Innehållsförteckning för May 2022 från The Armourer

The Armourer|May 2022

Welcome

As I write all thoughts of the Covid pandemic, which has wrought so much death and chaos over the past two years, have all but vanished thanks to events in the Ukraine. It’s somewhat ironic that many of the countries in our new series on webbing of the Soviet bloc are now members of NATO, as Russia threatens Europe and the entire world. The events in Ukraine are a bitter reminder that militaria, and the ability to collect it, is a consequence of war and military force. No one in their right mind wants war, but the stories of heroism, service and battles are what make militaria such a fascinating area to collect. The attempt by Putin and the Russian Army to bludgeon Ukraine into submission is a hangover from…

2 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Road radar to reveal Roman remains in York

A vehicle equipped with specialist radar equipment is set to survey 20km of streets around York over the summer – the first time a project on this scale has been undertaken in the UK. The team behind the scheme are working to access as much of the city centre road network as possible, including some pedestrianised streets, during the survey. Alongside the road surveys, a radar system will scan the green spaces in the city centre, particularly around the Yorkshire Museum and York Minster. The initiative is a joint project between Universities of Cambridge and Reading, York Archaeology and the York Museums Trust funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The 30 month long project aims to collate everything archaeologists and historians know about the whole of Roman…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

In the sale rooms

Ratisbon’s 47th Contemporary History Auction The next Ratisbon’s auction starts accepting online bids from 27 March and runs until 3 March. Remember, you’ll need to add 22.5% Buyer’s Premium to all final prices. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at what’s up for grabs. Here’s a Kriegsmarine officer’s dagger with hangers and portepee, made by Carl Eickorn, Solingen. It comes with a nice etched blade to two sides showing naval motifs. ‘Eickhorn’ maker-marked. White handle with intact wire wrapping. Small crack on the top of the handle. It has a so-called Blitzscheide lightning scabbard. Made from brass. Some small dents. Including the original hangers. A matching pair. All snap-clips are fully working. Bidding starts at £420. Next is another dagger, this time and early NSKK service dagger with…

3 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Marlow’s arms and militaria sale

The February auction at Marlow’s of Stafford saw a wide variety of militaria up for sale, starting with badges. One of the first lots consisted of 13 Yeomanry badges, from various companies, and which sold for £176.96 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 26.4% but not any additional online charges). More badges next, but of the cloth type and these were aviation orientated. There were ones such as Observer and Gunner half wings, Pilot wings and QC RCAF Air Rank shoulder straps. Some 16 items in total the lot sold for just £56.88. Next, something a bit more exotic, French Foreign Legion breast badges in gilt and enamel. Some really attractive pieces here, most with maker’s marks to the rear. 12 items in total, selling for £164.32. Our next lot was all…

2 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Soviet Russia webbing

The armies of the Warsaw Pact faced off against NATO in Eastern Europe for nearly four decades. These powers were aligned with one another and shared much military technology and doctrine but were fundamentally independent countries and their armies were each equipped in their own way, with unique uniforms and equipment. These nations ranged from the enormous Soviet Union to the poorer but technologically advanced Eastern Germany and down to much smaller nations such as Romania. Over the coming six parts we will be looking at a selection of these different nations and their personal equipment, how these items worked and how you can add them to your collection. Eastern Bloc equipment has been cheap and generally unwanted for the last 30 years since the fall of communism, however in…

11 min

The Armourer|May 2022

German Panzer III

Following a meeting of the German General Staff on 11 January 1934 a decision was reached to develop a medium tank with the capability to engage enemy tanks and by the end of January the Z.W Zugführerwagen (platoon commander’s vehicle) project, which would ultimately result in the Panzer III began. Technical specifications called for a maximum speed of at least 40km/h using the Maybach HL 100 engine coupled with an SSG 75 transmission. Following a number of development changes, including a redesigned turret and addition of an upgraded HL 108 engine the first production run of the Panzer III Ausf A was completed in August 1937. From the Ausf D version onwards the more powerful Maybach HL 120 TRM engine was fitted as standard. The Ausf A variant was armed…

4 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Joining Nelson’s Navy

The role of the Royal Navy in the age of sail was to protect Britain’s trade routes, patrol home waters and those of colonial possessions, and further British interests abroad through the projection of sea power. Prior to 1795 the Navy’s strength, dictated by The Admiralty, stood at 45,000 but rose steadily during the wars with France and Spain, reaching a peak of 145,000 by 1812. During wartime men were required in increasingly large numbers to replace casualties of the fighting but more commonly for losses from disease, operational accidents and shipwrecks. During the wars with opposing European powers less than 1,900 men lost their lives in action while more than 85,000 died from disease and other causes. Lord Nelson, in a letter to The Admiralty proposing changes to naval…

10 min

The Armourer|May 2022

The Tokarev pistol

When World War I began, the Russian service handgun was the obr. 1895g Nagant, a gas-seal revolver patented in 1892-5 by the Nagant brothers of Liége. The first guns were made in Belgium by Fabrique d’Armes Em. & L. Nagant, though work ceased after the retirement of Emile in 1896 and the sudden death of Léon in February 1900. However, by this time, a duplicate production line had been installed in the Tula arms factory in accordance with the original contract. Belgian-made revolvers were customarily double-action, often associated not only with officers’ use but also with cavalrymen. However, most of the Nagants made in Tula were single-action only. By the time the Russians became embroiled in war with Japan in 1904, FN-Browning blowback pistols had been acquired. Some 1903-type Brownings…

10 min

The Armourer|May 2022

yourletters

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 IDENTIFY THE BADGE A few years ago an embroidered badge from WWII came to me in Cyprus from Egypt. The emblem consists of the flags of Egypt (Farouk Kingdome 1936-1952) and Greece. On the back it reads: ‘I wish you Victory’. Having researched it I could not find any photograph or other evidence that would lead me to a specific unit that would have worn it. The only information I found is an extended article about the Greek community of Egypt during WWII, by historian Alexander Kitroeff. It tells of where the emigrants, on hearing of the Italian attack against Greece in October 1940, acting voluntarily, formed a military unit…

3 min

The Armourer|May 2022

AUCTIONEER LISTING

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 ■ Dix Noonan Webb London, Tel: 020 70161 700 medals@dnw.co.uk www.dnw.co.uk SHROPSHIRE ■ Mullocks Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers Church Stretton, Tel: 01694 771771 auctions@mullocksauctions.co.uk www.mullocksauctions.co.uk ■ 2020 Auctions Shrewsbury, Tel: 01694 731781 info@2020auctions.co.uk www.2020auctions.co.uk SOMERSET ■ Greenslade Taylor Hunt Taunton, Tel: 01823 332525 www.gth.net antiques.saleroom@gth.net STAFFORDSHIRE ■ Marlows Stafford, Tel: 01785 214100 or…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, YOUR WAY

Pick the rate that suits you and your budget! SAVE UP TO 16%* With offers starting from as little as £12.99 a quarter, subscribing really is the cheapest and easiest way to receive the paper magazine to your door every month! Save money every issue Quarterly, annual or one-off options available To view our latest subscription offers go to MILITARIA.MA/ARM-SUBS22 or call 01778 392489 and quote ARM/MYSUB22 Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm and Saturdays 9am – 5pm READ ON ANY DEVICE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME! Read about battles and campaigns including features on collecting medals, weapons, uniforms and equipment. All of this one week before it’s on sale in the shops when opting for the digital magazine! pktmags.com/arm-sub22 *Saving is based on UK annual Direct Debit rate…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Chalke Valley History Festival returns

The Chalke Valley History Festival is set to return from 20-26 June this summer and promises to be more exciting and interactive than ever before. Visitors will be able to listen to world-class speakers, and to watch demonstrations given by living historians. Household names like travel writer Colin Thubron will take to the stage in one of the big speaker tents, whilst children experience the thrill of driving the 1930s dodgems or riding on the big wheel at the vintage fairground. A new Speaker’s Corner tent, where visitors of all ages can listen to shorter but highly informative talks in a more informal atmosphere, is being introduced for the first time. There will be more living activities than ever before, highlights including a spectacular Restoration Pageant on both the Saturday…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Channel Islands Military Museum

Now that the pandemic restrictions have eased it was a pleasure to revisit Jersey’s Channel Islands Military Museum in St Ouen Bay. A private collection formed by Damien Horn over many decades, the location is in a German bunker above a beautiful sandy beach. Nearby are fortifications from earlier centuries and a cafe at Jersey Pearl’s jewellery store. The contents, displayed since 29 May 1989, illustrate the German Channel Islands occupation from 30 June 1940 to 9 May 1945. There is even a small shop that sells original militaria and related items. Housed in a 631b anti-tank gun casemate at Stützpunkt (Strongpoint) Lewis Tower the interior rooms demonstrate how German engineers protected the 12-man crew who operated the captured French 10.5cm artillery piece. In addition to the huge accumulation of…

2 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Bosleys big badge sale

Bosleys held its latest Military Badge Auction on 9 March and this marked the 28th anniversary of these popular sales of original badges. The sale got of to great start with lot 2, a King’s Liverpool Regiment post-1908 Officer’s helmet plate of the 9th Bn which sold for £657.28 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 26.4%). A collection of badges to the regiments and corps of Wales proved very popular with lot 379, a rare Welsh Border Brigade Bearer Company RAMC Volunteers Victorian cap badge selling for £985.92. This badge could easily have been dismissed as a usual Volunteer RAMC example, which looks similar, but careful, detailed cataloguing bought the difference to the attention of buyers. This was also the case with a Pembroke Yeomanry anodised cap badge, relatively common as a…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Cameras at war PART 2/3

The years between the end of World War I and the outbreak of WWII saw huge progress in camera design. The Leica I, first of a photographic dynasty, appeared in 1925. In 1928, the first Rolleiflex, destined to become another photographic great, hit the market. The Kine Exakta, the first 35mm single lens reflex, went on sale in 1936. Between 1939 and 1945, they all went to war. Today, a Leica I fetches around £400-£500, and the same again for the first model of the Exakta, although the second model is worth less, at around £120-£150. Original Rolleiflexes fetch £100-£150. Some manufacturers took advantage of the war to find new life for existing cameras. The Ensign Midget, for example, was a miniature folding roll film camera, made in 1934. Five…

10 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Multishot pistols in the flintlock age

Ever since the birth of the firearm shooters have dreamed of the possiblity of firing more than one shot without the gun having to be reloaded by hand, thus avoiding the potentially dangerous moments which occur during reloading in the face of the enemy. The simplest and most obvious way to bring this objective about was to increase the number of barrels and, in fact, such a system is documented from as early as the late 14th century - ribauldequins or organ guns consisted of a group of barrels fixed in a frame with a channel containing gunpowder connecting their touch-holes which when ignited at one end would fire all the barrels in quick succession. This multiplying of the number of barrels was not applied to pistols until the 16th…

9 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Collecting Jutland

COVER STORY The Battle of Jutland was the clash between fleets that both the German Navy and the Royal Navy had been anticipating since the start of World War I. It was the greatest fleet battle between capital ships the world has ever seen and unsurprisingly it has held the public interest for over a century. Let’s take a look at some of the collecting opportunities it presents. Royal Navy Grand Fleet For those on a small budget wanting an interesting collecting project that relates to the Battle of Jutland, how about building up a set of postcards depicting every ship in the British fleet? Postcards were enormously popular in the run up to World War I, being used in much the same way we would use emails today, to…

5 min

The Armourer|May 2022

The Photo Inspector

Raised in 1685, the original role of the Royal Fusiliers was to provide care and protection for cannon. Known as Our Ordnance Regiment or Our Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, these titles would give way in 1751, when infantry of the line regiments were required to be known by their precedence numbers, to the 7th or Royal Fusiliers. Numbers were subsequently removed from regimental titles in 1881 and this saw the 7th re-designated as the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

NEXT MONTH: JUNE 2022 ISSUE

As we head into the summer fair and show months, with all Covid regulations now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to discover the events that you can now go to. Tim Heath has your guide to all the upcoming militaria shows. Now, to the cover feature, and it’s the full story of the Anglo-Zulu war that featured the catastrophe at Islandlwana and the epic defence at Rorke’s Drift. Discover the roots of the conflict and the various bloody battles that ensued before the British Army eventually prevailed. We’ll have a look at what collectables are on the market for this campaign as well. In terms of WWII-related content, Ian Baxter is looking at the wartime activities of SS Nord while Graham Caldwell examines Hitler’s Olympics. These were the games…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

militarianews

EXHIBTION Falklands War commemorated at IWM Imperial War Museum is to exhibit Falklands collection items for the first time to mark 40th anniversary of the conflict from 2 April. The story and legacy of the Falklands Conflict will also be explored through a digital programme, including a new episode of IWM’s Conflict of Interest podcast featuring actor Katherine Parkinson. New exhibits at IWM London will highlight eyewitness accounts of the conflict. Images by photographer Paul RG Haley, who covered the conflict for Soldier magazine, will also be on display. His photographs reflect the varied experiences of British and Argentinian forces on the Islands and capture pivotal moments in the campaign, such as the landings at San Carlos and the advance to Port Stanley. Many of Haley’s photographs have never been…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Militaria for sale

As a father of three daughters, it would be remiss of me to not talk about women’s contribution to the war effort. Without women working in ammunition factories, the aviation industry and of course the Women’s Land Army there would have been a very different outcome to both WWI and WWII. The Women’s Land Army (WLA) made a significant contribution to boosting Britain’s food production during WWII, before then Britain had imported much of its food. When war broke out, it was necessary to grow more food at home and increase the amount of land in cultivation. With many male agricultural workers joining the armed forces, women were needed to provide a new rural workforce. The WLA had originally been set up in 1917 but disbanded at the end of…

2 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Under the hammer

Fine militaria at C&T The early March auction at C&T produced medals and militaria aplenty. Here are some of the highlights from the sale, all prices including 26.4% Buyer’s Premium. The very first lot was a scarce, Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with the anchor. The reverse engraved ‘WILLIAM PYE, GUNNERS MATE, HMS EDINBURGH, 30 YEARS’. Medal fitted with small ring for suspension. LSGC Medal awarded 13 July 1841. The career of William Pye is an exceptional case. Born in Elsenham, Norfolk, he enlisted as a Royal Marine at Woolwich on 17 April 1810 at the age of 18. He served for 21 years as a Private RM until he was pensioned on 4 May 1831 at which point, he decided to start a new career as…

3 min

The Armourer|May 2022

The Battle of Jutland

The newly appointed Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer brought a fresh offensive spirit to the Imperial German Navy in 1916. A career sailor who had joined as an officer cadet at the age of 16, Scheer was a stern disciplinarian, well-schooled in the art of maritime warfare. Scheer served in various appointments at sea and on the Imperial Naval Staff, most notably as a torpedo specialist with the East Africa Squadron prior to the outbreak of war. Taking command of the High Seas Fleet early in the year, Scheer’s strategy was to break the naval stalemate by luring a sizeable part of the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet into an ambush which would transform the balance of naval superiority in the Atlantic. The German High Seas Fleet under Scheer was composed of a…

14 min

The Armourer|May 2022

The Queen Elizabeth Cross

Since the early days of regular war medal awards after the 1830s, it has been the custom to present the medals or decorations of service personnel who were killed on active service to the recipient’s next-of-kin. The concept of a national award purely as a memorial for next-of-kin had to wait a great deal longer. Although some commercial memorial plaques are known for the Boer War, it was World War I, with its unprecedented national efforts and huge casualty lists which finally pressed the authorities to award an official, national memorial. The result was the well-known bronze Memorial Plaque authorised in 1919. Covering service between 1914-1919 and also on the North West Frontier of India and in Iraq after the war, over 1,350,000 were eventually issued. The plaques are easily…

6 min

The Armourer|May 2022

The Gestapo

In the years prior to WWII, Germany was a police state where everyone was expected to do as they were told or face the consequences. It worked on the principle rule that if citizens had doubts about the direction the country was going and said nothing, there was little to fear. But those choosing to voice an opposing opinion were punished. To ensure dissidents would be quickly silenced, a government police force was formed known as the Gestapo. This term is an abridgement for the formal German name Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police), which was essentially the political police force of the National Socialist regime. The organisation was formed to protect the government from insurrection, sabotage or overthrow, by using surveillance and intelligence gathering. It was also used to suppress…

11 min

The Armourer|May 2022

German E-Boat War Badge

While this is generally known as the E-Boat War Badge, thanks to the Allies referring to German torpedo boats as enemy boats, shortened to E-boats, in Germany it was called the S-Boot War Badge. These were the Schnellboot, or speed boats, hence S-Boot. Initially, from 1939-1941, crews of these fast, coastal raiders, received the Destroyer War Badge for their efforts but when the number of raids by E-boats increased significantly it was decided to create a new, specific award badge. So, on 30 May 1941 the Schnellboot Kriegsabzeichen, designed by Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus of Berlin, was instituted for E-boat personnel. The award criteria was fairly generous, with crews having to either mount 12 sorties, participate in successful missions, be wounded while serving or be on a boat that was sunk.…

2 min

The Armourer|May 2022

reviewsroundup

Z Special Unit GAVIN MORTIMER The Story of the Special Operations Executive has been covered in The Armourer, but few have heard of the offshoot set up in the Far East to combat the Japanese. Not the Chindits, but the Special Operations Australia and its guerrilla warfare unit, Z Special Unit, manned by Australians. In fact, it was so secretive, that many of the soldiers who served in it were unaware of who they were actually working for. Here are the main people involved and the missions they undertook, including manning a ship that was described as: ‘… dirty, untidy, full of cockroaches.’ With superb production standards and lots of interesting photos, this is an intriguing look at the chaotic world of spec ops down under. • Osprey Publishing •…

8 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Auction & Fair Diary

AUCTIONS 13 April 2022 C&T Auctions T: 01233 510050 www.candtauctions.co.uk enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk 20 April 2022 Dix Noonan Webb T: 020 7016 1700 www.dnw.co.uk medals@dnw.co.uk 20 April 2022 Warwick & Warwick T: 01926 499031 www.warwickandwarwick.com richard.beale@warwickandwarwick.com 20 April 2022 Marlow’s T: 01785 214100 OR 07789 628030 www.marlowsauctions.co.uk info@marlowsauctions.co.uk 27 April 2022 C&T Auctions T: 01233 510050 www.candtauctions.co.uk enquiries@candtauctions.co.uk FAIRS 10 April 2022 Chatham Militaria Fair T: 07595 511981 www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk james@chathammilitariafairs.co.uk 10 April 2022 Wolverley Militaria Fair T: 07816 853878 www.facebook.com/wolverleymilitariafair/ 10 April 2022 Peterborough Militaria Fair T: 07895 483904 tedge46@outlook.com 24 April 2022 Thetford Militaria Fair T: 07596 436260 thetfordmilitariafair.com thetfordmilitariafair@gmail.com…

1 min

The Armourer|May 2022

Book competition ENTER ONLINE TODAY!

WORTH £75 WIN 3 copies of… Z Special Unit If you thought that the Special Operations Executive was simply concerned with causing mischief in Europe, think again. Because of SOE, various other secretive operations were set up around the world, including the Chindits, the Long Range Desert Group and the SOA. Who, you might ask? That would be Special Operations Australia and its clandestine commandos, Z Special Unit. Discover what missions they got up to against the Japanese in this glossy and fascinating book. Now, thanks to the generosity of military book publisher, Osprey Publishing, we have three copies to give away. Simply answer the question below and go to the website to enter. Win 3 copies of… New Vanguard 304: British Gunboats of Victoria’s Empire Here are the steam-powered ships that…

2 min