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WWI US Army field dressing tin relics

WWI era surgeon's needles - British War Department Issue

Two packets remaining

Wording to front: EMANL. SHRIMPTON & FLETCHER CAST STEEL HIGH POLISHED SURGEON’S NEEDLES Premier Works, Redditch, England

Reverse: AFTER USE KEEP GREASED 1/2 DOZEN NO. 5 BONNEY'S 1/2 CIRCLE (ENGLISH RANGE) Broad Arrow

Believed to have been manufactured around 1910, these curved needles designed for sewing wounds were found in France around 25 years ago. The packets are distressed in varying degrees and have traces of a red wax-like substance which is probably the remains of a rubber band. The needles are present, and judging by feel are substantial items.

Packet - H:6.2 x W:3cm £6.00 each + £1.00 P&P UK

Side section of WWII wooden crate dated JAN 10 1944 - D-Day connection

Believed to have contained TNT, the majority of the wording is stamped into the surface and filled in with black ink.

Purchased by a colleague who was visiting Bayeux some years ago, from a Frenchman who was selling a bundle of US equipment that had been abandoned after the war. This section of crate was included in the sale. For anyone visiting the sites of the Normandy landings, Bayeux is of course the gateway to the D-Day beaches and was under Allied control within eight days.

Would make a nice display item, possibly framed with a few related artefacts. The wood started to split along the length near the bottom edge and has been glued to keep it intact. This can be seen only from the reverse. The right hand edge has been trimmed along the joint (before original purchase) and there are some historic traces of woodworm.

H:23 x W:44 x D:1.1cm £25.00 + £6.69 P&P UK

WWII German M1942 combat helmet relic - battle of Aachen

Recovered in the outlying area of the city of Aachen, Germany.

Aachen had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, the main defensive network on Germany's western border. Intense fighting in and around Aachen between occupying German forces and American troops resulted in one of the largest urban battles fought by US forces in WWII, and the first city on German soil to be captured by the Allies.

The picturesque ancient city had little military value but it was an important symbol to the Nazi regime and the German people, being the first German city to be threatened by the Allied advance. It was also the historic capital of Charlemagne, founder of the 'First Reich'. As such, it was of immense psychological value and significantly influenced the determination of the defenders who were fighting on home soil for the first time. Fortunately, the civilian population was evacuated before the battle began, but much of the city was destroyed with both sides suffering heavy losses.

NB. The proximity of Allied forces had caused the majority of the city's government officials to flee before the evacuation of its citizens was complete. Hitler 'rewarded' all Nazi officials who had fled by stripping them of rank and sending them to the Eastern front as privates.

This M1942 helmet was the result of efforts to cut costs and speed up production time and a number of modifications were introduced over previous models, one of the most distinctive being the 'raw' edge rather than a rolled edge. This example remains in solid condition with only a few small perforations. There is blast damage in the form of a crack (2 - 3mm wide) running from the crown to rear right of the skirt and a shorter crack terminating at the rim. This does not affect the stability in any way. The outer surface has been waxed leaving a pleasing finish.

£75.00 + £8.00 P&P UK (stand not included)

See Promotional Items for vintage letter opener - Deutsche Spiegelglas - Ausfuhrges.m.b.H. Aachen

WWII German MP40 magazine relic

Recovered in Latvia

Pressed steel 32-round 9x19mm Parabellum box magazine for the iconic MP 40 (Maschinenpistole 40) used extensively by the Axis powers throughout the war alongside the Kar 98k service rifle. Towards the end of the war, German troops on the Eastern Front armed only with rifles found themselves at a distinct disadvantage when confronted by Soviet troops extensively armed with the PPsh-41 submachine gun, resulting in the MP40 being issued to entire platoons to redress the balance of firepower.

This magazine remains as a body only with internal mechanism and base plate absent. Solid condition, the exterior has been lightly treated with preservative.

£36.00 + £4.45 P&P UK sales only.

NB. A German soldier carrying an MP40 can be seen in the Latvia photo above.

WWII German Kar 98k bayonet and scabbard relics

Recovered in Southern Poland. Bayonet and scabbard were found in the same area but are not directly associated.

The Kar 98k was the standard bolt-action service rifle of the German Wehrmacht and remained in service until the end of WWII. The designated bayonet with its steel scabbard was the SG84/98 III, an evolution of the 1871/1884 bayonet adopted by the German Empire and further during WWI. It was produced by a number of companies in Germany as well as in countries of German occupation eg: Austria and France.

This bayonet has wooden grips, so it is quite possibly an early example as later production generally utilised moulded bakelite, although some late war production reverted to wood and back again as supply dictated.

These are in total relic condition with severe pitting/perforation and have not been waxed or oiled. One wood grip slab remains complete, the other has almost totally disintegrated.

£68.00 + £4.45 P&P UK sales only. Age 18+ only.

NB. The German soldiers pictured marching into Poland have Kar 98k rifles slung over their right shoulders.

WWII German M1940 combat helmet relic - Battle of Halbe

A surface find in the Halbe Forest - Berlin.

A poignant reminder of the grim events during the period 24th April - 1st May 1945 when the German Ninth Army and thousands of refugees, desperately attempted to break out through the ever tightening grip of the Soviet army in the forest region south-east of Berlin, near the village of Halbe. Details of this can be found online, but the book 'Berlin, the downfall 1945' by Antony Beevor contains an excellent overview of the chaotic and harrowing events.

This helmet was purchased by a colleague who has a contact living in Berlin and over the years has provided us with a number of interesting artefacts. It has been on display in our office for the last three years. The helmet has rusted away in patches mainly on the rear skirt and right hand side but it all remains remarkably ‘springy’. A small remnant of the metal liner band remains.

WWI German M1916/17 combat helmet relic

Found at Ypres - Belgium. Exhibit from Samlesbury Hall WWI exhibition 2014 - 2021.

The Imperial German Army began to replace the traditional leather spiked-top Pickelhaube with the Stahlhelm (steel helmet) in 1916, the first delivery arriving at Verdun in January of that year. The distinctive ‘coal scuttle’ shape created an instantly recognizable iconic symbol like the Pickelhaube before it.

This relic is in remarkably solid condition, with only a few small fragile remnants surrounding the large hole in the crown. The outer surface has been waxed leaving a pleasing matt finish, the inner has been treated with a rust stabiliser. The outer surface has patches of darker colour and could possibly be evidence of camouflage paint. Note shrapnel damage to rear right of skirt and blast damage front right.

£65.00 + £8.00 P&P UK

German Kugelhandgranate

Exhibit from Samlesbury Hall WWI exhibition 2014 - 2021..

Introduced in 1913, the German ‘Kugel’ fragmentation grenade was formed from cast iron with a charge of predominantly black powder and a friction igniter giving either 5 or 7 seconds delay. The first model can be identified by the larger number of fragmentation segments covering the whole body - these were reduced in number in a transitional model of 1913 and by 1915, this model was introduced which was much simplified with fewer segments to reduce production time and costs.

Nice overall condition, retaining its friction tube fuze. Wire puller igniter absent.

£75.00 + £4.45 P&P UK Totally inert. UK sales only. Age 18+ only.

Berlin relic - WWII Russian Ssh-40 combat helmet

Discovered in the area now known as Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, the region around Berlin. This helmet was purchased by a colleague via a contact in Berlin. It has been cleaned to remove debris but has not been treated with a rust stabiliser. The metal is generally very solid with a few minor perforations in the crown. Liner pad metalwork and chinstrap bales are present. Some traces of paint remain. There is a small fragment of metal missing from the rim, lower left behind the ear, with a vertical crack directly opposite. Possible shell splinter / blast damage.

On 16th April 1945, the Allies halted their advance to give the Soviets a free hand in crushing all German resistance and capturing Berlin. The battle and its aftermath remain one of the bloodiest and most controversial events of WWII.

£55.00 + £8.00 P&P UK (stand not included)

Relic - Worker's Day commemoration badge - 1st May 1936

Obtained by a colleague via a contact in Berlin, this is one of a number of items found inside an ammunition box unearthed by workers on a construction site at Leipziger Platz in Berlin, in 2014.

Logo 'N' within a triangle on the reverse. Manufactured by BERG & NOLTE AG Lüdenscheid.

Small pockets of corrosion and staining, date slightly obscured but remains legible. Pin rusted away.

Dia: 35mm £7.00 + £2.70 P&P UK

Relic - Worker's Day commemoration badge - 1st May 1936

Obtained by a colleague via a contact in Berlin, this is one of a number of items found inside an ammunition box unearthed by workers on a construction site at Leipziger Platz in Berlin, in 2014.

Manufactured by C. TH. DICKE Lüdenscheid.

Small pockets of corrosion and staining. Pin rusted away.

Dia: 35mm £7.00 + £2.70 P&P UK

Semi relic belt buckle plate

Believed to be pre WWI Imperial Russian Cadet Corps. Taken from a large private collection of Russian belt buckles.

Non-ferrous.

W:6 x D:4.5cm

£17.00 + £2.70 P&P UK