In 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.
The Deutsche Jägerschaft or German Hunting Association was headed by Herman Göring as Reich Hunting Master. The form of these hirschfanger or hunting daggers was a traditional one and you see them dating from the late 19th Century to 1945. They vary widely in their decoration as it was up to the recipient what was placed on the hilt and blade. This one came to me a bit beaten up, missing its sheath and possibly retipped at some point. But it’s a nicely upgraded version with acorns on the handle and a crossguard in the form of deer feet.
Often missing, and hard to find when you want one. This is a numbered dust cover for the Arisaka Type 38 rifle. These were supplied with early series Type-38’s but deleted later on, although you will see the receivers still machined for them right to the end of the war.
