Lately I have been finding a few artillery and mortar optics. I like them because they are precision equipment and are quite tactile. The optics viewfinder on this one is a bit different as it has a calculating mechanism for tracking a target traversing the field of view. This one was manufactured by Optische Werke G.Rodenstock in München and has their eso code. It is an Rbl.F.36, which stands for Rundblickfehrnrohr 36. It was used on the Pak-36, 38 & 40 as well as smaller artillery tubes.
Nice simple pickup last weekend at the local antique fair. This is a souvenir belt put together from a Prussian infantry belt and the tunic buttons from a wide range of Allied and German units. This example has a predominance of Canadian buttons so I am guessing that it was Canadian in origin. The rest are French, Australian, New Zealand, German and one single U.S. General Service button. You see these in all sorts of configurations, some on Allied belts, some with cap badges and other oddments. The legend is that these were put together from souvenirs taken from dead bodies but that sounds overly complex to me and likely nonsense. More likely most of the buttons were swapped at rear area camps between bored soldiers making up a souvenir. The U.S. button suggests a late war job, 1917-19. The Empire buttons make sense as often these units found themselves together in the line. The Canadian Regiments are from different divisions so that’s why I think this is a rear area put together. Still, a great belt, in fine condition and worth it just for the buttons and belt IMHO.
Ever since that KM Dagger walked into my life a few months ago I have been looking for a good Officer belt and buckle to hang it off. The dagger came with the narrow undress belt but I wanted the broader undress belt. Here it is, lovely.
This is an RA-35 optical sight for the Granatwerfer 34 8cm medium mortar. The sight shows signs of post war use by the Austrians (the green over paint). The sight was manufactured by Hanseatische Werkstätten für Feinmechanik u. Optik, in Hamburg-Schnelsen and is marked with their CRN code.
German postal services used the so-called Hitler Head issue between 1941 and 1944. There were three sizes in the basic set. Those between 1 and 24 pfennig, between 25 and 80 pfennig and between 1 and 5RM. This is a block of 9 of the 40 pfennig examples. I don’t collect these, they collect me.
These were liberated in the millions btw, they were work pfennigs then, they are worth less now!
This is a wonderful New Zealand 3rd Division group to a courageous young man, sadly KIA endeavouring to save others under terrible conditions. 2nd Lieutenant Colin David Griffiths was a 24 year old ex-shop assistant from Timaru, New Zealand who was killed in action at Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands on the 2nd of October 1943.
He lost his life during a third attempt at rescuing a cut-off patrol from the Japanese. Swimming a line ashore to the party, consisting of a number of wounded, sharks had to be held off by tommy-gun fire. Griffiths was killed in the water, along with almost everyone else in the rescue party, by heavy Japanese small arms fire. To be clear here, this was Griffiths third attempt and the second that day to reach the beach.
Colin David Griffiths
Colin’s grave marker at Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia
This flag is a wartime Hinomaru or national flag. It’s small size would suggest that it is a personal flag although not of the “Good Luck” variety as it is absent any writing.
This sword, by the manufacturer Weyersburg, Kirshchbaum & Company of Solingen, Germany (often referred to as WKC), was issued to German Army officers. This type is known as a “doves head” type to distinguish it from a “lions head” model.
This is an enamel sign for the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) or German Labour Front. It would have originally been attached to the outside of a local DAF office.
This is the United Nations current issue cap badge worn on the blue beret.
1936 Spanish Civil War Campaign Medal. Issued to all troops who participated on the Nationalist side under Generalissimo Francisco Franco, including foreign nationals, e.g., German Condor Legion and Italian contingent.
This is a German Wound Badge in Silver marked 65 for “Klein & Quenzer“. This is the first Jerry medal I collected.
This medal, purporting to be a “Ehrenzeichen vom 9.November 1923” or Blood Order Medal stamped to “669”, is an obvious fake. The key here is the serifs on the top of the M in München.
This is a Luftwaffe issue Parachutist Badge made by GWL (Gerbruder Weger, Ludenscheid).
This Wound Badge in Silver is marked L22 for Glaser & Söhne of Dresden.
This is an M1 helmet from the second production run in 1966. The camouflage helmet cover is dated 1969. If you sniff inside the helmet you can smell hemp. It doesn’t get more authentic than that.
This is a Luftwaffe Civilain Issue Fire Protection Helmet. It was used by the fire fighting and rescue personnel working in the cities as they were being attacked by the Allied heavy bomber offensive.
This is the standard lightweight parade helmet used by the German Polizei. It’s been nicknamed the tea strainer because of the air holes on either side. There is something dodgy in the liner. I think that someone has replaced the liner with a weird setup.
This is a first pattern German pith helmet, issued to troops in the Mediterranean theatre. These are tough to find in good condition because they tend to sag if they are not stored correctly. This one is a size 55.
This flag is an HJ unit marching flag. The flag has some blue marks on the white diamond which the previous owner told me was the signatures of the soldiers who took it as a souvenir. Unfortunately someone put it in the wash so they are unreadable. So it goes.
This is the issue woollen cap issued to HJ members who assisted with the flak (anti-aircraft) defence of Germany.
But first, here’s a picture of Pope Benedict in the same hat. Not saying anything, just a pope in a Nazi hat.
This a SA Dagger manufactured by Herbeck & Meyer of Solingen-Weyer. This one is marked No on the reverse of the cross-guard for the SAGruppe Nord which makes it pre-1935. At some point someone has disassembled it and reversed the handle when they put it back together. It has an early Assman DRGM marked single hanger attached.
This is an interesting group, inscribed to Gunner H.H. Brass, RNZA (383606). Both the Vietnam War Service medal and the Republic of Vietnam are engraved. The RVN medal has the famous 1960- date on it. The intention was that the final date would be added after the victory over North Vietnam. Since South Vietnam was defeated there was no government around to establish the missing date.
The Vietnam War Service Medal was awarded to all members of the New Zealand armed forces who, between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973, either served for 28 days, continuous or aggregated, in ships or craft employed in operations on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam or served for one day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land in Vietnam, conducted one operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese waters by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit allocated for direct support of operations in Vietnam or served for 30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, on official visits, inspections or other occurrences of a temporary nature on duty in Vietnam, or in ships or craft engaged in operations off the Vietnamese coast.
Service terminated by death or wounds, or the award of a decoration for gallantry led to the immediate award of the medal, regardless of whether the qualification period had been fulfilled.
Since the ROV medal was considered a foreign award by the New Zealand Government it was never approved for display on official occasions so this group has been mounted for Anzac Day wear I am guessing.
Brass served in the New Zealand Rifle Company V6 deployment and passed away in 1995.
This group is marked to 61235 Aircraftsman L.C. Hill, RNZAF and comprises the New Zealand Operational Service Medal, The New Zealand Service Medal 1946-49, the Commonwealth Korea Medal, the UN Korea Medal and the Republic of Korea War Medal. The ROK medal is a later issue as it down’t have the national symbol woven into the ribbon.
This is an interesting set as the guy is clearly an early arrival into Korea and stayed until the end. The OSM and Jay Force medals are named which is unusual for these things, leading me to believe that at least some of this group are official replacements as habitually they weren’t inscribed at the time but late issues from the 1990’s were.
Kiwi Medals 