The Armourer的October 2023目录

In case you’re slightly confused by this month’s cover, let me elaborate. It is, of course, the second part of Jarrod Cotter’s feature on collecting the flying gear of the iconic Red Arrows. However, this is not the cover feature, or, to put it another way, the main feature of the month. That is on the Battle of the Alma, the first clash of the Crimean War. The reason we put the Red Arrows on the cover was simply because it was a great photo, the Red Arrows are so recognisable, and it will draw casual attention to the magazine on the shelves. Which, at the end of the day, is the entire purpose of the cover image. So, I hope you enjoy the second part of Jarrod’s feature, but…

The Antiques, Collectables & General Sale at Eastbourne Auctions on 12-15 September also has 160 militaria lots in amongst the porcelain and silverware. As you might imagine, that means there are some unusual items up for grabs, so let’s start with an artillery clinometer. This comes with a hardwood case and is made from brass, impressed with ‘A-G Hahn Cassel’ and the number ‘8728’. There’s some rust and the case has a few suspicious-looking holes in it. It measures 11.5cm wide and has an estimate of £30-£50. Watch out for the stinging 38.4% BP though. A nice lot next, it’s a British military World War I and later four medal group relating to Frank Willis including World War I Air and Territorial War medal awarded to ‘235DVR.F.WILLIS.R.A.’, Faithful Service medal…

An incident which happened in August 2022 highlights just how important all this gear really is. A Red Arrows pilot whose jet was badly damaged in a bird strike was recognised for his flying skills and safely landing of the aircraft. It was during the second half of a display at Rhyl in August 2022 when a large bird struck the right-hand side of the canopy, which shattered immediately. The impact of the shards of glass and remains displaced the visor on Sqn Ldr Ogston’s flying helmet and severed a connector of his oxygen mask, which fell loose. The significant wind blast prevented external communication. At this stage, the Synchro Pair were seconds from crossing one another, head-on, and with incredible presence of mind, Red 6 maintained his heading and…

There’s an interesting brace of awards this month as they revolve around a central concept, that of one dictator lending troops to aid another. Firstly, there’s the Spanish Wound Badge, which was instituted on 22 May 1939 as an award for Germans in the Condor Legion who assisted Franco’s forces in the Spanish Civil War. It was exactly the same as the Army Wound Badge from 1918, except that a swastika was stuck to the side of the Imperial M18 steel helmet. It was awarded in black, silver and gold classes, on paper at least because in reality, thanks to the short time the Germans were fighting in Spain, only 182 black badges and one silver one were issued. The badge was made from sheet brass, painted matt black, silver…

Collecting objects and weapons related to the Anglo-Sikh Wars is tricky but far from impossible, as there are many replicas of traditional Sikh weapons available on the internet but very few originals. The military forces of the Sikh Empire had a mixed regular and irregular nature; finding objects and weapons belonging to the irregular contingents is much simpler than finding something related to the regular troops, which were fully westernised and dressed with European-style uniforms. A traditional sword of the Khanda type, for example, is currently available at Mullock’s for £800. Matchlock and flintlock muskets produced by the arsenals of Punjab are even more easy to find, but these are not always in good condition since they were often employed also as hunting weapons. One such weapon was sold in…

Facebook: www.facebook.com/armourermagazine Twitter: @The_Armourer Post: Letters Page, The Armourer, Warners Group Publications, West Street, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH Email: armourer@warnersgroup.co.uk WWI AUSTRALIAN WEBBING I am a great fan and avid reader of your magazine. Unfortunately down under in Australia we are behind with the hard copy issues. I purchased today, 20 July, the June issue from our local newsagent. Reading the feature on Webbing of WWI: Australia I have come across an error in the caption to the central image on page 22. The caption reads: ‘A full set of 1915 pattern webbing on display at the Australian War Memorial’. The caption should read: ‘A full set of 1915 pattern webbing on display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum of the Australian Army History Unit’. I can verify this as…

BEDFORDSHIRE ■ Southams Auctioneers Bedford, Tel: 01234 266366 guns@southamsauction.co.uk www.southamsauction.co.uk BERKSHIRE ■ Special Auction Services Newbury, Tel: 01635 580595 mail@specialauctionservices.com adam@specialauctionservices.com www.specialauctionservices.com BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ■ Bosleys Marlow, Tel: 01628 488188 sales@bosleys.co.uk www.bosleys.co.uk DEVON ■ Greenslade Taylor Hunt Tiverton, Tel: 01823 332525 www.gth.net antiques.saleroom@gth.net ESSEX ■ Reeman Dansie Auctions Colchester, Tel: 01206 754754 auctions@reemandansie.com www.reemandansie.com KENT ■ C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Kenardington, Tel: 01233 510050 enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk www.candtauctions.co.uk LONDON ■ Morton & Eden London, Tel: 020 7493 5344 info@mortonandeden.com www.mortonandeden.com SOMERSET ■ Greenslade Taylor Hunt Taunton, Tel: 01823 332525 www.gth.net antiques.saleroom@gth.net STAFFORDSHIRE ■ Marlows Stafford, Tel: 01785 214100 or 07789 628030 mail@marlowsauctions.co.uk www.marlowsauctions.co.uk SUFFOLK ■ Durrants Beccles, Tel: 01502 713490 AuctionRooms@durrants.com ■ Bishop & Miller Stowmarket, Tel: 01449 673088 www.bishopandmillerauctions.co.uk enquiries@bm-auctions.co.uk WARWICKSHIRE ■ Warwick & Warwick Warwick, Tel: 01926 499031 www.warwickandwarwick.com WEST SUSSEX…

WIN 3 copies of … With My Shield: An Army Ranger in Somalia The battle of Mogadishu is better known simply as Black Hawk Down thanks to the film by Ridley Scott of that name. This is that story, told from the inside, by one of the Army Rangers on the ground as the bullets and rockets started firing. It builds up to an intense and exciting account. Now, thanks to the generosity of specialist military book publisher, Osprey Publishing we have three copies to give away. Simply answer the question below and go to the website to enter. WORTH £75 WIN 3 copies of… To Besiege a City: Leningrad 1941-42 It was one of the most prolonged and terrible sieges of WWII where the encircling Axis forces had no…

A fascinating collection of aerial photographs taken during World War II is being opened up to the public for the first time by Historic England. The pictures were taken by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Photographic Reconnaissance (PR) units stationed at bases around the country in 1943 and 1944. Over 3,600 black and white images showing England from the air are available to the public for the first time in an online, searchable map. The remarkable collection gives a bird’s-eye view of the impact of war on England, capturing a wide variety of locations and an astonishing level of detail. The pictures include USAAF airfields, with American bombers and troops playing baseball at a military camp in Devizes, radar equipment installed in the middle of quiet fields in…

Because of their participation during WWI, the use of women in the Royal Air Force was an accepted idea when war was declared against Germany on 3 September 1939. But for Australia, the move was looked upon with alarm, because the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was not only the first of the three services to employ women in uniform, but also the first military organisation in Australia to focus on skills other than tending to the sick or wounded, setting a precedence for the establishment of the Australian Women’s Army Service soon afterwards (see The Armourer July 2023). British born Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett was seconded to Australia to be appointed Chief of the Air Staff in February 1940. Keen to release male personnel for service overseas,…

Whilst the Battle of the Alma is largely forgotten today, it lives on as a pub or street name up and down the United Kingdom, an indicator of how important the battle was to the psyche of Victorians. As such, it is no surprise that items commemorating the battle can be found to this day and although collecting any items from 170 years ago is difficult, items can still be found and a collection focussing on this seminal battle is possible. The British had adopted a new rifled musket firing the Minie ball in 1851, just prior to the Crimean War. The bullet was designed to allow rapid muzzle loading of rifles and was an innovation that brought about the widespread use of the rifle as the main battlefield weapon…

If propaganda posters are your thing then take a look at Antikbar’s Vintage Posters auction on 9 September. As well as the usual range of vintage posters, there’s a large section of 76 propaganda ones from a variety of areas. Let’s start with one titled Ueb Aug und hand furs Vaterland, which means ‘Train eyes and hands for the Fatherland’. It features an illustration of a gentleman holding a rifle standing next to an oak tree with a black and white target and a golden vessel in front of him. There’s stylised German lettering, with a two cherubs holding an arrow pierced heart in a wreath below. Good condition, tears on edges, staining, browning, minor creasing. Country of issue: Germany, it measures 85cm x 65cm and was printed in the…

To Besiege a City PRIT BUTTAR The siege of Leningrad was one of the longest and most terrible of WWII. This is Prit Buttar’s story of the first year, but it starts with Peter the Great and why the city was built there in the first place as St. Petersburg. Then we’re on to the Great War and consequences of defeat and revolution, leading to more name changes and the transfer of the capital to Moscow. What is chilling is when the Germans arrived on the outskirts of the city they had no intention of feeding the population. As the Wehrmacht encircled the city, but failed to break through, they settled for starving the defenders into submission. Before long only those getting extra rations had the strength to bury the…

AUCTIONS 14 September 2023 Southams T: 01234 266 366 www.southamsauction.co.uk guns@southamsauction.co.uk 20 September 2023 Bosleys T: 01628 488188 www.bosleys.co.uk sales@bosleys.co.uk 27 September 2023 Bosleys T: 01628 488188 www.bosleys.co.uk sales@bosleys.co.uk 11 October 2023 C&T Auctioneers T: 01233 510050 www.candtauctions.co.uk enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk 12 October 2023 C&T Auctioneers T: 01233 510050 www.candtauctions.co.uk enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk FAIRS 3 September 2023 The Hertfordshire Militaria & Medal Fair T: 01923 448903 OR 07425 155876 www.hertfordshiremilitariamedalfair.com sovereignfairs22@outlook.com 3 September 2023 Bromsgrove Militaria, Medal & Arms Collectors Fair T: 07980 608211 www.militariafairsuk.com info@militariafairsuk.com 10 September 2023 Wolverley Militaria Fair T: 07816 853878 www.facebook.com/wolveryleymilitariafairs 10 September 2023 Royal County of Berkshire Militaria Fair T: 07540 373839 www.rb-militariafair.co.uk rb-militariafair@outlook.com 17 September 2023 The International Birmingham Antique Arms & Militaria Fair T: 07710 274452 www.birminghamarmsfair.com info@birminghamarmsfair.com 1 October 2023 Thetford Militaria Fair T: 07596…