Archive for WW2

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US Anti-Japanese Cinderella

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on August 25, 2025 by The Dude

A neat and simple little item dating from 1941/42, early in the Pacific War. This is what’s known as a Cinderella. To quote Google “A Cinderella postal refers to Cinderella stamps, which are non-postal labels that resemble postage stamps but are not issued by a government postal authority for the purpose of carrying mail. Named after the neglected character in the fairy tale who was excluded from the ball, these labels served other purposes like advertising, promoting charities (such as Christmas seals), raising funds, or for private local posts. They are not valid for legitimate postage but are collected and studied by philatelists for their diverse themes and historical significance.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Autriche Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on March 10, 2025 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Autriche” for participation in operations to liberate Austria from Nazi rule. This bar was an unofficial one, but one that was tolerated by the authorities.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Grande Bretagne Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on February 9, 2024 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Grande Bretagne” for participation in air operations flown from a UK territory base between 25 June 1940 and 8 May 1945.

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A Birchall in the RAF

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , on November 8, 2023 by The Dude

This group belonged to Frederick Birchall. Frederick was an aero engine fitter before the war and he served in a similar role during WW2. He ended the war as a Warrant Officer II (Fitter), deploying to RAF airfields in France and Germany.

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Atlantic Star with Air Crew Europe and France & Germany Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , on April 30, 2023 by The Dude

The Atlantic Star was awarded for six months of service afloat or two months for air-crew service and was not awarded unless the recipient was qualified for the 1939-1945 Star by six months of operational service afloat or by two months of airborne service. Therefore, the total requirement was twelve months of service afloat or four months of airborne service. This star is non-conforming since you were only allowed either the F&G bar or the ACE bar to be added, whichever you qualified for first.

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An Bonn Seirbhise Eigeandala Variant 4

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on April 30, 2023 by The Dude

This is the Emergency Service Medal 1939-1946 issued by the Republic of Ireland. For service with good conduct between 3 September 1939 and 31 March 1946 this medal came in eleven variations depending on the unit or branch of service. I have four of these variants, this one is for NA SEIRBHISE REAMHCURAIM IN AGHAIDH AER-RUATHAR : the Air Raid Precautions Organisation.

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An Bonn Seirbhise Eigeandala Variant 3

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on April 30, 2023 by The Dude

This is the Emergency Service Medal 1939-1946 issued by the Republic of Ireland. For service with good conduct between 3 September 1939 and 31 March 1946 this medal came in eleven variations depending on the unit or branch of service. I have four of these variants, this one is for NA FORSAI COSANTA : the Defence Forces (Regular Army, Air Corps, Marine Service, etc.).

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New Zealand Postal Cinderella

Posted in Stamps with tags , on April 10, 2023 by The Dude

A simple little item that has been sitting unloved by me in a drawer. This is a 1938 cinderella, a postal item that was affixed to the envelope that usually contained a message that supported some sort of public program. This one is for the Territorial Force as evidenced by the message “Help Your Territorials – Home Defence Only”.

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A Birchall MID in the RAFVR

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , on November 21, 2021 by The Dude

An almost lost group here to Leading Aircraftsman R.Birchall (1155198) in the RAFVR. The group came with a Welsh Regiment cap badge so I assume he was originally enrolled in that unit before transferring to the RAFVR. He was awarded an MID oakleaf in June 1945.

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Atlantique Bar for the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , on October 8, 2021 by The Dude

This is the bar issued to French service members who served in the Atlantic Theatre between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945. It was intended to be placed on the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War, like this example here.

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Anti-Japanese Postcard “Slap the Jap off the Map”

Posted in Paper, Propaganda Items with tags , , , , on September 23, 2021 by The Dude

Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbour, American capitalism and racist jingoism met and fell in love. Their offspring was a flood of dime-store tat that was fed to the public in an ultimately successful attempt to stir feeling enough that they were prepared to spend whatever it took to defeat the Empire of Japan. Here is an example from my collection of a postcard printed for that purpose.

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Slap That Jap Propaganda Sheetmusic

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , , , , on September 23, 2021 by The Dude

Here’s a second variation on the sheet music for that classic agi-prop song, “We’re gonna have to slap the Dirty Little Jap”. The other one I have is here, and the record is here. The lengths the US Government had to go to get the US people fired up for war were pretty extreme at times and resorted to gross caricature and racism in most cases.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Extreme Orient Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , on April 3, 2021 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Extreme Orient” for operations (including in the Indian and Pacific oceans) between 7 December 1941 and 15 August 1945.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Mer Du Nord Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , on February 14, 2021 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mer Du Nord” for Naval Operations in the North Sea between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Mediterranee Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , on February 14, 2021 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mediterranee” for Naval Operations in the Mediterranean between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Manche Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , , , on February 14, 2021 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mache” for naval Operations in the English Channel between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.

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Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Allemagne, Liberation and Engage Voluntaire Bar

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on December 7, 2019 by The Dude

This is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bars are “Allemagne” for all regular forces involved in the German campaign of 1944-1945, the “Liberation” bar for the French Campaign of 1944 and the “Engage Voluntaire” bar to indicate a voluntary enlistment.

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A Birchall Killed In Norway

Posted in Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , , on December 7, 2019 by The Dude

This modest little group belonged to John James Burchall-Ward, 997361, 114 Squadron. John was a Sergeant-Observer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve. He was killed in action on the 27th December 1941 when the Blenheim he was helping to crew was shot down into the sea at the island of Vaagso in Norway during Operation Archery. He is buried in the Møllendal Church Cemetery in Bergen.

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Novelty Hitler Moustache

Posted in Propaganda Items, Toys with tags , , , on July 22, 2018 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesA little big of home-front propaganda. Probably American due to spelling. Late war and part of the dime store effort to make a penny while appearing to support the war effort.

rsz_noveltyhitler

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NW Europe and Korea Group to a Birchall

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, 1945 + Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , on April 15, 2018 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomIn my never ending quest to find and reunite medals to my family surname, usually it’s months of dross with the occasional excellent find. This group falls into the latter. This group is impressed to W.O. 2nd Class F.Birchall, 5.D.G and Lt. F Birchall, 5.D.G.

Frederick served in N.W. Europe, landing through Normandy with the Regiment in July, 1944. He fought through Belgium, the Roer and into Hamburg in 1945. After returning to the U.K., the Regiment was sent to Korea, where Frederick was awarded an MID as well as a short service commission as Lieutenant.

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German Rbl.F.36 Gun Optic

Posted in Optics with tags , , , on February 19, 2018 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgLately 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.

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A Career Navy Birchall in WW1 & WW2

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , , on November 11, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis orphaned British War Medal is impressed to K6690 F.BURCHELL L.STO R.N. Luckily today is Remembrance Day, so the Ancestry military records are free. He was hard to track down because the naming of the medal is in error. It belonged to George Victor Burchell, born in Preston in 1896. He joined the Royal Navy as a boy of 12. He served in both WW1 and WW2, however, all of his service post WW1 was on shore stations like HMS Defiance and HMS Vivid. He had postings on HMS Eagle both in 1918 as well as the next Eagle in the mid 30’s. His trade was listed as jeweller/watchmaker and since most of his berths were at torpedo training establishments, I think he most likely serviced the mechanisms in torpedoes. His rank on the medal was Leading Stoker, his final rank in 1942 was Leading Petty Officer.

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Hitler Propaganda Postcard

Posted in Paper, Propaganda Items with tags , , , , on May 13, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesAnother simple bit of propaganda, mocking the Fuhrer. Looking at the material that propagandists used to attack the Germans, it focused mostly on Adolf Hitler. He was characterised as being a carpet biter, portrayed as a monkey or a rat or, as in this example, there was a toilet joke in there somewhere. This looks mid-war American, unofficial and designed for the home front. Let’s say it together, Fuck Hitler.

rsz_hitlerbowl2rsz_hitlerbowl1

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Tippco Artillery Prime Mover

Posted in Toys with tags , , , on April 22, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThis is another Tippco vehicle. This is intended to represent a half track prime mover, a vehicle intended to tow artillery. These were made between 1937 and 1942. Tippco struggled to get support/materials to continue manufacturing after the outbreak of war but they were well known pre-war for the quality and detail of their models. This example has chain rear tracks. It is missing a rear spare wheel and its key which sends me off to the internet to resolve. Update: found a key. Now just need the wheel. Updated Update: found the wheel. Shit I am awesome at Google.

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Slap A Jap Birthday Card

Posted in Paper, Propaganda Items with tags , , , on March 30, 2017 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesVisitors to this site will have noted, perhaps, my rather retro-racist love for WW2 anti-Japanese propaganda. A common theme to this kitsch is the invitation to “Slap Japs”. It was pretty widespread to use this kind of disparagement of the enemy to build morale on the homefront. This birthday card, dating from 1943, is an example of this theme. Other examples are here and here, oh and here and here.

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