Clearly having more money that sense--and this would be true if I had but sixpence--I've been picking up an increasing amount of ephemera, paperwork and memorabilia this year. As I suspect I'm not alone, I'm starting this thread so that you can show us what gems you are cluttering your homes up with. There are separate threads for books and medals, I think, but not much else. Today's purchase--not yet received in the post--but bought for a song, relatively speaking: Two Christmas cards and a party invite--pretty dull, eh? But open them up and you find one is signed by Alexander (1946) and the other by Auchinleck (1943). Random addition, but it's amazing how much signed items by Monty sell for. You're looking at over a hundred quid for just a scrap of paper or a reunion programme--and he was quite generous with his autograph for soldiers and former soldiers.
New acquisition. Name will ring a bell with those who have read about Monty. Major Noel Willinc Chavasse MBE., MC. Middlesex Regiment ADC to Field Marshal Montgomery during the Western Desert Campaign and throughout the campaign in North West Europe and was a nephew of the WW1 double Victoria Cross winner, Captain Noel Chavasse VC and Bar, RAMC. [...] Recommendation for the military Cross:“During the Battles of Mareth and the Gabes Gap this Officer displayed great courage and devotion to duty. He carried out his duties of L.O. all over the Battle area, at times under heavy fire and in heavily mined areas. He never faltered and his services were outstanding, he was an inspiration to others and contributed in no small way to the success of the Highland Division.”Recommendation for the US Air Medal: “Noel Willinic Chavasse MC Captain 1/7 Middlesex, British Army, for Meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights in Italy from 1 October to 31 December 1943. As a General Staff Officer Headquarters Eight Army, Captain Chavasse flew across the high mountains of Italy in order to bring to the Commanding General Eight Army, a prompt and accurate report of the progress and tactical position of American Fifth Army operating to the left of the British. In spite of weather obstacles and conditions of combat, not once did Captain Chavasse fail to return on schedule with vital information that was of material aid in welding the two great Armies into a potent Allied Force.”Major Noel Willinc Chavasse MBE MC was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment in 1939 and later served with the 8th Army, his father was the Bishop of Rochester and a great friend of Field Marshal Montgomery, whose Staff Chavasse joined and would serve on during the Normandy campaign and the early post war years. He was a nephew of the WW1 double Victoria Cross winner, Captain Noel Chavasse VC and Bar, RAMC after whom he was named. Source: WW2 Historic 8th Army & North West Europe MBE.,MC Medal Group of Eight to “Monty’s” Personal ADC
Not wanting to jinx it here, but I am hoping to reunite an Indian Mutiny Medal with the recipients Crimea Medal at a medal auction at the end of the month. As CF mentions, possibly more money than sense (I wish)!!
Agreed. What I have found over the years, is that soldiers medals are often split up by passing one each to descendants on the recipients death. This will be my second Victorian reunite if successful. A few years back I put together an IGS Burma with the soldiers 2nd Afghan War Medal. Always a great feeling.
Well, my luck held today and I just snuck in under my top bid price to secure the Mutiny Medal at today's auction.
Great idea for a thread Charley. Most of my purchases are POW related - I’ve been regularly sharing photos of POWs from the 1940 campaign in another thread. I’ve also amassed a few original press photos from 1939/40. My latest acquisitions were a Red Cross POW camp map and a couple of German propaganda leaflets.
I just purchased this grouping belonging to Lt. J.B. Muise, who served as a Navigator on a B-17 bomber (43-38359), 493rd Bomb Group during WWII. His plane #1 & 2 engine were damaged before the plane took another direct hit after completing a bomb run over a chemical plant at Ludwigshafen Germany. Four of the crew were blown free from the plane while 6 were killed. He spent the rest of the war as a POW at Stalag Luft III then later Stalag Luft VII. It also includes his Stalag POW Dog Tag and his Pink Stalag ID card with original photo. I also found a British YMCA Wartime Log that he used as a diary that he wrote down recipes and restaurants he would visit after the war. He was listed as MIA since the plane had exploded with the second hit and nobody saw any chutes. There are multiple pictured of his father receiving his medals. One of the largest groupings I have had the privilege to own
I bought a letter for literally a few quid, but I can't read it. I'd be very grateful if someone could either point me towards a German speaker/reader, or point said speaker towards this post. Seller's blurb: Feldpostbrief vom 29.4.44 von FP Nr. 34833, Grenadier-Regiment 134 Hoch- und Deutschmeister, der 44. Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister unterstellt. Zum Zeitpunkt des Briefes an der Schlacht von Monte Cassino beteiligt Der Soldat selbst, hat laut seinem Brief, den Ort St. Pölten Mitte April verlassen und wurde mit seinen Kameraden unterschiedlichen Kompanien zugeteilt. Das Wetter unterwegs war "einige Tage saukalt und regnerisch. Bloß gestern haben wir wieder einmal ordentlich geschwitzt, denn einige Stunden bergauf mit dem vollen Tornister bei der Hitze sind auch keine Kleinigkeit...denn es soll morgen nach vorne gehen. Nach Cassino wohin wir sollen, sind es noch ungefähr 30 km." Google's Attempt at Translation: Field post letter of April 29, 1944 from FP No. 34833, Grenadier Regiment 134 Hoch- und Deutschmeister, subordinated to the 44th Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister. Involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino at the time of writing According to his letter, the soldier himself left St. Pölten in mid-April and was assigned to different companies with his comrades. The weather on the way was "freezing cold and rainy for a few days. Only yesterday we sweated a lot again, because a few hours uphill with the full knapsack in the heat are no small matter ... because we should go forward tomorrow. To Cassino where we are." are about 30 km. " Images of letter (yet to receive): I'm not expecting any great revelations, but I am very curious.
From a recent Yorkshire house clearance. Very pleased to have some attributable Burma Campaign cloth. 3604685 Pte. Harry Kilvington, 9th battalion, Border Regiment.
In the south, 29.4.44 I left St.Pölten 14 days ago, but it seems to me that months must have passed since we last saw each other. So far I have not fared badly, I wrote to you once from the field camp of the Feldersatzbataillion. You will have received my map from Kuftstein by now. I also wrote to you once from the Feldersatzbatillone. You will have received my map from Kufstein by now. The night before yesterday we drove again with the truck in one piece. The day before yesterday we drove with the truck in one piece and yesterday we were divided among the individual companies. Everywhere came about 20 men. The "(inelligible)" and still some comrades of me, which I still are are also still with me, which I still know from the past years, are also still with me, so it cannot go wrong. Our group leader is a non-commissioned officer, who was my oldest member in Brno (?). It is quite different when you see familiar faces around you than when you join from somewhere new. Because of my work in the clerk's office at that time, I received a so-called warm handshake and a few words of appreciation from the sergeant in front of the whole company. You don't get anything out of it, but you are a bit happy because you see that your performance is appreciated a bit. The weather is also a bit nice now, now it was rainy and cold as hell for a few days. Only yesterday we sweated a lot again, because a few hours uphill with the satchel in the heat is no small feat. But now we have already handed in the satchel, because we are supposed to go to the front tomorrow. To Lassimarien? (unelligible) we should,. Are it again 30km And now I want to close for this time and hope that these lines arrive to you in full health and hope. How is Fredi? I have to write him a few lines, all the others I haven't written yet, I don't have so much time. Regards Olli
That's brilliant--I'm very grateful. Being an absolute duffer on anything from the other side of the hill, I don't know how to go about finding out whether the chap survived the war. From the envelope I have his name and what I take to be a Field Post No.: Soldat Fritz Gam, F.P No. 34833D Grenadier-Regiment 134 Hoch- und Deutschmeister,
Another recent acquisition found in a tray of costume jewellery on a dealer's stall. I knew that it was French and was thinking that it might be from Alsace post 1870 as it had what I thought was a Prussian crown above an eagle. (It is strange how my mind works). I was delighted to learn that it is in fact Napoleonic. I still need to gently clean some of the crud off.
A few recent pickups with a fairly international feel - a Pole who came via the Soviet Gulags and fought at Cassino where he was twice decorated, an Englishman who was with the Indian Airborne Division, a Canadian pilot who shot down a German over Anzio and an Indian gunner