What's your newest militaria III

Ok, I have done some research and have found some great information that may help future fair goers, especially our British friends who get a chance to come to France during the Summer and may spot these for a cheap price. If you do buy them, they are rare and excellent WWII relics!

My bag is a wonderful find and I confirm it's a genuine Vichy area made item from 1941. The Model was initially inspired by the Early BERGAM sac , which was made by the LAFUMA (a civilian mountain gear maker) . Lafuma received an order from the army in 1940 to get bags for the Narvik expedition and name the army version "Bergam". The bags were big and could carry the bread bags too, but they were a bit too wide , so a second model was planned a few months later.

The lighter Bergham II (which is my model ) was only made after the Armistice (production started suring the Summer of 1940) and used for Vichy troops , mostly mountain troops fighting the Resistance, and Milice recruits. They were also used by the chantiers de Jeunesse (the Vichy Equivalent of the HJ) . The date in my bag confirms the second type and is therefore a genuine Vichy Regime relic.

 

War signed photo of the 321. Oakleaves recipient Heinrich Kiesling.

Kiesling is MIA since the 18.june 1944.

Lexikon der Wehrmacht

The pic here:

Kiesling, Heinrich

 

Apologies Gents (and Ladies) for not getting back to this sooner!

This is the story behind the medal group that I posted in #752

The photograph shown below was taken by me in May of 2010, while visiting the grave of my Great Grand Uncle Martin McKenzie. He was a member of the 2nd Batt Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and was killed during the battle of '3rd Ypres' (Passchendaele). He is buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksijde, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Martin is buried on the right, while on the left Patrick McCloskey is buried. The medals I recently got were those of Patrick. Note there is one day between their deaths.

From my research and reading of the 2nd Batt war diary, I now know that Martin and Patrick were both part of the same 'work party' (digging Sap trenches, laying barbed wire at night etc) when I presume they were caught in an artillery bombardment as there were other men lost the same night. Patrick seems to have died instantly (17th Sept) while my Great Grand Uncle died the following day of his wounds (18th of Sept).

When I took this photograph in May 2010, I did not have Patrick's medals and knew nothing of him or how he met his end. I took the photograph purely by chance, as they are both in the same battalion and because of the close dates in which they died.

It may sound a bit 'funny', but I feel as though faith helped me to find and look after these medals - something I intend to do.

Now I feel as though I know both Patrick and Martin equally, and like to think that they were friends......I can imagine an officer shouting at them...." McCloskey, McKenzie gather up your gear lads, your on work detail tonight".

I shall visit Coxyde again, only this time I will be visiting both their graves.

30730 Lance Cpl Patrick McCloskey, KIA in Sept 1917 .....he was 19 years old
40617 Private Martin Mckenzie, KIA in Sept 1917 ....he was 24 years old
34985 Private J. J. Sherry, KIA in Sept 1917

 

relatives/friends, comrades in arms nonetheless.

a fine tribute you are forming Andy to the brave fallen.

good job.

 

Nothing as special here as in Andy's case but, I just secured a complete matching lobby card set ofr Pork Chop Hill, and three of the rarer Studio Release photos-two of the night time attack scenes and one daylight scene.

1) Shows Greg Peck (Lt Joe Clemens) with Norman Fell--one of his RTO guys, and the RTO guy whose name I do not know.
2) Greg Peck along side of Woody Strode, attacking up Pork Chop Hill.
3) Daylight scene of just after Peck confronts Strode hiding in a bunker, and has his M-2 Carbine aimed at him.

These are all different pics than you saw when Ray and Skipper posted the pics that were sent to me by email from a great Gent who has a large collection of these things--Mr. Bill O'Hara.

Forgot to mention that I also have on hold for me, two more complete sets of lobby cards.
1) The Long Ships w/ Richard Widmark, Russ Tamblyn as Vikings, and Sidney Poitier as a Moorish King.
2) War and Peace w/ Henry Fonda, Sir John Mills and Audrey Hepburn.

Oh and found some VERY interesting pics on ebay I might try for. If you thought much of what I had in the past was nice, these are even better in most cases ;-))

I SHOULD have these in by late May-early June at the latest.

 

Two Finnish volunteer letters with nice stamps, and one Mannerheim visiting card.

 

Nicely done my friend. What does the card say?

Several years ago, I almost got a Manfred von Richthofen signed calling card from a dealer from Houston. I was $400 short of what the guy wanted as he wanted $1,200 for it. I now wish I had bit the bullet and spent the money.

 

To be honest I don´t know as it is in Russian. Usually he gave these to ladies, as he was a known playboy, and the message was about a wish to meet soon etc etc...

 

excellent Kai have a little something to go with your Tirpitz album(s) thread soon

 

We might just have to force Slava to translate them for you. If he doesnt, we get to break all of his fingers ;-))

 

Its late and im tired so im forgetting more than usual but, tonight I got 4 new wins from one of my favoreit sellers on ebay. These are all important pics in their own right even if two seem a bit mundane.

The most important one if an original of an NCO in a Panzer Division who was just awarded his Knights Cross. I say he most likely was in a Panzer Division because I think he was in one of its Schutzen (Panzer Grenadier) Regiments. Also, I KNOW I have seen his face before, and I asked Skipper to post it for me in the hopes that someone with a better memory than I have, can place a name with that face? Im also going to shoot an email to Paul when I get back tomorrow and see if he knows anything on the guy?

Another shows Germans posing with their weapons--one if an MG-34 team. What I liked about that pic so much was that it shows a rare piece of Militaris that is attached to his belt, plus the MG-team both are wearing Lugers.

The RK ceremony Pic also shows a Medic who has his Medics Pouch on his belt--another pretty rare piece of mil.

The final two pics were from a batch of three-I just missed the third pic. Anyway, it shows Russians newly taken prisoner and I THINK, that these might have been taken in Kiev, or near there. I have almost nothing to go on on these till I get them in my hands, but, somethings caught my eye and I believe these were taken in or near Kiev.

 

While patrolling south of Paris I came accross this fair by chance and decided to visit the place. Good thing I did. I came back with this 1943 dated Flak Sprenggranaten crate in great condition with labels, zinc case and even some of the paper wrapping on the zinc.

 

more pics

 

am wondering if this nice box was fielded for light Fla LW crew's near the coast as the zinc liner would indicate : to remove mositure as much as possible. have seen Kriegsmarine metal 2cm and 3.7cm cases on board U-boots and surface ships that are all metall with zinc-liners for just this very reason, no wood was ever used except by land based Flak and artilliere. Note I posted my wodden 8.8cm Flak fuze case earlier used by the KM.

great find Skip I luv these boxes in all forms. Congrats on another fine acquisition to your growing collection. On more thing Skip could you please take a close up of the paper label of the Luftwaffe ??? on the front lower left corner of the box for us ? a side note Skip: you have a box that held tracer rounds ( L'Spur )

 

Nice find Skipper ;-))

Also, confirmed today about those two newest Russian PW pics-the one taken in a city-is indeed taken in Kiev. ;-)) That puts a nice time frame on it for me ;-))

 

You may be right Erich, there was inded quite some most on it and I had to clean it with vinegar to take of the mushrooms and smell, it's all clean now and I managed to spare the labels and the original colour. Tracer rounds you say? That's even better. I will take a picture of the Lw label for you. Bases close to the place I found the box are Mondésir and Chartres, Derux and Saint André de L'Eure being withing an hour as well.

Carl, I will try posting your pics again today, but Icouldn't get through yesterday.

 

Hi Skip and thank you. Also, I tried logging on this site earlier, but though I used correct name (like I could forget my name?) and password, it wouldnt let me on so I went to where Ray is for awhile ;-))

 

ok Carl , let me know if your account is bugging or not.

Erich : here is the label for an expertise

I can read "Luft....". and possibly "gesamtgewicht"

 

Luftwaffe-Munitions.

is that 1941 or 1944 ? and I just noted from the other posting you removed the liner that is not attached within the box, very cool mine are somehow non-removable and are stained with whatever from years ago.

new item coming my way in a week, will try to scan and place here.

 

It's gotta be 44 Erich, last check supply label was 1943. I'm still wondering whether it could be the weight and not the date though. Thanks for your help!