior. The Infantry badge remains tight to the shell. The chin strap is intact and in place over the brim of the helmet. The liner is the early leather one-piece type with the black woollen head band. All aluminium spacers remain intact. The helmet is in dusty good stored condition. |
| FRENCH M.1892 HAVERSACK. A fine example of the now extremely difficult to find French standard soldier’s muesette bag. These bags were carried in pairs by French soldiers during WWI, the bags in the early brown/red colour are typical of early war and used throughout the WWI period, this particular bag has the soldier’s number stencilled to the exterior flap. The two aluminium Equipenents Militaires are still present, there is faint manufactuer’s stamps to the inner flap. The complete carrying strap is intact with its black japanned buckle. These items of equipment have become very hard to source even in France when completing a French mannequin. |
| FRENCH M.26 ADRIAN HELMET SUPPLIED TO THE SPANISH REPUBLIC. From a highly interesting collection of Spanish Civil War items recently purchased by Regimentals.An exceptionally rare version of the Adrian helmet being the basic French M.26, however with no holes or provision for insignia at the front. In the early part of the Spanish Civil War these helmets were imported by the Spanish Republic. The helmet itself is in dusty stored rusty condition with some light surface pitting. The liner is complete but a little shrunk. The helmet has an old collectors label to the back in Spanish. The chin strap is intact however it is broken at one end. |
| FRENCH MODEL 1874 NCO DRAGOON HELMET. A very fine condition Dragoon helmet for a Senior NCO in a French Dragoon regiment. As in all the European armies there were three levels of ranks, enlisted men, NCO's and officers. Throughout Victorian history the quality and composition of various sorts of headdress were differentiated in minute detail between enlisted men, officers and NCO's. This is a standard model 1874 cavalry skull for French Dragoons and instead of being of polished steel for enlisted men the skull is highly nickel plated as for an officer and with the addition of the officers chin scales with NCO's fitting posts. The skull is generally good, there is one crease to the side of the skull on the right hand side of the helmet. Two of the screws for fitting the comb to the main body are missing, all others are present. All other fittings are complete and in excellent condition. All the velvet backing to the officers model chin scales are present. It has a rather frayed red, white and blue plume to the plume holder on the left hand side. The lining is the standard leather style of the enlisted men. The officers ranks had a gold line running around the inner corners of the leather liner. All of the leather to the interior of the front and back peaks are present with the front leather intact but loose. It is complete with its long horse hair plume. NCO's helmets are generally very difficult to find. |
| FRENCH OR ITALIAN SUPPLIED ADRIAN 1915 HELMET. From a highly interesting collection of Spanish Civil War items recently purchased by Regimentals. This helmet’s long history can be traced back to France in 1915, these helmets were exported to Italy and worn by the Italian Army in the inter-war years, they were then supplied to the Spanish Army mostly of the Fascist side. The helmet is the standard Adrian exterior with comb, however the liner has been replaced by the three pad Spanish type and the Spanish type leather chin strap. The helmet has had many coats of paint, there is considerable rust bleeding through the paint. The front two holes have been blocked, these round holes were where the Italian Army badges were initially attached in the early 20’s. The helmet shows much combat wear and character, it is dusty and in stored condition. |
| FRENCH WAFFEN SS RECRUITING POSTER. A rare poster, which shows a story within 16 images on the whole poster on the benefits of Frenchmen volunteering for the Waffen SS and their fight against communism. Framed, with slight folds showing to the poster. |
| FRENCH WWI ARMY DE AFRIQUE ADRIAN HELMET. A standard horizon blue WWI enlisted mans helmet that has been over painted in the mustard green colour for service in North Africa, for service with the Army De Afrique. Some minor abrasions to the skull with the horizon blue showing through, otherwise excellent condition, complete with its strap. The liner virtually mint with all of its aluminium spacers fitted. |
| FRIEDRICH CHRISTIANSEN ROUND GERMANY FLIGHT TABLE TOP. A magnificent KPM manufactured porcelain table top measuring 20 x 24 inches being a complete map of Germany in a one piece multi coloured porcelain showing the route map of the Round Germany Air Race in 1935, this being the honour prize. It is KPM marked to the lower right hand corner, completely undamaged, mounted in a contemporary table top on four legs, this item originally came from the household and estate of the WWI Pour Le Merite Winner, head of the DLV, commander in chief of the Luftwaffe in Holland during WWII, Luftwaffe Field Marshall Friedrich Christiansen. |
| FUHRER-HAUPTQUARTIER ALBUM, DOCUMENT AND CUFF TITLE GROUPING. An ultra rare grouping of insignia, passes and photograph albums belonging to Obergefreiter Karl Mockel, who was a member of the Wach Kompanie Fuhrer Hauptquartier in December 1940 and a member of the Fuhrer Headquarter Protection Company in February 1941, from the 26th June 1940. Album one is a standard ‘IN MY SERVICE TIME’ album, which has the Third Reich eagle affixed to the exterior of the cover with the swastika removed. The album contains 212 excellent images. Virtually every image is annotated. The album begins in his training period, barrack life, training in the field, parades. He was then involved in the invasion of the Sudetenland and then Czechoslovakia. Images of German troops in Prague, standing on guard outside the Reichschancellory. Parades in Munich, being reviewed by high ranking officers. Train movements of troops. The beginning of the war with images in Danzig. Occupation of Poland images. German staff cars. A wonderful shot of possibly his own tunic hanging up with the Fuhrer-Hauptquartier cuff title clearly viewed with his identity tag strung around the jacket. Excellent private close-up shots of Adolf Hitler arriving, surrounded by SS officers, all wearing crusher caps. The invasion of France. A great shot of an SS officer wearing an overseas cap with his Totenkopf collar patch clearly being viewed, drinking from a bottle in the hot sun of the summer of 1940. A casual shot taken of Adolf Hitler as he walks out of a building in a forest area during the campaign in France. Herman Goering wearing his white top cap, also casually walking. Guard surrounding what we presume is Hitler’s headquarters. Scenes in the forest of Compigne showing the WWI Armistice carriage. A series of shots, which we assume to be part of a set that could be purchased of the German officers moving towards the surrender ceremony of the French Government, followed by more private shots of Herman Goering at the same ceremony. Paris shots. Damaged French towns. More tourist shots of Paris. Goering, again, wearing a white top cap. Occupation images of France. A picture of a German military wooden headstone of Karl Mockel, which reads he was killed on the 13th September 1941. The second album is a grained leather covered album with the heavily silver embossed Third Reich eagle and swastika all complete with silver block to the base of the album ‘1.KOMPANIE FUHRER-HAUPTQUARTIER’. On opening the album there is a citation, which is glued to the first page of the album to Karl Mockel in an Honour Citation stating that he served from the 22nd August 1939 to the 18th February 1941 in the Wach Kompanie Fuhrer-Hauptquartier. Placed inside this album is his shooting lanyard. The album contains 75 images. At the beginning of the album there are some magnificent shots of Adolf Hitler and his entourage, being a member of the Fuhrer-Hauptquartier Mockel would have had plenty of opportunity to take photographs of Adolf Hitler. Images of his private train. Close-ups of Hans Baur, Hitler’s pilot standing next to a Fiesler Storch. More close-ups of Hitler’s private train with the anti aircraft gunners on a carriage in the middle of the train. Meetings with General Franco. Images on the West Coast of France and the South West Coast of France and German troops with Spanish border guards at the Spanish border. Two postcard size images of Adolf Hitler and Herman Goering walking together. More private shots of Hitler and his large automobile. More Spanish border shots. The remainder of the album being French occupation. The Wherpass of Karl Mockel in civil dress, born in 1916. Page 12 showing records of units from 1938 through to 13th September 1941, which clearly shows service with the Fuhrer Headquarters unit. Page 23 shows promotions from Gefreiter to Obergefreiter. Also showing the award of the Infantry Assault Badge in 1941. Page 32 shows his record of field service from 1st September 1939 until his death in Febuarary 1942, page 38 show s the award of the Entry into Prague medal, the actual medal is with the group with its Prague castle bar attached, A very large parchement award document for the shooting award 1 st class, Also the actual shooting award is with the group, and last the very rare Bevo woven in gold Gothic weave on Black Fuhrer Haupt Quartier cuff title with the male part of the male female attachment system fitted to the interior of the title for fitting to the tunic when needed. |
| G43 LEATHER POUCH. A scarce original single twin compartment ammunition pouch for the G.43. These were issued and most men carried only one pair of these pouches. Over the years many copies have originated from the Eastern Block of these ammunition pouches, however original stock was also found. This is 100% original pouch in the mid thickness black leather. The copy pouches are extremely good, however the leather is ridiculously thin. These have a late war feel about them and to the inside of one of the pouches there is the BLA code and the 1944 date deeply stamped. The condition is dusty and stored but clearly unissued. The reverse belt mounting straps are in the brown and the D ring clamp is in black. A scarce item of late war infantry field equipment for the G43 semi automatic rifle. |
| GAU ESSEN BELT BUCKLE. The ultra rare SS buckle of Gau Essen. We have probably only had two other in 30 years, this example is in mint condition with all its original paint finish, complete with its high nickel plated double pronged fixing. The Gau Essen buckle was a semi unofficial buckle for SS units in the Essen district. Totally unmarked, as all these examples are. |
| GENERAL GORING ENLISTED MANS CUFF TITLE. A heavily mothed cuff title for Regiment General Goring. The title is still folded and stitched as removed from the tunic, we have done our best to illustrate the moth damage to both the face and reverse side of the title. The silver/white machine embroidery of the lettering in excellent quality. |
| GENERAL OF PANZER TROOPS WALTER NEHRING SIGNATURE. The full signature of the well known Panzer troops General, namely in Africa, of Walter Kurt Nehring. Signature in pencil on an April 1945 awarding letter for the Iron Cross to members of the 24th Panzer Korps, January 1945. The letter states that two were killed, 18 wounded and 28 people put out of action through other reasons. Accompanying the letter is a post war signed photograph of Walter Nehring signed in felt pen. He is wearing his tropical uniform with tropical General's visored field cap. Commander of the 1st Panzer Army, he was awarded the Oak Leaves & Swords and was a well known figure in the German Armoured Forces. |
| GEORGIAN FELDWEBELS SHOULDER BOARDS. This pair are the typical wider Eastern volunteer style piped in pink artificial silk with 3 army pattern aluminium tress bars horizontally machined across the body of the boards. |
| GERMAN 2ND PATTERN E BOAT BADGE. A very good example of the Schwerin produced 2nd pattern E Boat badge, the face side retains much of its original gilt with some rubbing to the high spots, which includes the tips of the wings, the bow of the torpedo boat and the tips of the laurel leaves to the wreath. To the reverse side, which normally has a blackened finish, the majority of the blackened finish is missing except in the protected area below the horizontal wide tapering fixing pin. The award still has its uniform retaining hook and is also complete with the designer and maker’s name of ‘Schwerin, Berlin’ in raised relief, there is some bubbling to the plating. |
| GERMAN ADOLF GALLAND SIGNATURE. A magnificent postcard size Hoffmann portrait of the famous WWII fighter pilot Adolf Galland, hatless, wearing his Knights Cross and Oak Leaves at neck, pen signed across the base of the postcard. This is a WWII period signature. On the reverse side of the card it is dated ’20.5.43’ plus the original sender’s name and address. Some time ago we purchased a complete collection of signed Knights Cross Winners photographs all from Rudolf Schneider of Munchen 19, this is from that collection. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS BREECHES. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The Afrika Korps breeches were constructed in three different types of material, lightweight tropical cotton, a medium weight and heavy weight whip cord, these are the most desirable of the three constructions being the heavy weight ribbed whipcord. Unused condition, complete with their hidden three pronged waist belt. Clearly maker stamped to the interior cotton lining, plus profuse size stampings. No moth, damage or staining. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS CUFF TITLE. A mint version of the block capital silver woven AFRIKA KORPS cuff title, but stitches visible where removed from a tunic. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS IMAGE. A superb image of an Afrika Korps NCO measuring 6½ x 9 inches. The image shows the Nco wearing his totally bleached 1st pattern field cap with soutache intact, his matching bleached tunic with his NCO lace clearly evident to the collar and the edge of the shoulder boards. The image is dated ‘1943’ on the hard card frame, which is stamped with a Vienna photographic studio name and address. We can only assume that the picture was taken in North Africa in the field and with the negative sent home to Austria and developed and mounted at that stage, unfortunately the original wooden mounted frame is missing. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS MOUNTAIN TROOPERS OVERSEAS CAP. Many years ago a large quantity of enlisted ranks overseas caps were discovered in Austria, the majority of them were without soutache, a small proportion were, the were hoarded in the main by one collector who has recently released a number onto the market. This example is a large size, 59, clearly maker marked, mint unissued condition complete with its correct blue on brown Bevo woven eagle and correct tan backed tropical cockade, which is surrounded by the inverted V of mountain green waffenfarbe. Standard red lining. Virtually all of these caps were stamped with the numbers ‘1142’ to the interior, nobody has ever been able to find out the reason for this numbered stamping. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS PANZER ENLISTED MANS OVERSEAS CAP. Many years ago a large quantity of unissued Afrika Korps enlisted mans overseas caps were discovered in Austria, many without waffenfarbe and some with, this is one of that group. It is a good size ‘57’, standard tropical blue on brown Bevo woven insignia fitted, with the inverted pink waffenfarbe for Panzer troops. The interior red lining Magdenberg maker marked with the numbers ‘8’ or ‘342’ stamped to the inner lining, it has never been discovered what these numbers have stood for. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS STRAIGHT LEG TROUSERS. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An absolutely mint unworn pair of Afrika Korps straight leg trousers. No moth or damage, however they have been discoloured slightly where some areas have been exposed to sunlight storage. Large size. Complete with their three pronged hidden belt. Profusely stamped with the designation ‘M.41’ plus RB numbers to the white cotton lining. |
| GERMAN AFRIKA KORPS TROPHELM. A slightly misshaped example of the Afrika Korps trophelm, the main body is good and firm with minor moth damage to the crown, slightly discoloured air vent dome, complete with both of its metal army decals attached. Also complete with its original chin strap. The sweat band is in excellent condition. The interior is maker marked and dated ‘1942’. |
| GERMAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCATION POLE TOP. One of the most impressive of all of the banner tops of the Third Reich is the pole top of the Reich Agricultural Assocation. The swastika from tip to tip measures 8½ inches. The overall height from the top to base of the pole top is 14 inches. Some small particles of nickel plating lifting slightly from the central nickel swastika. All of the brass finish to the sword and wheat sheaf complete. The plating is slightly lifting from the base of the top. |
| GERMAN AIR WAR WEAPONS BOOK. A very good book entitled ‘Die Waffen Der Luftstreitkrafte’ (The Weapons of the Air War). Published in 1935 this much illustrated book containing 275 pages shows the weapons used in the air war through from WWI up to and including 1935. On the early pages which cover WWI there are very good close-ups of the Flechettes that were dropped from aircraft, good close-ups of the aerial machine guns used in air combat in WWI and all of their various mountings, followed by all of the types of bombs used in WWI and the post war era. Superb close-up details of the Scarf and other mountings for the Lewis machine guns of WWI and many German aircraft. Aerial tactics for both fighter planes and bombers. An excellent book for the aviation historian and researcher. |
| GERMAN ALLGEMEINE SS BELT BUCKLE. The all one-piece stamped nickel buckle manufactured by O & C, which is generally regarded as the buckle worn by the Allgemeine SS. This O & C buckle is slightly smaller than the standard Waffen SS examples. It is marked 'O & C Ges.Gesch' on the reverse side. It has both of its fixing prongs for the belt leather. There is evidence of some minor corrosion to the right hand side on the face. The detail is excellent. |
| GERMAN ANTI SEMITIC LAPEL BADGE. A German made 'Ges Gesch' stamped on the reverse side high quality badge in red, yellow, blue, black and green enamels, surmounted by a crown and a Coat of Arms. In the black scroll is the gold lettering 'Kampf u Tod' followed by 'Dir Alljuda'. The central image is of a black hand strangling a serpent. After research we have discovered that the term 'Alljuda' is a Hegelian term for the Synthesis of Judaism and Zionism. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES 7 X 50 DIENSTGLAS. An unusual pair of the standard 7 x 50 Dienstglas. Marked to the frame 'Dienstglas 7 x 50,' issue number then coding 'PEH' with a plus sign below. Optics are good and complete with their original strap. Unusually the body is painted in the same colour grey green paint as the heavy submarine commanders binoculars. One of the eye pieces is slightly discoloured. Some abrasions to the paint finish. All adjusters to the eye pieces are working correctly. In it's original leather carrying case, which is '1943' dated and Waffen Amt stamped. Good white stitching to case. Complete with it's belt loop. A German K98 rifle strap has been utilised as a shoulder carrying strap. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES CLOSE COMBAT BAR. Excellent condition Close Combat Bar that was possibly originally bronze, has toned to a grey finish overall. Non maker marked, convex shape, wide tapering fluted pin to the reverse side. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES COMBAT BAR IN BRONZE. A F.L.L produced semi convex version of the Army Close Combat Bar in bronze. At least 50% of the original finish remaining in the lower areas of the award. Wide tapering flat pin with the designer's name 'Peekhaus of Berlin' in riased relief to the reverse side, with the maker mark 'FLL' fro Friedrich Linden. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES COMBAT BREAD BAG. An absolutely text book example of the bread bag carried by the Army and SS troops. The bag is in way above average stored condition and shows little or no service use whatsoever. All buttons are present. The belt-mounting hook is also present. The colour is a good strong reed green. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES COMBAT Y STRAPS. An excellent condition pair of the all leather with metal fitting combat Y straps used for load carrying. Black with brown trimmings. The metal fittings have a very light covering of rust with the fittings retaining virtually all their original paint. All of the white stitching clearly visible. A better pair would be difficult to find. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GAITERS. The German gaiters were always available on the collectors market in huge quantities, they are now scarce. This mint unissued pair in grey green canvas with their black leather fittings are mint with all white stitching clearly visible. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. An excellent solid construction General Assault Badge in silver having excellent detail to the crossed bayonet and grenade. Good finish remaining. Heavily manufacturer marked ‘F.O’ into the solid casting on the reverse side. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Finish toned overall but excellent detail to the down swept wing eagle. Solid construction. Non maker marked. A slightly distorted pin to the reverse side. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. A good solid construction General Assault Badge in silver. The silver finish remaining within the lower areas of the face side of the award. Good detail to the crossed bayonet and grenade with fine detail to the downswept winged eagle. The reverse side has the maker's mark of Assmann in raised relief. Thick needle vertical pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. The finish to the face side of this JFS produced award has toned to grey. Good detail overall. On the reverse side the maker mark 'JFS' within a square block. Thick needle vertical pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES GREY COMBAT SHIRT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A good example of the pocketless grey pullover shihrt worn by German Army and SS personnel. Pull over the head style. Three button closure with card buttons complete. Both of the long sleeve closure buttons present. Stamped size ‘5’. Some obvious wear use. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Excellent detail to the down swept wing national eagle. Fine detail to the K 98 bayonet with all silver finish remaining overall. Solid construction. Non maker marked. Flat back, thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Good finish remaining, slight toning. Good depth of detail to the badge overall. Flat back. Non maker marked. Solid construction. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. The award retaining all of its original silvering. Superb depth of detail to the down swept wing eagle and leaves of the wreath. Semi solid construction to the reverse side. Non maker marked. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMED FORCES KRIM SHIELD. A very good Krim Shield with all its original finish remaining on its field grey green backing cloth. The paper backing is missing. |
| GERMAN ARMY ARTILLERY ENLISTED MANS/NCO'S VISOR CAP. An interesting and excellent condition Army Artillery enlisted mans/NCO's visor cap constructed in officers quality material. The upper part of the cap is completely free of any moth damage. The red artillery waffenfarbe standing out proudly against the field grey green colour of the upper part of the cap and the slightly earlier period colour of the green centre band. The middle period of the Reichswehr army caps are of a semi light coloured green. The Third Reich period dark green, this would appear to be an interim colour used, dating the cap to the middle 30's. Interestingly on inspecting the interior of the cap, folded newspaper has been used to make the sides of the cap a snugger fit and the date of the newspaper is October 1934. The exterior insignia is matching stamped aluminium both in colour and quality. The national cockade is of the smaller variety indicating the earlier period manufacture. Standard patent leather chin strap with standard visor with some light crazing. The form of the cap is between a Tellerform and a saddle form. The interior leather sweat band is all intact but has been split in half in the forehead area. It is all intact and fitting well to the main body of the cap. It retains much of its mid tan colour, although there is age foxing evident. The main body of the interior is lined in gold artificial silk. The central celluloid lozenge is virtually complete with a couple of broken edges with the trade name in black 'Pekuros'. Also to the interior of the sweat band is a rather indistinct regimental stamping. |
| GERMAN ARMY BEVO WOVEN BREAST EAGLE. The rectangular form Bevo woven breast eagle, grey on green, for the Army enlisted mans tunic. Cut from roll. |
| GERMAN ARMY BEVO WOVEN BREAST EAGLE. The M.44 style triangular form Bevo woven breast eagle, grey on green, for the army personnel combat tunic. Mint unissued, cut from roll. |
| GERMAN ARMY CAVALRY OFFICERS CAP BY EREL. A superb condition high quality Erel produced cavalry officers visor cap constructed in the finest quality officers Melton cloth. No moth damage to anywhere on the exterior of the cap. The golden yellow cavalry waffenfarbe standing out proudly against the field grey green of the upper part of the cap and the dark green wool centre band. The Armed Forces eagle and cockade both in good quality stamped aluminium and matching colour and quality. Between the eagle and the cockade is a nickel plated tradition skull indicating that the owner was 4th Squadron, 13th Reiter Regiment and in 1939 became 2nd Company of the 13th Cavalry Regiment. Standard officers silver cap cords. The twin side buttons have dulled slightly. The interior mid tan sweat band is of the paper ersatz variety and has a total of five splits to the paper but is all intact and fitted correctly to the cap. The complete interior body is lined in gold artificial silk. The central celluloid lozenge is all intact with a good clear 'Erel Sonderklass' silvered lozenge shape trademark below the ceulloid. |
| GERMAN ARMY CHILD’S CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM. A wonderful piece of children’s uniform, obviously made by a father for his son, being the M.44 army blouse, constructed in child’s size in camouflage zeltbahn material. A Bevo woven M.43 field cap or overseas cap eagle has been triangular stitched to the upper right breast. Accompanying the jacket are a most wonderful pair of moccasins of which the soles have been thickly constructed of zeltbahn cloth over cardboard with the upper foot part constructed in a herringbone twill material with the interior heel area strengthened with a pair of Luftwaffe signals enlisted ranks shoulder straps. A highly unusual item. |
| GERMAN ARMY COMBAT BUCKLE. The aluminium one-piece stamped army belt buckle which has seen service wear to the face side. Marked ‘R S & S’ in raised relief to the reverse side. Complete with its leather tab, which has faint traces of its original circular maker’s mark and date stamp to the leather. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN ARMY DRIVING MITTENS A mint pair of army driver's fingerless mittens. Maker marked. Dated 1942 |
| GERMAN ARMY FIELD POLICE OLD STYLE OFFICERS CRUSHER CAP. A heavily worn and moth damaged old style crusher cap for a field police officer. A rare piece of headdress, unfortunately in rather distressed condition. A good size cap constructed in officer quality smooth material. The crown of the cap is moth free, there is damage to the area between the upper waffenfarbe and the top of the dark green centre band, mainly in the area close to the national eagle and the reverse side waffenfarbe. The insignia fitted is of the correct officers Bevo flat silver wire to both the eagle and the cockade. The peak is of the soft crushable style. Leather sweatband fitted, which is all complete showing evidence of wear. The interior is fully lined in a mid grey artificial silk. The centre celluloid lozenge is complete. In the area between the lozenge and the inner crown lining the original maker’s paper label has degraded into small pieces and cannot be read. A rare visor cap of the Third Reich, which in excellent condition would command a price in the area of £2,000. Price according to the condition. £675 |
| GERMAN ARMY FUR BACK PACK. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The standard fur back pack in grey green canvas, the exterior fur in excellent non-mothed condition. All of the leather strapping and buckles are strong and complete. A wooden/leather tag is attached to the back pack with the original owner’s name and service number. Interestingly although this is definitely a WWII period M.34 pack the manufacturer or the ordnance repair department has used old stock, one of the shoulder straps is clearly maker marked and dated ‘1916’ plus ‘Army Group 10 1916’ marked. The buckles on that strap are clearly of WWI vintage. |
| GERMAN ARMY GENERAL’S UNIFORM PHOTOS AND FAMILY ALBUM. An interesting group of photographs laid into a modern folder of General Major Kurt Lange, born December 1891, died December 1967. He entered the army in 1912, rose through various ranks in the Imperial Army followed by the Reichswehr and subsequently the army of the Third Reich. He was Commander of 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry Regiment from 1938 to 1939. Commander of two other infantry regiments and was Commandant of the City of Salzburg in Spring 1945. He was a prisoner of war from the 8th May 1945 to June 1947. Three postcard size shots, one wearing a Generals uniform hatless, another wearing his Generals uniform, Generals greatcoat and Generals visor cap, another seated at his desk in Generals uniform, hatless. To the reverse side of the image with his full Generals uniform on including his hat there is an eight line inscription written in his own hand describing his war service, there follows 16 further images of all different sizes mainly of Kurt Lange both in his Generals uniforms, one is obviously an image that came out of his wherpass as it has the over stamp, there are pictures of him as a junior officer, post war pictures, a 1966 identity card, a wartime 1941 to 44 ausweiss of who appears to be his daughter, images of himself as a Reichwehr officer on horseback in WWI inform, family outings at the Feldherrenhalle in Munich. Accompanied by an old family album which has photographs which appear to be from the pre WWI and just post WWI era, some uniform shots. One single framed photograph of Lange as a junior officer in WWI with a group of fellow officers. |
| GERMAN ARMY GREY WOOL PULLOVER SHIRT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. The scarce all grey wool pullover shirt worn by many German Army personnel including Panzer troops. Two upper pleated pockets with cardboard buttons. Five button closing front with pointed collar. Long sleeve with matching card buttons. Completely unused and unissued. Mint condition. |
| GERMAN ARMY HERRINGBONE TWILL COMBAT UNIFORM. A scarce herringbone twill combat uniform of matching jacket and trousers, worn by an Obergefreiter in a signals unit. The four pocket tunic constructed on the model 42 style without pleats and with matching collar, six button front, constructed in the herringbone twill utility material. To the left hand sleeve is the double inverted chevron of an Army Obergefreiter. The collar patches are Bevo woven universal pattern grey on grey. The shoulder boards are of the late war field grey cloth with artificial silk lemon yellow piping, the base of the shoulder boards has one strip of artificial silk lining being the utility pattern. The breast eagle is of the Bevo grey on green type, which is cross hatched stitched directly to the uniform. There is one bottom button missing. There are no snags, wear or damage to any part of the tunic. The trousers which are the far rarer part of the uniform and are very difficult to obtain are in excellent condition, they are modelled on the M.36 straight legged trousers with two slashed side pockets without flaps, one buttoned rear pocket without a flap, two waist adjusters, one watch fob pocket with extra loops for a wide waist belt. No moth, damage or staining. |
| GERMAN ARMY INFANTRY EM/NCO'S EREL PRODUCED VISOR CAP. A very fine quality Erel produced visor cap for an infantry NCO or enlisted man. This is the highest quality officer material with its very distinctive white piping set against the field grey green at the upper part of the cap and the darker green of the centre wool band. There is a small area of moth tracking just to the right hand overhang of the cap. Two moth nips to the very rear of the dark green centre band. The insignia is totally original to the cap and match exactly with frosted finishes to both the eagle and the cockade. Standard enlisted man/NCO's strap. To the interior the mid tan sweat band shows light wear use, it is all intact and undamaged. The interior foam rubber cushion is intact but has slightly gummified, which is making the interior sweat band very tacky and making it difficult to pull the sweat band down for inspection in the forehead area. The interior of the cap lined in beautiful artificial gold silk, clearly Erel silver blocked behind the complete and undamaged centre celluloid lozenge, with the original owner's name 'Reitz' finely embroidered in red showing him to be a member of 6./J.R.36. |
| GERMAN ARMY INFANTRY REGIMENT 17 NCO’S/EM VISOR CAP. A superb condition very large size saddle form visor cap for an enlisted man or NCO in Infantry Regiment 17. The cap is constructed from officers material, the crown having slight moth tracking. On pulling down the sweatband it is clearly regimentally marked to Cavalry Regiment 17. The insignia to the cap is a matched set of aluminium national eagle and cockade, placed between the eagle and the cockade is the large elongated skull associated with this regiment. Accompanying the cap is a wall plaque and attached to that wall plaque is a metal epaulette with the number ‘17’ with the Cavalry Regiment skull fitted below. The Totenkopf tradition badge was worn by the regimental staff plus the 1st and 2nd Battalion Headquarters, 1st, 4th, 13th and 14th Companies of Infantry Regiment 17. It was also worn by the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Squadron of Reiter Regiment 13. It is extremely rare to get any Armed Forces cap, especially of the later style that is regimentally proofed, so many visor caps have had these tradition badges added over the years and we have here a truly original example. |
| GERMAN ARMY LATE WAR PRINTED BREAST EAGLE. A mint condition rare late war printed breast eagle for the Army. |
| GERMAN ARMY LIGHTER SHADE OVERSEAS CAP EAGLE. A lighter shade of overseas cap eagle, beautifully Bevo woven grey on green cut from roll. |
| GERMAN ARMY M 40 SINGLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. A good size C.66 M40 shell that does have some minor old corrosion around the edges and on one side of the crown coming through the metalwork but good paint finish remaining as well. The army single decal is clear but slightly disfigured by rust patches. The liner retaining rivet heads match. The interior leather liner is all complete, it would appear that some form of tar or glue has been dropped into the inner bowl at some time, a small portion has affected two of the leather tongues. There are traces of the original owner’s name applied to the leather. The helmet is with its original chin strap which is maker marked to the very tip but because of abrasions to the leather in that area it is not readable. A good untouched M.40 army combat helmet. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.1938 OVERSEAS CAP. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. An excellent condition M.1938 overseas cap, good nap to the cloth, fitted with the Bevo woven eagle, which is very finely machined to the cap with a hand applied Bevo woven national cockade below. Grey ribbed cotton lining. The cap is unusual in its construction, the side scallop of the cap has not been made in one piece, but with the front made from scraps from the floor. Some evidence of light wear use to the interior with sweat staining. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.35 SINGLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. A good NS66 German Army double decal combat helmet reduced to a single decal as per the 1940 regulations. The exterior shell retains virtually all its original apple green finish with minor abrasions. The Armed Forces decal, which has turned a light hew of gold over the past 65 years, has minor chipping as can be seen from our web images. The evidence of where the national tricolour has been removed is clear. The paint has remained to all of the three liner retaining rivet heads. The chinstrap is clearly marked ‘E.E.K.KOB.41’. To the interior rear skirt is the original owner’s name ‘Uffz.Fulle’. The interior liner has evidence of wear use but still retains virtually all of its original light tan colour and is with its original drawstring. The aluminium liner band has its sharp edged buckle strap connectors. A rare helmet. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.38 FIELD CAP. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very good example, large size, M.38 enlisted mans field cap. Good nap to cloth with its cross hatch stitched grey on green Bevo woven eagle and matching stitched cockade. One moth hole to the right hand side of the cap as the cap is worn. Heavily maker mark stamped to the interior with size 58 and a clear full date of ‘1940’. Condition: |
| GERMAN ARMY M.43 CAP EAGLE AND COCKADE. Mint condition, cut from roll M.43 cap eagle, one piece woven with the multi coloured national cockade below. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.43 ENLISTED RANKS TUNIC. A very fine condition Army M.43 four pocket combat tunic. Four non pleated pockets, six button front. All nap to the cloth present in the very dark grey green, typical of the late war cloth. The insignia fitted is a set of all matching cloth late war lemon/yellow silk piped shoulder boards indicating a member of a Signals unit with the cloth matching the tunic identically. The collar patches are the universal grey on grey type with a Bevo woven grey on green breast eagle applied directly through the lining. Size stamped to the grey green artificial silk lining with RB numbers and date ‘1943’ to the bandage pocket. All of the integral canvas belt support loops are intact. A superb example. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.43 FIELD CAP. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very good example of the M.43 field cap. Good nap to its heavy duty enlisted mans quality cloth. The insignia fitted is the one-piece Bevo grey on green triangular formed eagle with its own internal multi coloured national cockade. In the area just above the eagle’s head the Bevo weave has separated slightly from the edge stitching. To the interior grey cotton lining is depot marked ‘E’ (Erfurt) ‘43’ followed by RB numbers and the size ‘58’. |
| GERMAN ARMY M.43 VISORED FIELD CAP. An unusual construction of the M.43 enlisted mans visored field cap with the front of the hat having no provision of buttons for turning down the sides and no side air vent. Constructed in the standard grey green woolly material. Good nap to the cloth. The insignia fitted is of the Bevo grey on green enlisted ranks eagle with a separate matching cockade below. The interior, which shows very slight evidence of wear, is lined in the heavy grey cotton twill lining material. It has a large oval stamp of the manufacturer ‘Paul Wagermann of Bad Canstatt’ and is of a large size, stamped ‘60’. We believe this to be an M.38 side cap which has had a factory applied visor attached, on close inspection there is a very slight difference in colour between the cloth of the visor and the cloth of the main body of the cap. |
| GERMAN ARMY MAJOR'S GERMAN CROSS IN SILVER DOCUMENTATION GROUP. A very scarce document group including a soldbuch entry for the award of the German Cross in Silver to Major Otto Giese. Otto Giese was Officer Commanding 3rd Company, the 422nd Corps Signals Battalion of the 22nd Army Corps. This very rare document group comprises Giese's original issue soldbuch and seven very fine hand written/drawn and illustrated documents, five congratulating him on reaching his 40th birthday and two on his award of the German Cross in Silver, which in itself is a very rare decoration. Although the actual awards themselves, there are many available on the collectors market, it is considered that only 1200 were actually issued and awarded. The German Cross in Silver was awarded to him on the 30th January 1945 for the significant role he played as Chief Signals Officer in Corps and Army headquarters. Only 900 of the Silver Crosses were awarded to members of the German Army, the remainder were awarded to other services including the Waffen SS. Born on the 29th January 1905 in Hannover, he was married and living in Hamburg. He enlisted in the German Army in 1932 and became a regular officer and belonged to the Signals Corps. He saw active service throughout WWII, Poland 1939, France 1940, Russia 1941 to 43, France 1944 (Normandy) and finally the Ardennes offensive in 7.44. He commanded the Signals Company, Division and Corps Signal Battalions and finally complete Army Signals Regiments. His main awards were the Iron Cross 2nd Class, 20.6.1940, the Iron Cross 1st Class 9.7.1940, the German Cross in Silver 30.1.1945. His soldbuch was issued on the 27th August 1939 and is in a well used condition. It is his original soldbuch which he carried throughout WWII with an excellent photograph of him as a Major on the inside cover, wearing his uniform, hatless. As well as the awards mentioned there are Long Service awards, the Medal in the East, also the War Service Medal 2nd Class. Of the other documents the first is a superb hand drawn A4 size card in colour with the National Army emblem at the top with gothic style text and a very fine drawing of the German Cross in Silver, above the text within a green border with oak leaves and acorns at the four corners. The page is tied within a folder by a white silk cord. The remainder of the cards are absolutely superb hand drawn artwork which we have illustrated in our web images. Accompanying this rare soldbuch and its accompanying documents are 55 superbly researched pages on the whole course of the war for Major Giese and the units he served in or commanded. Many other pages of research accompanied by maps of the areas involved. This wonderful research was put together by the previous owner of this document group, the foremost researcher in the United Kingdom of this type of item, a former British Armoured Corps officer. This is a commission sale and unfortunately no trade or part exchanges can be considered. |
| GERMAN ARMY MOUNTAIN TROOP OFFICERS VISOR CAP. An unusually constructed mountain troop officers visor cap, the main body being in an enlisted ranks thick heavy quality wool with no moth damage to the upper side of the cap, with the exception of one moth nip to the mountain green waffenfarbe in the crown area. The item has matching mountain green waffenfarbe to either side of the dark green heavy wool centre band. The insignia fitted is completely matching with a dark toned national eagle and metal stamped cockade. Slightly oxidised silver wire officers cap cords. Standard fibre peak. The interior sweatband is in light tan and is of the ersatz canvas material with an imitation leather covering, some of the leather covering has flaked away from the canvas. The upper inner crown lining is of a very lightweight mid tan cotton with a lighter shade of the same weight material being used for the side inner lining. The centre celluloid triangle which has its retailers gold blocked marking is present but is cracked. Slight water staining to the interior upper crown. |
| GERMAN ARMY MOUNTAIN TROOPERS NCO/EM VISOR CAP. A very fine officer quality saddle shaped visor cap, large size, possibly 59 or 60. The upper part of the cap is constructed in very fine officers quality material. No moth to the crown or at any part of the exterior of the cap. The mountain green waffenfarbe is standing out proudly against the field grey green of the cap and the dark green of the central wool band. Matching stamped aluminium insignia with the metal mountain troopers edelweiss badge between the eagle and the cockade. Standard leather strap. The interior sweat band is of the grey ersatz material which has had one split collector repaired and other minor abrasions. The orange foam forehead cushion is in place and has not solidified or gummified. The upper inner crown lining is in a grey artificial silk. The central celluloid lozenge is all in place and undamaged with only faint outline of the Klagenfurt retailer's name visible, this was originally silvered to the exterior of the lozenge but the silvering has disappeared. This is a very unusual Austrian maker. The interior side lining of the cap is in a lightweight grey cotton. A very fine cap. |
| GERMAN ARMY MOUNTAIN TROOPERS VISOR CAP. A good Erel produced mountain troop officers visor cap constructed in the soft officers material. One moth nip to the side overhang of the cap. Good dark green centre band with contrasting mountain green waffenfarbe. Officers cap cords. Matching national eagle and cockade. The cap is approximately size 56 of late war production by Erel. The sweat band is intact with obvious wear use of the ersatz variety. The gold silk lining with heavy staining to the crown area. The celluloid lozenge has disappeared but leaving the Erel Sonderklass silver blocked marking still good and clear. |
| GERMAN ARMY NCO'S BEVO WOVEN BREAST EAGLE. A mint condition very finely silver Bevo woven on field grey green backing cloth breast eagle, which is then laid onto a section of field grey green wool cloth for affixing to the upper right hand breast of an Army NCO's tunic. |
| GERMAN ARMY OFFICERS BELT BUCKLE. The all aluminium circular buckle used in an unfinished aluminium colour on the Third Reich officers parade belt, also rarely used on a leather combat belt. |
| GERMAN ARMY OFFICERS DAGGER BY ALCOSO. A very fine condition Alcoso produced German Army officers dagger. The blade is excellent with virtually all of its cross grain finish remaining with very minor stain marks. White grips totally undamaged. All of the fittings, which include the pommel, cross guard and scabbard all match exactly in colour with the cross guard having the unique style of Alcoso outspread winged national eagle. The dagger is fitted with its original silvered wire bullion knot with the scabbard totally undented. |
| GERMAN ARMY OFFICERS DAGGER WITH INSCRIPTION TO THE BLADE. An extremely good condition standard German Army officers dagger with an excellent blade by WKC of Solingen with all the cross grain finish remaining. Very minor spotting to the tip area. Deeply engraved in Latin script to the front face side flat section of the blade ‘DEM BESTEN SCHUTZEN DES INF.RGT.62’. the engraving to the INF and the RGT is slightly thin where it has worn against the internal scabbard retaining bands, however still good and absolutely clear. The grip of the deep orange variation, all of the fittings, which include the top pommel, the cross guard and the scabbard all identical in colour, all having a good dark patina finish and good deep detail to the oak leaves on the pommel, the eagle on the cross guard and the pebbling to the scabbard. At the very base of the scabbard there is one indentation on the reverse side. The dagger is fitted with its original heavy silver portapee knot and a set of the deluxe style hangers, which retain much of their original frosted finish with some light oxidisation to one of the oval strap buckles. |
| GERMAN ARMY OFFICERS M.42 OVERSEAS CAP. An extremely scarce piece of Third Reich headdress being the M.42 overseas cap constructed in enlisted mans quality but with officers silver waffenfarbe fitted to the crown. It should be emphasised that this not a standard factory produced enlisted mans piece of headdress with officers silver piping added later, the piping has been fitted to the hat from its original manufacturer. This is a scarce piece of headdress. There is approximately ¾ inch section of the silver waffenfarbe in the front crown area which has become shredded away from the main body. There is one moth hole to the crown with another smaller hole close to the front closing area of the cap. It is fitted with its original single T section Bevo woven enlisted ranks grey on green national eagle with the national multi coloured cockade below. The interior is lined in heavy duty cotton twill in a grey green colour. The hat is stamped size ‘57’. |
| GERMAN ARMY OFFICERS M.43 FIELD CAP. A good example of the officers M.43 field cap, constructed in enlisted ranks quality cloth. Silver waffenfarbe to crown. The insignia fitted is the rare one-piece heavy silver wire weave eagle and national cockade below on a one-piece T shaped green backing cloth. The interior shows considerable wear use with much sweat staining to the interior half sized leather forehead sweat band. The remaining lining is in a black ribbed artificial silk, which has shredded in places. The underside of the peak is lined in a grey cotton twill. |
| GERMAN ARMY OVERSEAS CAP EAGLE. The very finely Bevo woven white on dark green eagle for the army overseas enlisted mans field cap. Cut from roll. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER ASSAULT BADGE IN BRONZE. The Panzer Assault Badge in bronze is always very difficult to find, this with a lighter toning of bronze finish remaining. Excellent detail to the central tank. Solid construction. Manufacturer’s mark ‘AS’ in raised relief to the reverse side. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Good heavy solid construction completely flat backed, non maker marked. Excellent detail to the face side retaining much of its original finish. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Manufactured by F.L.L. Excellent detail to the toned silver finish. Finely detailed tank. Flat back. Faintly visible in raised relief the manufacturer’s marking ‘F.L.L’ (Friedrich Linden). |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. A very good detailed constructed Panzer Assault Badge in silver. Very fine detail to the oak and laurel leaf wreath and good definition to the tank. No maker marked. Solid construction thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER GRENADIER OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A rare colour waffenfarbe being Panzer Grenadier officers, the cap is constructed from the lightly ribbed smooth material. Light apple green piping to the crown, upper and lower sections of the dark green wool centre band. To the upper body of the cap there is no indication of any moth damage. There is one moth hole to the centre of the dark green centre band on the right hand side of the cap. The insignia fitted is a stamped aluminium national eagle with a wire woven officers cockade. Standard officers cap cords. Black patent peak with slight chipping to the black patent on the very front edge. The interior is lined in a light gold artificial silk with some age foxing. The non maker marked complete centre celluloid lozenge is in place and undamaged. The sweatband is of the mid tan leather variety and shows very little wear use. Heavily stamped ‘Deutsches Leder’. To the inside of the leather sweatband is the stamping ‘HB39’. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER GRENADIER REGIMENTAL SLIP ON'S FOR EPAULETTES. A rare matched pair of light apple green embroidered number '14' onto field grey backing cloth for slipping on the epaulette for unit recognition. |
| GERMAN ARMY PANZER OFFICERS CRUSHER CAP. A very large size old style crusher cap, the complete upper body of the cap is moth free, however there is considerable moth damage to the dark green centre band, which we have attempted to show on our web site images. The insignia fitted is the correct Bevo woven flat wire officers eagle and cockade. Some crazing to the soft crushable peak. The sweatband is of the dark green leather and is all complete. The interior is lined in the lightweight artificial heavily ribbed silk with its centre celluloid lozenge virtually intact with some slight cracking, one small piece missing. The Panzer pink piping is distinct against the grey green cloth with various moth nips. |
| GERMAN ARMY PIONEER NCO’S/ENLISTED MANS VISOR CAP. A Tellerform cap worn by an army engineer enlisted rank of NCO. Constructed in the ribbed style material, black waffenfarbe, dark green centre band, standard twin buckled front strap. There is light crazing to the visor. Overall spotting of moth both to the main body and the waffenfarbe, with its matching high quality stamped aluminium national eagle and cockade. To the interior the all leather mid tan leather sweat band is in excellent condition, virtually unworn. The interior is lined in the russet brown lightweight cotton with an undamaged non maker marked centre celluloid lozenge, which is size stamped ‘56’. On pulling down the leather sweat band the maker’s name ‘Robert Lubstein, Berlin No.55’ and the date ‘1939’ is clearly stamped to the interior. There is a further retailer’s stamp, which is over-stamped with the Lubstein name, which is further dated but is unclear. |
| GERMAN ARMY PROPAGANDA EN/NCO’S VISOR CAP. Possibly the rarest of all the waffenfarbe colours of the German Army being the light grey for Propaganda unit, constructed in officers quality ribbed material. The upper exterior of the cap, which includes the main body, dark green centre band and waffenfarbe are all totally moth free. A set of matching stamped aluminium national eagle and cockade is fitted. Standard enlisted ranks double buckled chinstrap. To the interior the light tan sweat band showing very minor wear use and in good order, the whole of the interior is lined in a gold artificial silk. The retailer or maker’s name ‘ARWA’ within a circle and the number ‘18’ stamped to the gold lining. The hat has half of its celluloid lozenge remaining. |
| GERMAN ARMY RUCKSACK. In olive canvas with a mixture of tropical and leather fittings. This is a general issue pack showed on page 86 volume 3 of ‘Uniforms And Traditions Of The German Army. Volume 3 By John R Angolia’ |
| GERMAN ARMY SCHELLENBAUM CENTRAL EAGLE AND SWASTIKA. The Schellenbaum, commonly known in collectors terms as the Jingling Johnny, was a magnificent multi piece marching band accessory, carried at the head of virtually all German regimental military bands, the Jingling Johnny comprised of an eagle and swastika, followed by the small embroidered banner of the Regiment, followed by a large star with eagle and swastika centre, followed by a twin serpent headed instrument style item with bells hanging with horses hair to each end of the piece, followed by one large bell below. It is not known how many of these are in existence, complete, but various parts of The Jingling Johnny do occasionally appear on the collectors market and it is known that certain collectors are accumulating parts to complete a Jingling Johnny. The item we have here is known as the Sonne, being the sun starburst emblem below the banner. It is the eagle for the front of that star. Magnificent condition with all gilt to the down swept winged army style eagle. Four fixing holes. It is numbered '6' to reverse side. Various images of the Jingling Johnny can be seen from page 577 to 585 in Uniforms and Traditions of the German Army 1933-45 by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. |
| GERMAN ARMY WINTER FUR HAT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A good example of the winter front hat constructed in standard grey green cloth. Fur sides which have not been attacked by moth. The interior lining padded, clearly stamped ‘57’ with a Vienna maker’s mark intact. |
| GERMAN ARMY WOUND BADGE IN BLACK. An absolutely mint example of the Wound Badge in black. Single stamped version. Non maker marked. |
| GERMAN CAMOFLAGED M16 HELMET A text book helmet being the early M16 type helmet with the plied leather stitched headband. The exterior of the helmet has had the typical camouflage application of the late 1918 orders divided into a dark rust brown, ochre and deep emerald green colour, using black lines to divide them. The helmet has approximately 75% of the original paint finish remaining. There are many rust spots, chips and the usual wear to the top of the crown. The lining remains complete, however there is some damage and some of the fingers are split and dampness has caused a little shrinkage. The pads appear present, the helmet interior is dirty and untouched. There appears to be a name neatly inked to the rear of the helmet as well as a unit marking. The helmet is an EF64. Basic chinstrap mounting fixings remain in place. |
| GERMAN CAMOUFLAGED M.16 HELMET. German camouflaged trench helmet, the size stamping has not come out clearly to the shell, we assume it is a size 64 shell size. Exterior skull having block pattern mid brown, green and mustard yellow, with thin black separation lines. Some scratches overall but good clear camouflage. Leather sweat band is in place. It has a single tongue missing from one of the liner pads. Two of the three liner pads have their inner horsehair pad. The liner band in the area close to the rear fixing rivet has parted. The large fixing rivet is in place and one other side fixing rivet is missing. |
| GERMAN CAPTURED FRENCH CHASSEPOT BAYONET. a scarce example of a French captured by the Germans Chassepot bayonet Imperial German marked to the frog fitting lug with the aperture opened up for the bayonet to fit the German Rifle. Grease stains to blade but generally good. Brass ribbed handle. Scabbard needs repainting but undented. Rifle retaining sprung loaded button is present and in working order. |
| GERMAN COASTAL ARTILLERY BADGE BY HERMANN AURICH OF DRESDEN. Excellent condition Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery badge. Good gilt to the exterior wreath with light rubbing to the high spots. All of the slightly lighter shade of patinated finish to the anti aircraft gun all complete. Thick needle pin. The Hermann Aurich HAD logo in raised relief to the reverse side. |
| GERMAN COASTAL ARTILLERY GREATCOAT. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A rare piece of uniform from the Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery being the enlisted mans greatcoat. Excellent condition overall, no moth, damage or staining, complete with all its subdued grey painted naval style buttons. Heavily blanket lined. Maker marked and size stamped to the cotton lining of the inside pocket. Loops fitted for shoulder boards with buttons, shoulder boards missing. To the left hand sleeve is the gilt Narvik Shield on its unique Coastal Artillery coloured backing cloth. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN ARMY GOLD SIGNALS OFFICERS TUNIC. A good signals officers tunic for a holder of the German Cross in gold. This quite unusual summer weight unlined tunic manufactured by the top Berlin tailoring Company of Wilhelm Holsters of Berlin. The light grey green ribbed material fitted with a dark green officers collar for an Oberleutnant in a signals unit. All of the insignia is identical in quality and age. Stitch-in shoulder boards, lemon/yellow based for a signals unit. Subdued grey outer section lace. The heavy wire woven now subdued collar patches with lemon yellow twisted cord centres machine stitched to the collar. The breast eagle has heavily oxidised as has the silver wire within the German Cross in gold, which is hand stitched to the right hand breast pocket. To the second button hole is the ribbon for the East Front Medal, to the upper left breast is a double medal ribbon bar comprising the Iron Cross and War Service Cross with swords. To the upper left breast holes are punctured through the material for the affixing of awards. The tunic is the correct M.1936 officers configuration of four patched pockets and deep turned back cuffs. It is completely unlined. A hole has been tailored through the lower left hand pocket for the passing through of the dagger or sword hanger and it has the silver artificial silk label of ‘Holster’s Berlin’ in the upper inner collar area. Some threads are slightly loose to the swastika area of the national eagle where it is fitted to the tunic, also some stitches are loose on the German Cross fitting. A good original untouched German Cross in Gold Winner’s tunic. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD IN CLOTH. The Kriegsmarine issued German Cross in Gold in cloth, generally in excellent condition, slight dullness to the gilt of the ‘1941’ dated wreath with minor moth nips to the blue edging cloth indicating this is Kriegsmarine issue. Good thread detail to the central swastika. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD WINNERS WHERPASS. A second issue Army Wherpass to German Cross in Gold winner Major Egon Sauer Von Nordendorf, who was an Austrian career officer from Vienna. Von Nordendorf served in the Austrian Infantry and Cavalry from 1929 onwards, transferred to the German Army in 1938. During WWII he fought first in Poland, in Reconnaissance Battalion 44, where he was wounded and won the Iron Cross 2nd Class, he was not involved in the campaign in the West but participated in the Balkan Campaign in Rifle Regiment 10 of the 9th Panzer Division where he won the Iron Cross 1st Class. In the Russian Campaign he served initially in Rifle Regiment 10 and the 9th Rifle Brigade, both of which were within 9th Panzer Division. From February 42 to January 43 he served in Panzer Grenadier Regiment 129, which was part of the 22nd Panzer Division winning the German Cross in Gold in October 1942. He was seriously wounded in January 43 and transferred to the replacement army. His awards are as follows:- Iron Cross 2nd Class, Poland. Wound Badge in Black Poland. Iron Cross 1st Class Balkans. Bulgarian Bravery Order 4th class in Russia. Armed Forces Tank Battle Badge in Bronze in Russia. Armed Forces East Front Medal in Russia. German Cross in Gold, Russia. Krim Shield, Russia. Von Nordendorf was commissioned in 1934 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1938 and finally a Major in January 1943. His Wherpass, which is complete with image in uniform, hatless, is his second issue. Page 12 completely filled out with all of his units up until 1944. Page 21 filled. Page 22 with all his ranks. Page 24, full page of awards. Pages 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 fully documented all in his places of action. A very interesting wherpass. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN GOLD, FIELD CONVERTED VERSION. A very rare example of a combat used German Cross in Gold. We emphasise the combat used as the majority of German Crosses available on the collectors market have only been worn for full dress purposes or never worn at all and substituted by the cloth version. This is a classic example of a Deschler and Sohn four rivet heavy unmarked version of the German Cross in Gold being field converted in its pin system for wearing by a recipient in combat. The basic construction is identical to their Deschler & Sohn four rivet heavy unmarked version with the four small domed rivets on the reverse side and clearly can be seen by the remains of the original hook and pin configuration that it definitely is a Deschler produced piece. The pin system has been removed on the soldering on of a screw thread and a wide disc back so that the award would fit snugger to the combat tunic. The original owner also for some unknown reason removed the starburst back plate that is fitted between the wreath and the solid back plate of the award. The black finish to that back plate has been super-imposed on the remaining starburst by the addition of a form of black colouring. There is damage to the central swastika which can be seen on our web images. The nine notches on the bottom edge of the '1941' date shield are clearly visible. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN SILVER. A very good example of a number 20 C.F.Zimmermann produced German Cross in silver, which is identified. The cross, which matches exactly, all the features of a number 20 C.F.Zimmermann produced piece has very minor scuffing to the enamel without any damage. Excellent bright silver to the ‘1941’ dated wreath. All of the black finish remaining to the inner black star. To the reverse side it has four raised domed hollow rivets, wide tapering pin with number ‘20’ mark to the interior. When originally obtained from the family of Otto Krause there was other paperwork but unfortunately that has been split, we have a print-out from the internet identifying Hauptmann of Reserve Otto Krause was awarded the German Cross in silver on the 12th May 1944. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN SILVER. No.20 A good example of the C.F.Zimmermann made German Cross in Silver, the swastika to the enamel is excellent, virtually all the silver finish remaining to the ‘1941’ dated wreath. The black ray having all of its finish, it is even possible to see the shadow of the wreath retaining rivet in the area of the wreath just above the very point of the upper arm of the swastika. The reverse side is the four standard domed hollow rivets, wide tapering pin with number ‘20’ stamped on the reverse side. The pin and catch assembly is all correct as per Zimmermann. It would appear that at some time in its life somebody has attempted to open one of the rivets for some unknown reason and there are what appear to be marks around that rivet, all other rivets are perfect. |
| GERMAN CROSS IN SILVER. NO.20 A magnificent example of the German Cross in silver, maker marked No.20, produced by C.F.Zimmermann. This is the slightly lighter weight version of the Zimmermann No.20 German Cross in Silver, retaining a huge amount of finish to the silver cross with much of the original frosting remaining in the lower parts of the wreath. The back plate to the swastika is good and bright with all of the red enamel to the surrounding circlet intact. All of the black finish remaining to the black ray with good finish to the basic silvered starburst. Enamel good to the central swastika. To the reverse side the standard No.20 wide tapering pin is clearly marked ‘20’ on the interior of the pin. Four hollow domed rivets. |
| GERMAN DANZIG GROUP. An extremely rare group of medals comprising seven items, beginning with the WWI Imperial German Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Third Reich period War Service Cross 2nd Class with swords in bronze, the Third Reich awarded 1914-18 War Honour Cross, Silesian Eagle 2nd Class, Prussian Armed Forces Long Service Medal 2nd class, Prussian Armed Forces Long Service Medal for 15 years, the extremely rare Danzig Cross 2nd Class, maker marked 'Berlin' on the reverse side, with white enamel is absolutely perfect, no chips with all its gilding. Lastly the also rare Danzig Police Long Service Medal. All mounted on their original ribbon bar. A very rare grouping. |
| GERMAN EAGLE ORDER 1ST CLASS, NECK ORDER & BREAST STAR IDENTIFIED. An extremely rare identified Eagle Order grouping, comprising the single cased double set of the Order of the German Eagle service Neck Cross with its six pointed Breast Star. The awards are absolutely mint condition, totally undamaged enamel to both the Maltese Cross centre on the Breast Star and the Maltese Cross in the medal itself with the enamel within the arms of the swastikas again undamaged. All of the finish remains. The Neck Order is marked ‘900’ to the upper ring and ‘900’ to the long pin of the Breast Star. The Neck Order with its absolutely mint condition ribbon. The box itself is in superb condition with the gold blocking identifying the Order to the upper inner artificial silk in perfect condition. The outside of the box is completely undamaged with slight evidence of age foxing to the leather. The gilt to the political eagle, which is gold embossed to the outer lid is mint bright. Accompanying the award is the original envelope containing the citation addressed to ‘Ivo Bagli’ in Rome at one of the Italian Ministries. The envelope contains the original single sided large size citation awarding the 1st class Order and Star on the 2nd March 1938 to Ivo Bagli, it is pen signed by Adolf Hitler, pen signed by Von Ribbentrop the Foreign Minister and pen signed by the Reich Chancellery Secretary Meissner. There is one small stain above the signature of Meissner. Slight fraying to the edges otherwise excellent condition. The citation is in its original presentation folder which has the large outstretched wing political eagle gold embossed to the exterior. The envelope also contained, which is very hard to find, the statutes and orders for the wearing of the German Eagle Order. This booklet contains four large pages of instructions on how to wear and when to wear the Order. Dr. Ivo Bagli was a Senior Official at the Italian Foreign Ministry during the Mussolini period, it would appear that Ministerial Medals and Orders have recently come upon the market as there are both Serbian and Bulgarian Orders available on other web sites. A very important identified grouping. |
| GERMAN EARLY PATTERN MODEL 1934 LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS DAGGER. A very good example of the very earliest of the 1934 Luftwaffe officers dagger. The leather is good to the grip with slight scuff marks. Grip wire generally good with the top three strands having replaced twisted copper wire. A good majority of the original silver frosted finish remaining to the upper cross guard and top pommel. The Morocco blue leather washer is in place between the lower cross guard and the blade. The scabbard in standard blue Morocco leather is the soft style of scabbard without the metal inner. All the nickel plated finish to the three scabbard mounts is excellent. Complete with its set of original hanging chain, which has traces of frosting very similar to the frosted finish on the cross guard and top pommel. The belt clip is DRGM and Assmann marked. The three scabbard mounts are held to the leather of the scabbard by three large rivets. |
| GERMAN EASTERN TERRITORIES OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A very scarce piece of headdress being the officers visor cap of the Eastern Territories Organisation. Very large size, constructed in the enlisted ranks quality wool unique olive brown colour of the Eastern Territory uniforms. Brown velvet centre band. Silver waffenfarbe to the crown and upper and lower sections of the velvet centre band. Standard officers wire cap cords with twin side buttons, which are dulled. Standard brown visor. The interior sweat band is of a mid tan variety and is in excellent condition. The complete interior of the cap is lined in an artificial light tan silk with the majority of the non maker or retailer marked centre celluloid lozenge remaining with a small section missing. To the interior of the lining is the original RZM label. This cap is without its insignia, it is clearly evident to the cap that it was once fitted with the twin metal insignia of the Eastern Territories. The eagle for this hat is quite easy to obtain, it is unique style cockade which is more difficult, we are offering this cap without the insignia. No moth or staining to any part of the piece of headdress. |
| GERMAN ENTRY INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA MEDAL 1ST OKTOBER 1938. All finish remaining. Complete with its full length section of ribbon. |
| GERMAN ERSATZ BAYONET. A very good condition German ersatz bayonet from WWI. During the First World War Germany made a vast quantity of bayonets, many of which have been referred to emergency bayonets or ersatz. Many were converted from captured enemy stocks and a huge majority produced from Germany’s own sources. It had been traditionally very difficult to find any ersatz bayonet in good condition, this particular piece is a prime example of a superb ersatz bayonet. It has the all steel pressed hilt and is identical to item 344 in the excellent work The Bayonet Book by John Watts and Peter White on page 155. the hilt retains virtually all its original field grey green paint finish. The rifle retaining locking system is in place and working correctly. The blade, which is non make marked, is in superb condition with faint traces of an Imperial acceptance stamp on the upper flat rear section of the blade. All fitted into its highly unusual one-piece single seam welded oval scabbard, which has all its original blueing remaining with minor indentations only to the pressed steel. |
| GERMAN EXECUTED COASTAL ARTILLERY OFFICERS TUNIC. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. One of the most interesting and scarcest tunics to come out of the superb collection is a Coastal Artillery large size four pocket officers tunic for the rank of Korvetten Kapitan who was hanged by the Yugoslav authorities at the end of WWII, this large size tunic in the classic Coastal Artillery green in M.36 configuration, four patch pockets with pleats, deep turned back cuffs, six button closing front. To the shoulder boards is a set of dark blue to black based Korvetten Kapitan grey wire woven shoulder boards. To the dark green collar is a set of the heavy wire woven Coastal Artillery collar patches in, , subdued grey with yellow centres. All field grey buttons anchor adorned. To the breast is a superb quality gold wire woven Coastal Artillery officers breast eagle on dark green background. To the second button hole the very frayed ribbon of the 1939 Bar to the Iron Cross with the 30mm wingspan Bar fitted. To the upper left sleeve is an excellent condition gilt on dark blue to black background Naval Narvik Shield. Above the upper left hand pocket there are loops for a long medal ribbon bar consisting of eight loops, the officer must have been in the First World War service for the length of the medal ribbon bars and having been awarded the Iron Cross in WWI. Below the left pocket are loops for two further awards with a set of loops on the upper right hand pocket for another award. One moth hole to the back panel. Service wear to the lower inner cuff area, otherwise the tunic is generally moth free. The nap is thin in places. On opening the tunic what is revealed is that the complete right hand side of the jacket as it is viewed has the lining missing and the left hand side of the jacket lining is all complete, a hole had been tailored through the lower left bellows pocket for the passing through of the naval dagger hanging straps. The story becomes interesting at this point, the collector in Italy to whom this tunic used to belong travelled widely in Yugoslavia in the 1970’s, the tunic was given directly to him by an officer of the then Yugoslav Army in Zagreb to the collector who was then a very young man, informing him that the owner with the name unknown was hanged in 1946 for war crimes and that he was in service from 1944 to 45 in a Kriegsmarine Anti Partisan Commando in Pola Harbour (Pola Harbour was the old Austro Hungarian Empire outlet to the Adriatic Sea). Together with the tunic there was a museum label that was removed just before giving it to the collector. We can only assume that this tunic was removed from a Yugoslavian military museum and had the name of the original owner inside the pocket and possibly museum inventory stamps to the lining and that is the only logical reason as to why the interior lining is missing from one inner half of the tunic. A highly interesting historical item. |
| GERMAN FFG AUTOMATIC PISTOL HOLSTER. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A well used example of the canvas and leather holster for the P37 M(ung) Hungarian semi automatic pistol. Some scuffing to the exterior flap. The leather loop on the reverse side is maker marked 'Berlin 1941,' plus Luftwaffe acceptance stamp. The back edge of the holster, the webbing is rather frayed but not broken. The spare magazine container in leather, slightly abrased but strong. |
| GERMAN FOCKE WULF 200 TAIL FIN. An incredibly rare piece of aviation history being one side of the tail fin section of this famous aircraft. Complete with its swastika, which is minus one leg of which would be on the rudder. Measuring 74 inches in height, the tip being 26 inches in width widening to a width of 37 inches at the base, considering the amount of years up until 1977 from WWII this piece was snow covered in Norway from its crash date of 27 th December 1942, it is in incredibly good condition. The swastika is good and clear, there are two small holes to the arms of the swastika and one L shaped cut to the lower right hand side and apart from other abrasions the paint is in excellent condition. There are no numbers or plates of any sort on the interior of the fin panel to enable us or any other researcher to identify the actual aeroplane itself, which would have enabled us to trace its history. A collector has mounted two aluminium suspension straps to the top of the piece for display. The Focke Wulf 200 first flew in 1937, originally designed as a pre war commercial aircraft in a very modern style. It was an all metal four engine monoplane capable of carrying 25 passengers, when war was declared the aircraft were adopted for wartime service, it was the first aeroplane to fly non stop between Berlin and New York City in 24 hours and 56 minutes, one FW 200, which was in service with a Danish airline was seized on the ground in Britain after Denmark was invaded by German Forces in 1940 and was operated by the BOAC and then the Royal Air Force until 1941 when it was damaged beyond repair. The Luftwaffe used the aircraft to support the Kriegsmarine making large reconnaissance sweeps over the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, it was also adapted to carry bombs and naval mines and was used against shipping. The first FW 200 was shot down by a Hawker Hurricane which was catapult launched from an aircraft adapted merchant ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Production ended in 1944 with a total of 276 aircraft produced. One FW 200 also known as the Condor, was modified as a transport for Adolf Hitler as a replacement for his Juncker JU52. Only one FW 200 survives today. A relatively complete example was raised from Trondheim Fiord in Norway in the late 1990’s which is the same area from which the tail fin that we are offering came from. With our tail fin is an original photograph of the actual piece discovered in 1977 by two British Forces helicopter pilots on a military exercise in Norway, the two pilots are holding the tail piece. |
| GERMAN FORESTRY SERVICE OFFICER'S VISOR CAP COCKADE. A beautifully embroidered in silver wire with metallic national cockade centre cockade for the Forestry officers visor cap. All embroidery on the forestry green background. |
| GERMAN FRITZ TODT AWARD. Awarded in November 1943 to those members of industry who have made a significant contribution to the war effort by Dr. Fritz Todt, who was the driving force behind the German autobahn system and the construction of many other projects around Europe, this is the steel award, no makers marks, identical to the piece photographed on page 103 of For Fuhrer and Fatherland Political and Civil Awards of the Third Reich by Lt.John R. Angolia. In our experience these awards are normally found with virtually all of their finish gone, plus some in an oxidised condition. This piece is absolutely perfect with all of its original chemical patina within the wings of the very impressive eagle and in the areas surrounding the swastika. This actual piece was originally on a salesman’s display board which was broken up for sale. We have images of this piece on its original salesman’s board and interestingly looking at the other pieces still on the board it can clearly be seen where the original finish to some of the silvered awards has faded and oxidised, which is normally the condition that these badges are found in. Very fine detail to the award. |
| GERMAN GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. A superb quality non maker marked Armed Forces General Assault Badge in silver. All silvering remaining. Good detail to face side. Dished solid back. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN GRAF SPEE SUPERB GROUPING. A magnificent grouping belonging to a sailor on the pocket battleship Graf Spee that was sunk at the Battle of the River Plate in 1940. The grouping, formerly the property of Kurt Altenburg, the grouping consists of a very fine photograph album which is gold blocked to the exterior with the initials of Kurt Altenburg, 'K.A.' gold block lettered date '1940'. The album, which was purchased and put together in Buenos Airies Argentina, during his interment. The album contains 84 photographs, it opens with a long slim photograph of the battleship Graf Spee and then an image of Captain Hans Langsdorff. All the remaining images in the album are of the photographs which we believe were taken by the ship's photographer, reproduced on board and sold in sets to the seamen, they are highly detailed. The first page of images shows the sinking of the British Merchant ship, The Clement on the 30th September 1939 with the ship being shelled and the sailors leaving their ship and rowing towards the Graf Spee with the same sequence of images for the ships The Newton Beach and all of the other ships that the Graf Spee sank during the period prior to the Battle of the River Plate, they show the ships sinking under fire, the crews rowing away from their ships, all the pages are annotated with the different ships. It then shows the float plane from the Graf Spee being launched. The Band of the Graf Spee playing on board. A good image of the English naval prisoners on board. There are then excellent shots of explosions in the sea close to the Graf Spee being the shell bursts of the guns of H.M.S.Ajex, Exeter and Achilles, the three British cruisers that trapped the Graf Spee. Images of battle damage on the decks. The coffins of the dead German soldiers lined up on the deck covered in the swastika flags followed by the burial of the sailors in Monte Video on the 15th December 1939 with Captain Hans Langsdorff in attendance in his white summer uniform. The ship at rest in Monte Video Harbour. Other images of the damage of the outside of the hull taken from a small tender and pictures of the scuttling of the Graf Spee. The sailors just prior to internment whilst in Monte Video being leaving for Argentina. Excellent images of the funerals and then the funeral of Captain Hans Landsdorff himself after he committed suicide through the loss of his ship. A further 23 loose images of life with the Graf Spee and the crew beginning in 1938. Images of the Graf Spee at sea, the float plane taking off and landing close to the ship, groups of sailors and officers and some larger technical shots of engineering within the ship. Shortly after the sinking of the ship the crew were interned in Argentina, they crossed the River Plate from Uruguay into Argentina and were interned. With this grouping is the ultra rare internment card individually numbered '498' for Kurt Altenburg, he is photographed in German naval uniform, hatless. The card has annotations to the book from late 1940 and the last annotation being in December 1943, each page has within its print the Coat of Arms of Argentina, the card is dated '26th December 39'. There is a further identity card, which would appear to be a driving license issued in Argentina to Kurt Altenburg on the 1st March 1941. He is pictured in civil dress hatless. Two very rare newspapers printed in German, one in Monte Video on Thursday 14th December 1939 with a full front page article on the Battle of the River Plate, printed for the local German speaking community, the newspaper entitled Deutsche Wacht, (The German View.) Another newspaper entitled the Deutsche La Plata Zeitung dated 15th December 1939 also describing the Battle of the River Plate for the local German community. A small single folded leaflet for the Club Hotel Sierra de la Ventana, which was the luxurious hotel in Argentina that the majority of the internees were held in until 1946. There is also a luggage sticker from the same hotel. To finalise the grouping there is a reproduction Admiral Graf Spee cap tally. A very emotive grouping, the Battle of the River Plate was Great Britain's first Armed Forces victory over Germany in WWII and basically set the scene for the German Admiralty to keep most of their ships in port for the duration of WWII knowing that with the overall power of the Royal Navy they would be unable to control the sea lanes. The story has been depicted in various books and of course the superb middle 1950's film made in Britain entitled The Battle of the River Plate. The album and all the papers are placed in a box which may be the original box containing the album. |
| GERMAN HITLER YOUTH SPORTWART CUFF BAND. The very finely Bevo woven red on black cuff band for HJ Sports Day. |
| GERMAN HORSEMAN'S LAPEL PIN BADGE IN BRONZE. A beautifully solid constructed lapel pin badge in bronze for the German Horseman's Sports Badge, complete with its twisted and grooved lapel pin fixing. Four line makers mark in raised relief to reverse of pin. |
| GERMAN HUNTING ASSOCIATION INSIGNIA SET. A beautiful grouping of insignia and awards to a member of the Deutsche Jagerbund, a central feature being the green armband having a beautifully stamped and highly gilded shooting insignia of an antler’s head surmounted by the Imperial crown, all as a one-piece stamping. Pinned around it are three separate either gilded or gilded and green enamel lapel pins. In a separate box there is a lapel pin of the same insignia stamped ‘585’ which is the German equivalent of marking 14 caret gold. Accompanying the pin is a scroll work pin stamped ‘900’ German silver. Both pins are situated in their original box which is marked ‘Deutsches Jagerbund’ in gold block to the lid, ‘Berlin SW68’. A very attractive set. |
| GERMAN INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN BRONZE. Approximately 25% of the bronze finish remaining to the face side of the award, which has good deep detail. Solid back, with the wartime style raised relief maker mark of Rudolf Souval & Sohns in Vienna 'R.S.' Wide tapering vertical pin. |
| GERMAN INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. Solid construction. Good detail to the face side. Light oxidisation in the lower areas of the wings of the down swept eagle. Non maker marked. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE IN SILVER. A good non maker marked but very well defined Infantry Assault Badge in silver. To the face side the majority of all the finish remaining. Solid back. Non maker marked. Thick needle pin. |
| GERMAN JUNIOR NCO’S POLICE COMBAT TUNIC. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very scarce uniform for a Junior NCO of a Police Combat unit. The tunic is of the six button M.42 style, four pockets with the two upper pockets with pleats, two lower bellows pockets without pleats. Split open cuffs. To the upper left sleeve cross weaved machine to the tunic is a very fine quality Bevo grey on green Police badge. The tunic is fitted with slip on green based brown and silver flecked shoulder boards of a Junior NCO in the Police Service. The collar badges are of Police green on grey Bevo weave. To the interior of the tunic there are faint traces of size stampings and other unidentified numbers which may be RB numbers. The tunic is very sparsely lined with artificial silk and the whole tunic is constructed in herringbone green twill. Accompanying the tunic are a slightly darker shade of herringbone green twill shorts which are size stamped, maker marked and dated ‘2.43’ to the light cotton lining. The shorts have a hidden three-pronged belt similar to the tropical shorts issued to the army. This uniform would represent the type of uniform worn in the southern Balkans and Greece for anti partisan operations. |
| GERMAN K.98 BAYONET WITH BLADE 6251. Third Reich K.98 bayonet with good blued blade, numbered '6251'. Light rust to the remainder of the pommel. Waffen amt stamped to the very top. Bakelite ribbed grips. In its metal scabbard, which has lost the majority of its blueing. In its dark brown leather frog, which has suffered slightly from leather rot to the very top of the belt loop. |
| GERMAN K.98 BAYONET WITH FROG. K.98 with non matching numbers but boldly marked WKC. Exellent condition blade, scabbard has 2 small dents to reverse side and slight pitting overall. Bakelite grips to handle are good and it is double waffen amp stamped at the top of the bayonet handle. Black leather frog has some wear but leather is good and strong with no markings. |
| GERMAN K.98 RIFLE. A very good 1941 dated Mauser produced K.98 rifle. This is an export version with the crest of a foreign power on its receiver, it is profusely marked with German eagle and swastika stampings showing its country of origin, also showing various waffen amt stamps. Fully functional with its de-activation certificate. Good wood. Complete with ramrod. Gun number ‘18296’ with mismatched bolt. |
| GERMAN K98 BAYONET. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. Blade by Berg & Co, retaining original blueing within the protected fuller area on both sides. Numbered ‘304’, complete with its Bakelite grips. Some minor corrosion to the pommel area, in its fitted scabbard, which also has suffered from corrosion, mismatched number and complete with its good condition leather carrying frog. |
| GERMAN KPM MASSIVE SIZE NSDAP PORCELAIN VASE. A magnificent porcelain vase measuring 17 inches in height and 12½ in width at its widest point. To the lower inner base it is marked as being manufactured by KPM. KPM porcelain is one of the oldest established German porcelain manufacturers, they have produced porcelain for Royal, State and private owners since 1763. After 1918 without the Kaiser or King KPM officially became The State Porcelain Manufacturer and after WWII it was owned by the State of Berlin. After 1988 the Berlin State Government decreed that KPM would once again operate under the name of Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, Berlin GmbH. This vase, on a Roman style with two side handles, each of which are strip gilded stands on a square base which is gilded at the base plus the circular base upon which it stands is gilded. To the front in a large panel under the glaze is the front of the old Reich Chancellery in Berlin, which is flying the Fuhrer Standard flag and to the reverse side also under the gilt is a beautiful 4½ inch wing span Third Reich eagle over swastika. The very top of the vase is also gilded. Overall the vase is in excellent condition, there is minor evidence of a repair on the upper rim. The old Reich Chancellery which was rebuilt in 1875 and was inaugurated with the meetings of the new Federal Germany in 1878. In 1935 the architects Paul Troost and Leonhard Gall redesigned the interior as the home of Adolf Hitler, they also added a conservatory in the garden. This building was used by Adolf Hitler as his Governmental Headquarters until he moved into the new Reich Chancellery in 1938. This would date this vase anywhere between 1933 and 1938. An historic piece of porcelain from the Third Reich era. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE COASTAL ARTILLERY BADGE BY FLL. A good example of the Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery badge by FLL. Full Company name Friedrich Linden of Ludenschied. At least 70% of gilt remaining to the surrounding wreath. Some slight greyness to the anti aircraft gun but still retaining much of its original black patinated finish. Thick needle pin. To the centre of the reverse side in raised relief the letters 'FLL' within three circles with the figures below '43'. The hook for retaining the pin has been repaired. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE COASTAL ARTILLERY BADGE, FRENCH MADE. A very good example of one of the French made German Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery badges. Good detail to the face side with all the gilt remaining to the wreath. All the patinated finish remaining to the anti aircraft gun. Wide tapering vertical pin intact with the uniform retaining hook missing. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE COASTAL ARTILLERY BADGE. Excellent condition, maker marked in raised relief to the reverse side 'S.H.u.C.o.' Excellent gilt to the exterior with the high spots rubbed, all the patinated black finish to the anti aircraft gun good. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE COASTAL ARTILLERY BADGE. All of the gilt to the surrounding wreath and eagle is missing. The silvered finish to the central anti aircraft gun is in place. Non maker marked. Single central vertical pin. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE COASTAL ARTILLERY NCO’S TUNIC. A superb quality classic Coastal Artillery covered field grey green tunic, closely following the Army M.36 style, having two upper pleated pockets, two lower hidden pockets, five button closing front, dark green collar but with the collar being in the Coastal Artillery shade of green. The nap of cloth is superb, hardly worn, fitted with a pair of slip-on matching coloured to the tunic shoulder boards, fitted with gold naval lace, highly gilded fouled anchor with two rank pips to each board indicating a rank of Stabbootsmann. The lace to the collar is of a slightly shinier version than the lace to the shoulder boards. Bevo woven Coastal Artillery collar patches laid onto a rectangular of cloth then laid to the collar. To the upper right breast the Bevo woven yellow on Coast Artillery green breast eagle. Loops for one award to the upper left breast pocket. The interior lining is in a light blue heavy cotton, profusely size stamped with the coding ‘A40’ and maker marked. All of the exterior buttons are of the standard Armed Forces pebbled type in subdued grey. It would be difficult to find a better example of the Coastal Artillery tunic. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE HIGH SEAS FLEET BADGE BY FO. FO is the designation for the maker Friedrich Orth. All gilt missing from the exterior of the badge. Thick needle vertical pin. 'FO' in raised relief to the reverse side which retains all of its original finish. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE HIGH SEAS FLEET BADGE. A good wartime Rudolf Souval produced Kriegsmarine High Seas Fleet Badge. Gilt to the exterior good with rubbing to the high spots. To the reverse side all finish is remaining with the RS in raised relief with a thin vertical pin. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE HIGH SEAS FLEET BADGE. The High Seas Fleet Badge with the wartime period marking of RS for Rudolf Souval of Vienna. Approximately 45% of the original gilt remaining to the exterior. To the reverse side in raised relief the RS maker's logo with a thin needle pin. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE LATE WAR SUBMARINERS BADGE. A good condition late war production submariners badge, retaining virtually all its original gilt to the face side with slight rubbing to the high spots. A wide tapering vertical pin to the reverse side. Non maker marked. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE M42 STEEL HELMET An extremely large helmet manufactured by ET and in a size 68. The helmet is in the standard configuration with the dark grey-green paint throughout which is slightly roughened to the exterior for camouflage purposes. To the left hand side is the single decal insignia. The eagle appears to be of a medium gold colour. Although it is difficult at times to differentiate between a toned Army and a Kriegsmarine, we feel on close examination, this is in fact a Kriegsmarine helmet. The liner of the helmet is in good used combat condition and is a typical late war pigskin liner. The liner band is the typical zinc type. There appears to be little or no damage to the leather - a little dryness, however it is still flexible. The tightening cord is now absent as is the chinstrap. A scarce helmet to find in a good large size. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE MINE SWEEPER BADGE. A non maker marked version of the Mine Sweeper badge, this has been slightly curved by the original owner for a snugger fit to the uniform tunic. Good gilt to the surrounding wreath. All of the silvered finish remaining to the exploding bomb. Wide tapering vertical pin. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE MINE SWEEPER SUB CHASER AWARD BADGE. Excellent construction, all the gilt remains to the face side but slightly dull, good bright silver finish to the exploding bomb. Wide vertical pin. Maker marked in raised relief 'R.K' for the maker Richard Karneth. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE MINIATURE DAGGER. A good example of the 7½ inch long miniature Kriegsmarine dagger. The blade is of the double edge style with central raised ridge. Standard naval cross guard and eagle and swastika pommel. White undamaged grip. Fitted into its lightning bolt scabbard with rope ring suspension bands. The upper ring is missing. The dagger is complete with its miniaturised silver portapee knot. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE NAVAL OFFICERS VISOR CAP. An excellent condition visor cap of a Kriegsmarine Junior Officer. Typical navy floppy shaped crown in dark blue wool. The insignia is interesting, the eagle is one of the eagles that is constructed in a combination of gold wire and cellion. The wings of the eagle, which have toned over the years are in a direct contrasting colour to the central swastika wreath, which being cellion a substitute material has not toned, therefore creating the colour difference. The central cockade in heavy gold wire matches also the single row of ranking wire along the front visor. The cap is fitted with the type of chinstrap normally encountered on Kriegsmarine caps. Twin anchor side buttons. The interior is completely lined in artificial blue silk. There is the central celluloid lozenge, which is complete with one tear and is totally non maker marked. The sweatband is dark grey to the exterior, light grey to the interior and still has its original orange foam cushion fitted which has partially solidified but has not broken away into various pieces as is quite commonly encountered. The cap has probably never been worn. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE OFFICERS DAGGER WITH STRAPS. A good Kriegsmarine officers dagger with its straps. Standard naval etched blade by Eickhorn. Some slight toning towards the point of the blade, however the fouled anchor and the scroll work etched panels to both sides of the blade are good and clear. The dagger is a good tight fit into the scabbard. The dagger has at one time been either hanging in an English public house or in a heavy smoker’s house as there is evidence to the celluloid grip of where nicotine from smoking has been cleaned away. The grip wire is intact, the grip itself is undamaged. Very minor evidence of light undulating indentations to the lower scabbard. The upper part only of the now oxidised wire woven portapee is still wrapped around the dagger, the actual portapee knot is missing. With the dagger is its original pair of dagger straps, which are matched pair, the lion’s head buckles have lost their gilt, the velvet backing cloth is intact and in excellent condition with all matching sprung loaded attachment clips and still with its original chain. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE OFFICERS DAGGER. A magnificent condition Kriegsmarine officers dagger with absolutely mint blade by Eickhorn. The central panel on both sides of the blade with their fouled anchor and floriated panel work good and bright set against the dark grey of the lower panel etching. The dagger is a good tight fit into the scabbard and clicks shut. The gilt remains to the dagger overall with the frosted highlighted central swastika. All the frosting to the gilt remains on the edges of the cross guard with all of the gilt remaining to the scabbard and the scabbard bands. Very minor undulating indentations to the lower half of the scabbard that can only be observed by holding the scabbard at an angle. One small hairline crack to the lower reverse side of the celluloid grip. All of the original grip wire complete. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A good example of a service used Kriegsmarine Junior Officers visor cap. The upper body of the cap, which is of the non removable blue top is the standard classic naval floppy shape. There is one small moth hole in the very crease of the cap at the rear where it butts up to the mohair centre band. The leather strap is of a variation on the naval pattern that normally is held together by a male/female press stud, this type having a single buckle holding the double section of strap together. The rank grade scalloping to the front of the visor are woven in the cellion, which has not faded. The national eagle is gold wire. The naval wreath is a mixture of cellion and wire with the central roundel lightly oxidised. To the interior of the cap it is fully lined in artificial blue silk with the OKK Wilhelmshafen marking to the centre of the crown, the protective celluloid lozenge is missing, the sweat band is of the grey leather variety with evidence of wear use but still retaining much original colour. The side buttons to the cap are of a matched pair of anchor adorned buttons. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE RATINGS JUMPER. The blue pullover upper garment worn by Kriegsmarine Ratings shipboard. Complete with its blue wrapped cotton/wool plaited retainer for the black silk tie. To the upper right hand breast the standard machine embroidered yellow national eagle on dark blue naval background. To the upper left sleeve a career torpedo mechanic trade badge with a 2nd class torpedo mechanics rank oval patch below. Original owner's hand written name label applied to the inner rear of the garment. |
| GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE TROPHELM EAGLE. A rare eagle in metal with a 4¼ inch wing span for fitting to the Kriegsmarine trophelm. Gilt good overall with slight dullness in the swastika area and rubbing to the high points of the eagle's wings. Complete with its single fixing pin to reverse side. Clearly maker marked 'KWM' in raised relief. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE AIR GUNNER ONLY BADGE. The rare Luftwaffe Qualification Badge for air gunners only. This is a mid war non maker marked example in excellent condition. The silver finish on the oak and laurel leaf wreath has toned, the diving eagle without the lightning bolts within the claws of the eagle has its black patina finish remaining. The upper arm of the swastika is cut out. There is a thick needle pin on the reverse side with two larger semi domed rivets attaching the eagle to the wreath. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE BREAD BAG STRAP. A Luftwaffe blue bread bag strap, excellent condition. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE BREAD BAG. The harder to find all blue Luftwaffe bread bag in excellent condition. Good Luftwaffe blue. All of the zeltbahn buttons are complete and in place. All of the fittings are in place with black leather tabs with all white stitching visible. Unfortunately a large rodent hole of approximately 1 inch in circumference is to the very base of the bag. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE CAMOUFLAGE DOUBLE DECAL M.35 HELMET. A nice subtle camouflage version of the double decal M.35 Luftwaffe combat helmet. This particular paint finish has been observed mostly on Luftwaffe helmets and is an olive green and dark brown red over-spray over the original blue grey finish. This was a very subtle camouflage and the painter has been careful not to over-spray the decal on either side of the helmet. The original finish can be seen coming through the camouflage in areas. The helmet shell itself is a characteristic Q64, with the typical Q shape to the angled front. The Luftwaffe eagle has much deep crazing, this is due to a reaction from the over-spray and the lacquer in the decal. The national colours are beautifully toned and have some surface scratches and areas of damage, however they remain bright and vivid. All three of the liner pins have lost all their paint finish, this is characteristic of the depot re-fitted 1940 type rivets. The interior of the helmet retains much of the original blue grey finish with some areas of corrosion, particularly to the inner crown. The leather liner is rather fragile and a little broken to the rear. The liner band is the typical M.40 zinc type. The helmet has clearly remained uncleaned and untouched since the war’s end and is a fine example of a Luftwaffe camouflage. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE DOUBLE DECAL M.35 HELMET. A classic M.35 helmet, the shell manufactured by SE and size 66. To the exterior the Luftwaffe eagle is bright and clear with some chipped areas and areas of scratching. The national shield to the other side again is good and clear with a high degree of crazing overall. The Luftwaffe blue grey finish shows some scratching and paint loss, particularly to the crown and there is some rust bleed. There are areas of corrosion to the heads of the rivets, however they remain good and tight. The interior of the helmet is in slightly better condition with much of the blue grey paint present. There is a name painted to the rear in a neat cream coloured paint. The liner is complete and present with its original draw cord. The colour is a mid tan colour. There is a little area of worming to the leather front, however this is not detracting from the overall condition. The liner band is the 1937 type with the characteristic reinforcing areas to the sides. The chinstrap is complete with its all aluminium buckle. There is a clear manufacturer’s stamp to the tip of the chinstrap. Overall a completely untouched and dusty as found double decal Luftwaffe helmet. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE DOUBLE DECAL M.35 HELMET. A good large size M.35 helmet being a Q66. The exterior retains much of its original light blue grey Luftwaffe paint. The eagle decal is somewhat defaced and has lost a large degree of the swastika and is approximately 50% present. The national colours decal is approximately 80% intact with some chips and scratches. At one time this helmet has had a white winter overcoat, which has been carefully scratched off. The early pins still remain intact and have lost a fair degree of their original blue paint. The interior is in the blue grey paint with some minor corrosion to the surface. The M.31 reinforced alloy liner is present and in good flexible condition with its original draw cord, the chinstrap is present however the chip has been shortened and carefully repointed by the soldier. Overall a good large combat helmet. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE ENLISTED MANS VISORED FIELD CAP. Known as the M.43 cap, this good example is without moth or damage to the outer body, slight fading of colour to the front area, complete with its one-piece triangular shaped machine embroidered Luftwaffe eagle over red, white and black national cockade. Both of the pebbled buttons retain all their original paint finish. The interior is lined in an artificial grey silk which does show some wear use but is basically undamaged. No visible manufacturer's markings or size stampings but would appear to be size 57. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE ENLISTED RANKS VISORED FIELD CAP. Known as the M.43 cap, this excellent example in Luftwaffe blue grey material, complete with its one-piece triangular shaped machine embroidered Luftwaffe eagle over the red, white and black national cockade. Twin button front, the upper buttons have lost the majority of its blue/grey paint finish. There is no moth or damage. The interior is lined with the herringbone green artificial silk, which has some light staining and what appears to be a burn mark to the upper inner crown area. No visible issue or manufacturer's markings, or size stampings. It would appear to be size 55. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE FLIGHT NCO/ENLISTED MANS VISOR CAP. An absolutely huge size Luftwaffe Flight Section enlisted mans/NCO's visor cap constructed from officers fine blue grey ribbed material. No moth damage at all to any exterior part of the cap with the yellow waffenfarbe contrasting against the blue grey material and the black of the mohair centre band. The Luftwaffe stamped aluminium national eagle and cockade matching exactly. The hat has had the crown personalised and re-shped for a more jaunty angle. Standard black leather strap. Standard peak with extra ribbed edge, which is common amongst the majority of Luftwaffe visor caps. The interior light tan sweat band is in an ersatz paper material, it shows minor wear use with one slight nick to the material. The upper inner crown and side crown areas are lined in gold artificial silk. There is staining, which is evident from our images. The centre celluloid lozenge has suffered from some sort of heat and was never maker marked. To the interior the wearer has folded a period German newspaper to make the cap slightly smaller and tucked into the sweat band itself are three Erfurt theatre tickets dated the 8th and 10th May 1944. This visor cap was purchased from us nearly 30 years ago when we had our shop in central London and has recently been purchased by us again from the same collector along with many other excellent condition visor caps. The same ticket was in the cap when purchased from us all those years ago. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE HONOUR GOBLET GROUPING PLUS ALL DOCUMENTS. A superb and unusually absolutely complete grouping to a German Cross in Gold Winner, Honour Pokal Winner, Air Gunner Heinrich Wehrmann who served with KG53 during the course of the blitz of Britain and further service on the Eastern Front who was subsequently lost in 1943. We emphasise with this group ‘unusually complete’ historically whenever we have had groups within our stock invariably there are one, two or more of the documents awarded to the recipient missing. The group comprises an excellent condition Ehrenpokal Alpaka produced awarded to Unter Offizier Heinrich Wehrmann on the 28.5.1942. the goblet has not been cleaned, it has never been damaged or dropped and has all of its stippled finish clearly visible to the main body. The Honour Goblets are always visibly a very beautiful object. The full size fully illuminated award document for the German Cross in Gold awarded to Unter Offizier Heinrich Wehrmann on the 8th September 1942, the document has been slightly trimmed to fit a contemporary size frame, quite often these documents are trimmed as at the time there was no standard sized produced frame that fitted the German Cross in gold document, families normally went to their local shops and purchased frames that were available and trimmed the document to fit. The document itself has one fold. We believe the signature is a facsimile signature of Reich Marshall Goring with the original signature to the lower right hand corner of an identified General of Flying Troops. The full size award for the Ehrenpokal dated 28th May 1942, this has been punch-holed for filing. A 17th December 1940 document to Unter Offizier Heinrich Wehrmann for his qualification as a Flieger Schutzen (Air Gunner, Wireless Operator), this has also been slightly trimmed to fit a standard frame, with a facsimile signature of a Luftwaffe General to the base. Standard A5 sized Iron Cross 2nd Class citation dated 18th September 1940 during the later stages of the Battle of Britain. Iron Cross 1st Class dated 3rd December 1940 pen signed by General Field Marshall Kesselring, also slightly trimmed to fit a frame of the period. Winter Medal in the East dated 10th July 1942 signed by Luftwaffe Major, punch-holed for filing. Luftwaffe Flight Bar citation dated 1st May 1941 for the Flight Bar in Bronze. Flight Bar in Silver citation dated 8th August 1941. Citation for the Flight Bar in Gold dated 5th November 1941. Citation for the Flight Bar in Gold with hanger dated 24.11.1942. All the four Flight Bar citations punch-holed for filing. The October 1936 Sports Book for Heinrich Wehrmann. A 1938 dated small identity card showing Wehrmann in civil dress entitling him to wear the SA Sports badge. A letter from Wehrmann’s parents to him in the field with his Feldpost number clearly to the front with the annotation to the exterior ‘Gefallen’ the letter would appear to have reach Wehrmann after his death. Another envelope addressed to him with the same annotation to the exterior. A superb large size photograph of Wehrmann in his full summer flying suit, helmet and goggles with the rare front loading parachute pack attached about to enter his machine. A very good face on small format image of Wehrmann wearing the very unusual herringbone twill pocketless flight blouse with full Luftwaffe flight insignia, breast eagle, Flight Bar and Iron Cross 1st Class to his upper left breast. Also and very rarely attached to a group such as this Wehrmann’s original wehrpass showing his photograph in civil dress, the pass originally dated ‘1937’, it would appear he volunteered for the Air Force in 1937. He was a member of the 4th Company Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 13 in Munich in 1938 shown on page 11, page 12 shows his movement from the early flying unit to KG53 on the 22.11.1939. Page 22 shows his promotions to the rank of Gefreiter to Unter Offizier. Page 23 shows his awards including Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class, the award of the Flight Bar in Gold. Page 26 shows his further awards of the Honour Goblet, German Cross in Gold and further Flight Bars. Page 32 and 33 show his full record of service through from 1939 to his death in 1942 with original service in Poland, followed by France, followed by 24 flights over England during the blitz and then further service in Russia beginning on the very outbreak of the war on the 22nd June 1941. Page 34 shows his death, 25.12.1942 in Russia. Also with the group of documents are four documents relating to his father Adam Wehrmann, which includes the full A4 size citation for the Civil 25 Year Long Service Medal dated 1940, a Wound Badge citation for WWI, the 1934 Third Reich awarded WWI War Honour Cross for service in WWI, and an Old Comrades citation dated 1928. Kampf Geschwader 53, a bomber unit named Legion Condor were formed in May 1939 at Ansbach Germany with three groups. During the Battle of Britain Heinrich Wehrmann served in the 1st group of KG53 in which all of the groups were involved in the large Eagle Day 15th September raid and many other raids over Great Britain. The groups operated the Dornier DO17, the Heinkel HE111 and the Junkers JU88 bombers. A highly interesting and complete group of a Luftwaffe bomber aviator of the early stages of WWII with full documentation. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE KAPOK LIFE VEST. A very good example of the hard to find Luftwaffe Kapok life vest, this is the half back version. Very good colour to the Kapok with very minor age discoloration. Very slight shredding to one of the short Kapok sausage type sections. All of the closing strings and wooden pegs are complete. All straps in place. For some unusual reason the technical label has been removed. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE M.40 SINGLE DECAL HELMET. A good combat used M.40 helmet being of a good large size, marked for Q and size 68, Q stood for the manufacturer F.W.Quist. The helmet shows extensive combat use and has had a number of paint finishes including a final hand applied dark blue/grey Luftwaffe paint. The inner shell of the helmet remains in the original factory sprayed finish. The M.31 liner is complete and in place, there is a little dryness, however the leather remains good and flexible. The original draw cord is present. Half of the original chinstrap still remains. To the rear of the helmet there are two names, the first name being ‘Pippa’ which has been crossed out and another name ‘Woitzik’ painted above. The re-issue of Luftwaffe helmets towards the end of the war was a common occurrence. The single Luftwaffe decal is reasonably good, the wing show much detail, however the body of the eagle has much abrasion, approximately 70% of the swastika remains intact. On close examination one can see that the decal has been very carefully cut around with a final hand applied coat of paint. The overall condition is good and stored and dusty. The liner has always been present in the helmet and the pins show no signs of tampering whatsoever. There is a little rust to the inner dome, this is not deep. The lot number is ‘258’. Overall and excellent and very large combat helmet. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE M.42 SINGLE DECAL COMBAT HELMET. A good Luftwaffe M.42 single decal combat helmet, approximately 80% of the original paint finish remaining to the exterior skull. The decal is complete with some abrasions as can be viewed on our web images. The paint has removed itself from two of the three liner retaining rivet heads. Interior leather liner still retaining much original colour mixed with obvious wear use. The original drawstring is complete. Stamped size 56. The tip of one tongue is torn, the strap is missing. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE MEDICAL SERVICES NCO/ENLISTED MANS VISOR CAP. A well service worn large size enlisted mans/NCO’s visor cap for a member of the Luftwaffe Medical Services. Any of the waffenfarbes other than the standard red, yellow and brown of the Luftwaffe are scarce, this excellent condition cap being constructed from officers quality ribbed material is completely moth free. Matching stamped aluminium Luftwaffe eagle and national cockade. Enlisted mans double buckled chinstrap. Luftwaffe style double edge ribbed peak. To the interior the hat had evidently had serious service wear. The leather sweatband is complete but split in two places with some stitches loose on the inner forehead area. The inner gold lining, again heavily sweat stained, constructed from artificial silk, the celluloid lozenge has only 20% remaining with the lettering of the original maker or retailer, which was either silver or gold blocked to the lining is now completely indistinct. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS CLOAK EAGLE. In approximately 2007 we acquired a good quantity of wire woven embroidered items part of an old manufacturer's stock, included in that were three Luftwaffe officers absolutely mint cloak eagles. They have never been used and there are still remains of its original wrapping paper. We have placed an ordinary sized eagle in the picture next to it purely to show the large scale. This does not come with it. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A very good example of a huge size double Erel marked Luftwaffe officers visor cap, constructed in the standard Luftwaffe ribbed material. One moth nip to the crown with another two moth nips to the front of the cap to the right of the officers eagle. Extremely high quality hand embroidered officers eagle with a good heavy wire woven national cockade which is fitted to the standard mohair centre band. Standard cap cords with the double ribbed edged front peak. The interior of the cap has the grey leather sweat band which has some slight age foxing with minor wear use showing to the forehead area. The interior lining in gold artificial silk. A totally undamaged centre celluloid lozenge which is Erel marked plus the wording ‘VERKAUFS-ABTEILUNG DER LUFTWAFFE, BERLIN SW68’ and has the Erel trade mark repeated silver stamped into the grey leather sweat band. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS VISOR CAP. A very good large size Luftwaffe officers visor cap constructed in the standard Luftwaffe ribbed blue/grey material with the main body of the cap totally moth free. The waffenfarbe to the crown, upper and lower sections of the mohair centre band all good with slight rubbing through the wire exterior of the waffenfarbe right at the very point of the saddle shape of the cap. Fitted with the matching silver wire officers eagle and cockade. Standard officers cap cords. The peak is with the extra leather trim, which is found on most early and mid war Luftwaffe officers visor caps. Some light oxidisation to the waffenfarbe on the lower rear edge of the cap. The interior leather liner in grey generally in good order with obvious wear use in the forehead area. The interior lined in a very light grey which has stained somewhat from sweat. The original owner’s name, which appears to be ‘Dr.Dettmann’ hand applied to the grey silk lining. A retailer or maker’s silver blocked logo is complete with the undamaged centre celluloid lozenge. An excellent shape, service worn, Luftwaffe officers visor cap. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS WHITE TOP SUMMER CAP. A very good Erel produced Luftwaffe officers white removable topped visor cap. The removable white top is generally in good condition with some light age foxing, which is fitted with its totally removable heavy wire woven Luftwaffe eagle on white background cloth. Fitted to the central standard mohair centre band is the wire woven cockade with a set of matching cap cords. Extra strengthened Luftwaffe style front peak. The interior leather sweat band is generally in good condition with wear use evident, clearly stamped ‘57’. To the upper inner crown, which is in a beautiful silvered artificial silk the complete Erel trademark with the lettering ‘Verkafs-Abteilung Der Luftwaffe Berlin SW68’ is clear underneath its undamaged centre celluloid lozenge. There is one unusual either light scorch or rust stain to the artificial silk close to the celluloid central lozenge. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE PARATROOPERS BADGE. A very good example by Paul Meyerbauer. All of the dark patina finish to the oak and laurel leaf wreath complete. Virtually all of the gilt to the diving eagle is complete with slight rubbing to the high spots of one wing and one arm of the swastika. Two delicate domed rivets and thick needle pin to the reverse side with the large letters ‘PM’ cast into the back of the diving eagle. Unusually a large dome of metal has adhered itself to the back of the eagle under the letters ‘PM’ during construction, it has not been removed and when gilded the circle of metal has remained. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE PILOT'S BADGE. A very good condition all nickel Luftwaffe Pilot's badge, non maker marked. Excellent detail to the laurel and oak leaf wreath. Good definition within the wings of the Pilot style eagle. Thick needle pin. Two domed rivets, one of which is flattened. This is a very good mid war example, as the higher quality metals were harder to obtain due to the total war effort substitute metals were used in the creation of medals and badge and by virtue of the fact that this is non maker marked but still a nickel construction, we would ascertain it as a mid war period piece. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE SIGNALS NCO/ENLISTED MANS VISOR CAP. A very fine saddle shape enlisted mans issue quality visor cap, constructed from the thick enlisted mans cloth. One minor moth nip to the crown, all the other areas of the exterior of the cap being moth free, with the brown waffenfarbe indicating Signals Units standing out proudly against the Luftwaffe blue grey cloth and the black mohair centre band. The insignia exactly matching in colour and quality of stamped aluminium. Standard chin strap with the extra ribbed peak commonly found on the majority of Luftwaffe visor caps. To the interior the mid tan leather sweat band shows some evidence of wear use. The upper inner crown lining and side lining are of the light russet brown cotton material. The central celluloid lozenge has slightly broken away but still leaving its Carl Halfar Uniform Production Berlin maker's mark clearly visible in the crown area. On pulling back the sweat band it is seen that the orange forehead cushion has solidified and broken away. To the interior of the sweat band it is clearly regimentally marked to the 2nd Company Luftwaffe Signals Regiment 2, plus it is dated 'April 1938'. It would be difficult to find as good an example as this. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE TROPICAL UNIFORM. A rare and complete uniform of a Luftwaffe Flying Leutnant comprising:- Four pocket service tunic, tan overseas cap and the extremely rare tan matching shorts. The Luftwaffe tropical tunics and trousers came in two different weights of material, the thick heavy ribbed style and the lightweight style. Most favoured amongst collectors is the heavy ribbed style as this uniform is. The tunic is fitted with a pair of slip-on Luftwaffe yellow wool based epaulettes to the rank of Leutnant. The breast eagle is the tropical machine woven grey on tan, this is a replacement, there are stitches on the inside of the tunic where a previous eagle had been fitted and removed after WWII. All the removable buttons are in place. The tunic is of a good medium size. There are loops for one award to the upper left breast pocket. The bandage pocket is complete to the unlined interior. Faint traces of the original maker's mark and size stampings are visible to the interior. The shorts of the matching heavy weight material are again in excellent condition, profusely size stamped to the heavy white cotton liner to the waist band. Accompanying the tunic and shorts is the Luftwaffe tan tropical overseas cap, large size, fitted with the correct enlisted mans insignia and stamped size '58' to the interior. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN LUFTWAFFE WHITE SUEDE WINTER FUR CAP. The visored sheepskin lined cap which was part of the Luftwaffe winter suit, these were produced in Sofia Bulgaria. The cap is with its separately applied Luftwaffe enlisted ranks eagle and cockade, completely sheepskin lined. Some wear use and light overall staining. Two stitch repairs to the crown. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN LUGER HOLSTER. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. A very fine condition three letter coded waffen amt stamped PO8 designated hard shell army issue holster for the Luger PO8 semi automatic pistol. The leather is absolutely superb, all good strong stitching, very clear markings on the reverse side. The integral pouch for the stripping tool is complete within the leather flap. The buckle is non rusted and the leather to the closing strap is good and strong. |
| GERMAN LUGER HOLSTER. A standard issue text book holster being of the mid-brown colour and clearly maker-marked 1918 to the rear. There is a script name inked to the rear also. Both belt loops are present. The item is clearly marked B?V?AXI to the interior. The stripper tool pouch is present and in good order. There is some fraying to the bottom of the magazine slide and a little flaking to the closure strap. However the holster remains a good example to mount on a mannequin. |
| GERMAN M.16/17 HELMET. A super example of a large helmet being the M.16 steel shell. The field grey paint to the exterior is approximately 80% present. There are some light rust marks, a few chips and scratches, however the overall condition and colour of the paint is excellent. All three rivets remain in place and are good and tight. To the interior of the helmet the same percentage of paint remains. To the rear neck is a hand written name. The M.17 style leather liner retaining ring is present. All three pads are of the white late war quality leather. All three horse hair pads remain in place. Two of the pads are complete and undamaged and one pad has one finger end missing and one restored replaced finger end and the overall appearance of this helmet is excellent. The size is large and the helmet is made by SI and a size 66. |
| GERMAN M.18 CAMOUFLAGE TRENCH HELMET. An AL64 sized M.18 trench helmet, shell only, still retaining its metal liner band. All the interior leather missing. The exterior has at least 60% of its original camouflage paint finish remaining in a three-colour camouflage of maroon, green and tan with black separation lines. The finish is missing from the crown area of the helmet. |
| GERMAN M.18 SINGLE DECAL TRANSITIONAL HELMET. A fabulous example of the transitional helmet being a WWI produced 1918 pattern steel helmet made by ET in a size 64, which has received a regulation coat of the rough slate grey paint. To the left hand side the eagle decal has been applied, this has been applied with a fairly rough lacquer to the exterior, on viewing under magnification one can clearly see tiny crackling over the entire surface of the eagle, there are some scratches to the mid section of the decal and some of the silver foil layer can clearly be seen breaking through the dark shield background. All three rivets are present and show the same paint as the helmet shell with some chipping overall. The interior of the helmet is generally good and again has the same slate grey paint. There is a large name indelibly inked to the rear skirt of the helmet. The liner is the M.35 type with the reinforced sides. The lining leather is a little dry and flaking in places, however it is stable. Interestingly there is one minor flaw to the front dip of the helmet which has cracked, this is due to a manufacturer’s defect. Transitional helmets in themselves are an interesting aspect of WWII German helmets and show how equipment was recycled officially by the Third Reich Government. The overall condition is excellent and highly presentable and would make an excellent example of this helmet for the advanced collector. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 CAMOUFLAGE COMBAT HELMET. A 66 sized M.35 shell that was originally issued as a double decal helmet and has been over-camouflaged in a rough cast grey/green. The matt finish is virtually all intact to the lower half of the helmet with the crown being rubbed smooth. The heaviness of the paint on the left hand side of the helmet makes it difficult to see the outline of the original armed forces decal. On the right hand side of the helmet by running the finger over the area where the tri-colour is it can be felt that the tri-colour is below the paint. Interior liner still retaining much light tan colour has suffered from some leather rot, however it is all intact with its original drawstring and is fitted with the early square edged strap buckles, the strap is all complete and is maker marked ‘Berlin’ and dated ‘1939’. |
| GERMAN M.35 DOUBLE DECAL ARMY HELMET. A nice combat used example of a size 64 helmet made by NS. The initials NS stood for Nickelwerke. NS were one of the smaller manufacturing plants. The army decal is good and reasonably clear with some gold toning. There is one abrasion scratch which has defaced 2/3rds of the left hand wing, however the swastika remains good. The decal has the characteristic minute crackling over the surface due to the lacquer. To the opposite side the national colours remain good and approximately 85% present with some scratching and toning to the white area. The dark apple green finish is approximately 85% present. The liner is good, although a little dirty through combat use. There is one small rodent bite to two areas of the fingers. The original cord is present as is the original chinstrap with its characteristic early aluminium buckle. The liner band is the early type with the second model of reinforcing to the edge of the band. The chinstrap retaining clips are the square cornered aluminium type. The lot number is a low number although difficult to read. At some time the chinstrap has been slightly shortened by the soldier and cut neatly into a second point. The helmet remains in completely untouched stored condition, there is some dust and dirt to the interior, the exterior remains relatively clean with some light surface areas of corrosion and one or two chips. All rivets remain good and tight to the helmet. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 DOUBLE DECAL KRIEGSMARINE/ARMY HELMET. There has always been some controversy as to the originality of Kriegsmarine decals versus army decals, many army decals that have received a coating of lacquer adopt a yellow tone, this can often be misconstrued as Kriegsmarine, however we believe this double decal helmet is a Kriegsmarine issue helmet. There is very little lacquer and the gold remains consistent and throughout the entirety of the decal. The helmet itself remains a completely untouched helmet in stored condition. The exterior of the helmet has the apple green finish and the eagle decal is in good and very bright condition, there are one or two scratches to the wing areas and one corner, but the majority of the decal remains good and bright. To the other side the three coloured national shield has been carefully over-painted, this was to fit in with 1940 regulations. The exterior of the helmet is dusty and has much of its original light apple green paint, this is characteristic of SE manufactured helmets. There is some rust to the crown and some rust bleed, chipping, etc., overall. The helmet remains dusty and we have not cleaned it in any way, light cleaning with soap and water would bring this helmet up beautifully but we have left it as found. Interestingly the rivets show verdigree, this is due to the brass content of the very early production of buckles and also lends credence to the theory this is a Kriegsmarine helmet, the salty atmosphere of a coastal posting or ship aboard use would produce such chemical reaction. The interior of the helmet shows much of the original light apple green paint with some areas of corrosion, unfortunately the liner band has suffered a little to the rear and the aluminium again shows characteristic salt damage. All the buckles and rivets to hold the chinstrap in place have also suffered a corrosive affect to the aluminium. The interior dome shows some rust but the rust is not active. Interestingly to the rear of the extremely early leather liner is the ‘1937’ date clearly stamped into the exterior of the leather, this is only found on early runs of helmets. The chinstrap is complete, however the stitching has come away, the buckle remains in place, the overall leather is flexible although a little fragile, the tip of the chinstrap is clearly dated ‘1937’. The original chinstrap cord remains in place and the helmet is an extremely large 68. Although this helmet is far from in mint condition it remains a totally untouched and a good Kriegsmarine M.35, this would be one of the hardest helmets of all to find for the advanced German helmet collector. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 DOUBLE DECAL TEXTURED CAMOUFLAGE BATTLE DAMAGE HELMET. A super historical helmet being an M.35 double decal helmet that has received subsequent layers of camouflage finish paint. The characteristic rough finish can clearly be seen to front areas of the helmet, this is achieved by adding woodchips to the paint. Although there is considerable wear and paint loss overall there are still good areas of the woodchip camouflage present. The colours appear to be dark green and tan over a second coat of olive rough paint with the original apple green paint coming through in places. Much of the silver backing remains to the army decal to the left hand side and the lower portions of the national colour still remain in place. There are two areas of battle damage being what appears to be small shrapnel entry holes, one hole has clearly dislodged one of the air vents to the helmet shell, the helmet shell itself is made by EF and is in a size 66, EF stood for Emaillerwerke Fulda. The liner is the M.31 aluminium type with the reinforced edges. The loops are the slightly rounded all aluminium type characteristic of the later production of the M.31 liner. The leather is good and supple, there is one area of leather missing where the shrapnel has clearly passed through the helmet liner. Much of the original apple green paint remains to the interior. The chinstrap is missing. An untouched battlefield pick-up. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 LUFTWAFFE CAMOUFLAGE HELMET. A stunning much combat worn steel helmet and shows evidence of use on at least two fronts. The helmet itself is an M.35 helmet which has been reconditioned to M.40 standards having traces of the single Luftwaffe decal remaining and the lining being of the M.40 type with its zinc band and chinstrap retaining loops. The helmet’s exterior shows much combat use and has probably lain on the battlefield for some years after the combat. There appears to have been a spray applied layer of attractive light sand coloured paint overall, then a secondary finish of ordnance tan paint has been sprayed over this with areas of green characteristic of the camouflages of the Italian and Normandy front. On very close examination with a magnifying glass one can see characteristic areas of minute crazing to the paint surface due to shrinkage. There is much combat wear to the top crown area of the helmet and the skirts and rear show a good amount of camouflage paint, interestingly to the rear and side large circles have been scraped into the paint, we can only guess as to reason why this may have been done but this may well be some form of combat identification. The interior of the helmet shows a high degree of paint loss, this is characteristic of Luftwaffe helmets of this period, which seem to have a very thin coat of paint, this paint would often be lost earlier than the highly element rich exterior paint. The lining remains complete with its original tie cord however this is much dryness and there is a considerable area of damage to the front crown, this is fairly stable and as long as the helmet is handled with care will stay in place. The chinstrap is an original M.40 type with the steel buckle and is clearly maker marked and dated ‘1941’. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 LUFTWAFFE SAND CAMOUFLAGE HELMET. A super example of a helmet used in the Afrika theatre of operations. The helmet shell itself is a good size and although the maker cannot be made out the size is approximately 66. The exterior paint is a spray applied tan finish. Areas of scratching clearly show the Luftwaffe decal beneath the sand coloured paint. Much of the original blue finish is now showing through the multiple areas of chipping and scratching. The helmet is a weather worn combat helmet. The rivet heads show some of the sand coloured paint. The liner of the helmet has suffered a little from the dry conditions. There is some shrinkage and damage to the rear. As is characteristic with many Luftwaffe M.35 helmets the interior metalwork has suffered, this is due to the thinness of the painted finish on them. There is some minor pitting to the rear skirt of the helmet and some to the interior dome. There is much oxidisation to the liner band, which is the 2nd pattern M.31 alloy with reinforced edges. The original chinstrap is in place with its original all alloy early buckle, the tip has snapped from the strap but the strap remains reasonably good and flexible. The helmet itself has all the appearance and patination of a classic Afrika worn helmet. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 SINGLE DECAL ARMY COMBAT HELMET. A standard M.35 helmet being manufactured by Q in a size 64. To the exterior of the shell much of the original apple green paint is present. The original Army decal is present with one very large scratch across the entire centre of the decal. The rivets are in place and tight and show much of the apple green paint. The national coloured shield has been scraped off as per the 1940 regulations. The inner of the helmet is in good overall condition, there is a name both to the rear skirt and to the leather lining for a Unteroffizier with his name and number very clearly marked. The leather liner is good and supple in a mid tan colour with the original cord still present. The original chinstrap is present with its alloy buckle and is dated ‘1938’, the liner band is the 2nd model aluminium liner band. The exterior paint finish has suffered somewhat from corrosion, there is a light overall rust to the rear left hand side and much rust staining to the paint. A totally untouched and genuine helmet from the early mid war period. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 SINGLE DECAL CAMOUFLAGE HELMET. A really stunning combat helmet being an M.35 steel shell made by XE in a size 62. The helmet has received multiple old over-paints. The original apple grey finish to the exterior has been over-painted by hand with a roughened grey green finish as per 1940 regulations. The decal has been carefully cut around and exposed. A subsequent coat of spray applied sandy paint has been over-sprayed, on close examination with a magnifying loop one can clearly see crackling to the subsequent paint layers. To the rear is another area of the deep red brown over-spray. The liner pins are good and solid and in place and have lost much of their original paint finish as is typical for early rivets. The liner is the very early M.31 alloy liner without reinforcement to the sides, these fragile liners seldom survived. The leather is excellent and in a good light tan colour, it is supple and well size marked to the underside. To the neck of the helmet is a well painted name ‘Becker’ and the lot number 3568. There is a little corrosion to the dome area of the interior of the helmet and an alloy buckled chinstrap is present and in good condition and is dated ‘1941’. Overall an excellent combat helmet with a good patina and an excellent combat scarred appearance. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.35 SNOW CAMOUFLAGE OVER-PAINT HELMET. A fascinating helmet showing evidence of use in many theatres of war. This particular helmet is an M.35 shell that has been over-painted at some time in white snow camouflage paint and then due to the thaw, over-painted again in a mid grey finish paint. One can clearly see a decal is below the painted surface and there is some crazing to the area of over-paint which is over the decal. The paint finish appears to be the M.40 regulation type grey paint. The rivets are nestling beautifully in the thick painted surface and clearly show much of the same paint finish as the rest of the shell. Under magnification one can clearly see crazing over the surface of the helmet. The liner of the helmet is a very late alloy M.31 type with the characteristic reinforced edges, the chinstrap retaining buckle have the rounded corners. The helmet is marked ‘SE64’ and the lot number is rather faint and difficult to read. The leather liner remains in good condition and a little dryness to the end of the fingers. There is a well written name to the leather liner and one half of the leather chinstrap remains with all steel M.40 type buckle. The helmet remains in dusty untouched condition. On close examination of the interior one can see good traces of three quarters of the dome stamp. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.40 LUFTWAFFE SAND CAMOUFLAGE HELMET. A magnificent desert veteran helmet being a large sized Q produced 66 shell having to the interior a spray tan finish in an extremely nice patinated golden tone. The paint remains approximately 40% present and although the tan is another green over-painted finish below this original Luftwaffe blue grey. The liner pins are good and tight and have lost most of the paint to their surface however there are traces to the rear of the sand paint to the rivet head. The patination of the helmet is superb, there is some rust bleed as well as many scratches and areas of chipping. The interior of the helmet remains good. The skirt areas are also spray painted in the tan. This spray paint has overlapped onto the zinc liner band. There is a good hand painted name and rank to the rear of the helmet. The lot number is 6425. The leather liner is good and present and complete. The chinstrap is an early all aluminium buckle and rivet type. There is a ‘37’ date to the uncut point of the strap. Cut into the paint of the interior dome appears to be a monogram presumably the owner’s initials. The helmet remains dusty and stored and in completely untouched condition. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.40 SAND CAMOUFLAGE ARMY HELMET. A classic example of an AK helmet being the 1940 pattern steel helmet with clear signs of once being a single decal. The paint finish to the exterior is a beautiful golden sand okra tone. There is much chipping to the paint surface and areas of paint loss, this type of wear is characteristic of a helmet that has lain on the battlefield for several years after the combat. The paint is clearly hand applied. Some of the grey green paint remains below and the clear area of the decal can be seen. The interior of the helmet is in the same condition, showing much of its original grey green finish. The liner is the M.40 type and is rather dry but complete and there are some areas of wear where the leather has turned over the sweatband. The metal fingers holding the liner in place are a little damaged at the rear. A highly interesting and evocative Afrika helmet. True Afrika Korps helmets are one of the most difficult for the collector to find. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.42 SAND CAMOUFLAGE BATTLE DAMAGED HELMET. A magnificent souvenir shell being an M.42 helmet produced by ET and in a size 66. The exterior of the shell has a hand applied deep sand coloured paint, the paint has clearly been painted over the single Wehrmacht decal, clear ghosting of the eagle can be made out and there is a fine crackling around the decal area where the lacquer has reacted with the sand coloured camouflage paint applied over it. There is a light sanded finish within the sand coloured paint leaving a slightly roughened finish overall. To the front of the helmet applied with typical medical adhesive tape and written in ink is ‘German helmet with real battle service, as you can see from Sam’. All three rivets remain intact and show sand coloured paint on the heads. There is an entry to the right hand side, which has obliterated most of the air vent. The exit is to the rear of the helmet and shows multiple splitting and jagged lines which have been punched through by the velocity of the shrapnel. The liner band is present inside as are the washers. The liner band is somewhat loose and has suffered some distortion due to the impact. There is an area to the inner crown, which appears at one time to have been blood, which has been wiped from the interior of the helmet and shows the lines where the rag has passed over the interior. The maker stamp is good and clear as is the lot number to the rear. Overall a stunning combat helmet with clear evidence of the ferocity of battle. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M.42 SINGLE DECAL ARMY HELMET. A nice combat used example of the classic M.42 configuration helmet being manufactured by CKL, this was the code adopted by the ET Company later in the war. The helmet is a good large size, probably a 66, although the size undetermined. The exterior of the helmet has a large percentage of its original grey green paint finish. The army decal is slightly wonky in its application, this is a good sign on these later mass produced helmets and is quite often seen, the decal retains good colour with some areas of rust bleed and some damage to the left hand lower wing. The rivets remain good and strong and well seated. There are some areas of pitting to the crown and a little rust bleed. To the interior the late war all pigskin liner is complete and in good condition with all fingers present. The chinstrap, again, is complete but there is some damage, one break and an area of weakness to one of the fixing areas, there is again the characteristic rust bleed to the interior but the helmet remains completely untouched and a genuine combat helmet. The helmet described above will come with an XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com |
| GERMAN M16 CAMO HELMET WITH FASCINATING HISTORY After many, many years of handling militaria one, on occasion, finds things that fit like a piece of a jigsaw into a historical pattern. Recently we purchased this helmet in Italy being an unusually camouflaged German M16, however the helmet originated in the US. The lining of the helmet has the typical American dryness and has the unmistakable look and smell of a helmet stored in the United States. Although the helmet was unusual we had a hunch that we had seen something similar before. On returning to our premises, we examined a number of books until we found a most interesting link: this being that an excellent French book by Francois Berten called Memoires d’Objets Histoires d’Hommes 1914-1918, produced by Ouest-France. Within the pages of this excellently illustrated book is a most interesting double page spread about 5 helmets that were found in a loft in France. They reside in possibly the finest WW1 collection in France and the owner has without doubt two of the best museums in the world. The helmets’ exteriors all seem to have an individualistic and different camouflage pattern applied although evidently in the photo and again in the text it is remarked that the tones of the colours are very exact and whoever painted the helmets used large areas of black. One can conjecture from the unusual application and skilled variation that they were painted by an artist or a soldier of considerable skill such as a sign painter. Also, more interestingly, the lining of all 5 helmets are well illustrated and show one amazing feature: they have the name of the soldier and the initials SK – this stood for Störm Kompanie. So from this conclusion it is obvious that within this unit one single man painted many of the helmets. There is also a good illustration in Branislav Radovic’s 'Helmets of the First World War' of a column of German troops marching with camouflage helmets. In this photo you can clearly see that the pattern is exactly the same for each of the helmets. Also on close examination of the photos one can see that the inners of the helmets have also been repainted by hand in field grey. This is not atypical and shows a high degree of reclamation carried out by German troops during WW1. The helmet’s exterior camouflage is of the usual mid-green/ochre/black and rust brown segments. These segments have been artistically splotched to form a unique camo pattern. Again, one of the photos illustrated in the book clearly shows a very similar pattern to one of the five helmets. The helmet itself is a rare TJ size 68 manufactured helmet and has all the normal characteristics: the all-leather M16 band is in place and although the three pad holders are present two have suffered greatly with American dry rot. This has now stopped. The lining has been carefully oiled. One of the pad holders remains very good with the single original cushion in place. The helmet chinstrap still remains in place. This is extremely rare as by design these were very poor and were frequently lost even at the time. At some point the inner of the helmet around the skirt area has been varnished. This is again typical of American souvenir-ing. The helmet remains unique and fascinating and would make a superb centrepiece for a serious camouflage helmet collection. With the five illustrated in the book and the helmet we have in our possession at the moment one can draw the conclusion that others probably exist with exactly the same writing to the rear skirt and variations of the same camouflage scheme. WW1 camouflage helmets have always been particularly fascinating and have an air of folk art about them, each one being individually undertaken, and in our opinion they remain a very underestimated area of history.
The helmet described above will come with a XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com. PRICE TO BE GIVEN ON FULL XRF CERTIFICATION. |
| GERMAN M35 CAMO OVERSPRAY A fine combat helmet having a clear solid coat of ordinance tan M40 light paint oversprayed. There are remnants of the original single Army decal still present. There are tones of green and rust brown in places. This would indicate that at some time this helmet had been a Normandy-type camouflage. The helmet shell being an ET in a size 66. The original liner is present; the draw cord is now missing. The helmet has the typical M40 zinc band. The original chinstrap is in place and unbroken. There are clear maker markings to the tip of the chinstrap. Interestingly, to the rear is one of the original camouflage net clip holders still in place. The overall condition is untouched with large areas of abrasion and paint missing. To the interior there is rust bleed and the usual storage dust. The leather remains good and supple. A fine looking example of a combat helmet.
The helmet described above will come with a XRFacts certificate. With regard to this groundbreaking technology we strongly recommend all of our clients to go to our XRFacts page on this web site and to XRFacts.com. PRICE TO BE GIVEN ON FULL XRF CERTIFICATION. |
| GERMAN M44 COMBAT TROUSERS. A very rare pair of the late war earth brown coloured model 44 army combat trousers. Excellent condition overall with good nap to cloth. No moth, damage or staining. Reinforced seat area. Four loops to the waist band for belt fixing. All matching buttons. Size stamped with coding WB44. As the war progressed the coloration of the uniforms changed ending with the late war earth brown colour, normally associated with the M44 bluse. Some thinness to nap in the pocket areas. This item is from the excellent Italian based collection that we purchased in April 2009. |
| GERMAN MACHINE GUNNER’S SHOVEL An extremely scarce item, being the small shovel carried by machine gun personnel. These personnel were issued with the shorter bayonet known as the Demag and carried with them a very small implement being approximately half size. These entrenching tools were made specifically in this size and were not cut down or shortened normal entrenching tools. Manufactured in the classic Linemann style. The spade comes with its extremely rare all leather carrier. The carrier is profusely marked with ‘JR Regiment 3’ and a date of ’16. The leather is reasonably supple and has a good, deep patination. The item is a little fragile and would need careful handling to undo; however the item remains perfectly usable for a mannequin-type display. There is a reasonable pitting over the entire surface of the blade and a little shrinkage to |
