Innehållsförteckning för October 2023 från The Armourer

The Armourer|October 2023

Welcome

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…

3 min

The Armourer|October 2023

New Great War displays

The Combined Military Services Museum has announced the unveiling of its latest World War I displays. The new displays offer an immersive and poignant experience that takes visitors on a remarkable journey through the Great War. Key highlights include Insights into Trench Life - delve into the unforgiving reality of trench warfare with an authentic depiction of kit arrangements in the trenches; A Glimpse into the Heartfelt Words of Major General P.S Wilkinson - a handwritten letter, dated 3 October, 1916, conveys his unwavering support, offering a touching testament to the camaraderie that sustained soldiers; Unveiling Personal Sacrifices - witness the heart-wrenching sacrifices made by soldiers during WWI; Connecting Across Enemy Lines -marvel at the WWI telegraph machine; Evolution of Uniform and Equipment - explore the evolution of military attire with a…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Antiques at Eastbourne

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…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Noonans under Orders

The Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria auction highlight at Noonans was a Great War Western Front Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant Arnold Loosemore for his gallantry during the second Anglo-French general attack of the Third Battle of Ypres, that took place south of Langemarck in Belgium on 11 August 1917. It was sold for a hammer price of £220,000. Our main feature this month is the Battle of the Alma, and here we have a Crimea 1854-56 medal with four clasps, for ‘Alma’, ‘Balaklava’, ‘Inkermann’, ‘Sebastopol’ (3943 J. Winter, Coldstream Guards); a France, Second Empire, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with eagle suspension; and a Turkish Crimea medal, Sardinian issue, unnamed. It hammered for £1,200 (plus BP of 28.8%). Next, the unique campaign pair awarded to Lieutenant J. Roper,…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

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…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Kitbag through the ages: WWI Britain

One of the most interesting areas of collecting is to go on the hunt for the items of personal kit that a soldier carried in his pack or pockets. These items were essential for day to day living in both barracks and the field and slowly developed over time as civilian tastes changed and the Army issued new items to updated designs. For the collector, tracking down period appropriate personal items is a great way of filling out a set of equipment, for the re-enactor having the correct items is essential to both demonstrate to the public what a soldier used and to use yourself at an immersive event. Nothing brings you closer to the daily lives of a soldier than using the same sort of razor, eating out of…

11 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Spanish awards

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…

3 min

The Armourer|October 2023

COLLECTING IDEAS

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…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

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 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…

3 min

The Armourer|October 2023

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 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…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Book competition

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…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

England by air in WWII revealed

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…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

56th Contemporary History Auction

The next auction at European giants Ratisbon’s runs from 16-24 September and there are plenty of lots already consigned so let’s take a look at what you could be bidding for. If you have deep pockets then the first lot is worth a look, it’s an excellent Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, made by Klein & Quenzer AG, Idar-Oberstein. Featuring an original black-finished iron core with genuine silver frame with an ‘800’ silver hallmark on the back. The Knight’s Cross has all the features of Klein & Quenzer and comes with the original silver loop which is ‘800’ silver hallmarked and ‘65’ maker-marked. Includes an original case of issue and neck ribbon. The case opens and closes correctly. Bids start at £8,641 (hammer prices to add 24.5% BP). This…

3 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Tank Museum

With over 300 military machines (mostly tanks, but also half-tracks, APCs, trucks etc) and representation of all major conflicts from the 20th century, a trip to the Tank Museum at Bovington is a lot more than just a tank-lover’s day out. The first zone to head into is the Trench Experience which does a reasonable job of showing the trenches, command bunkers, lumbering Great War tanks and arty, metallic horses. If the aim was to give an actual experience, then it’s far too sanitised and whoever thought that artistic representations of horses was a good idea needs to go back to military museum school. However, it is informative and soon there are plenty of WWI tanks to clamber inside to appreciate how cramped they were, if not how dirty, smoke-filled…

4 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Battle of the Alma

On 14 September 1854, British and French troops commenced landing in Crimea. The latter disembarked at 7am, and by nightfall had three divisions ashore with outposts four miles inland. The British, however, did not begin landing until 9am, and by the time darkness came, they were still in a state of chaos on the beach. It was not an auspicious start for the British Army in Crimea. Commanding British land forces was Lord Raglan. A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, Raglan lost an arm at Waterloo but went on to serve in the army of occupation in France before taking up a post at the British Embassy. He spent decades in various military appointments at home while following a political career as a Tory Member of Parliament. When he was…

10 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force

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,…

11 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Owen SMG and bayonet

Most commentators would agree that function usually creates the most aesthetic form. However, the brain-child of Wollongong Australian budding inventor Evelyn Ernest Owen (1915-1949) disproved that mantra! In England the carbine, machine, Sten 9mm was dubbed the ‘Woolworths Gun’ but Owen’s was even more Frankenstein! The harrowing tale of how the young gun buff overcame every bigoted and bureaucratic obstacle to produce one of World War II’s best machine-carbines defies belief. Owen tinkered with firearms and explosives as an untutored youth. As a 16 year-old apprentice at A.D. Thurwell’s engineering business in the town he soon decided to design an automatic weapon with minimal parts, good accuracy and sustained operation. His only materials were parts of an old 0.22in rimfire rifle, components he persuaded his workmates to create and woodwork…

10 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Collecting the Battle of the Alma

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…

5 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Photo Inspector

This month the main feature concerns the Crimean War which was the first conflict to feature war photography, courtesy of Roger Fenton and his assistant. This then, is one of Roger Fenton’s photos of the Crimea, with the local Commandant’s house in the foreground. However, the question for you this month, is where exactly was this photographed and what are the ships in the background? You can read about the Battle of the Alma, whch was the first clash between British, French and Russian forces, on page 16.…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE

It will be 30 years ago that an incident took place as part of Operation Gothic Serpent in the dusty streets of Mogadishu. It started as an operation by US forces to seize two top Lieutenants of Mohammed Farrah Aidid, leader of the Somalia National Alliance, but rapidly spiraled out of control when three Sikorsky UH-60 helicopters were shot down. As SNA forces surrounded two of the downed helicopters, deep in their territory, UNOSOM II forces, comprised of USA, Malaysia and Pakistan troops, sent an armoured convoy in to try to rescue the survivors of the crash. The incident became known as the Battle of Mogadishu, but is better known, thanks to the film directed by Ridley Scott, as Black Hawk Down. We take you back to 1993, to a…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Wreck off Shetland is a U-Boat

A wreck some eight miles southeast of Lerwick has been identified as U-Boat SM UC-55 which was sunk by British destroyers in 1917. The U-Boat was engaged in laying mines on the fishing lanes between the Shetland Islands and the great naval base at Scapa Flow when it developed a fault with the trim and exceeded its dive depth. This caused it to spring various leaks and it started shipping water into the battery compartment. Chlorine gas was produced so the Captain ordered the U-boat to surface but discovered the helm was now unresponsive. While trying to vent the gas the submarine was spotted and Royal Navy ships were ordered to the area. HMS Tirade, HMS Sylvia and the armed trawler Moravia closed with the submarine and opened fire. As…

1 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Original posters at Antikbar

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…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Time runs out at C&T

The timed auction at C&T Auctioneers finished at the end of July, so let’s take a look at the items that went under the hammer. So, here’s a selection of medals, featuring various NATO campaign medals including Kosovo; British Red Cross Society; United Nations campaign medal; American Vietnam service medal with a National Defence medal in its box; Kuwait liberation medal and four Soviet Russian medals including Order of the Patriotic War. The hammer price for this nifty collection? Just £55 (plus BP of 26.4%). Cap badges really are an underappreciated area of collecting. Take this handsome lot of 33 British Infantry and Territorial Regiment Cap Badges, including The Loyal Regiment, Isle of Wight Rifles, East Surrey regiment, Northamptonshire regiment, Royal Marines, Royal Highlanders Black Watch, Kings Own Scottish Borderers,…

2 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Red Arrows flying clothing

Basically, Red Arrows flying clothing reaching the saleroom is quite a rare occasion. It does, however, appear and I have tracked down some of those items that have sold. Mostly these were originally donated to charities, though some have since been sold on. FLYING SUITS AND HELMETS In December 2009 a former Red 6 flying suit was put up for sale at a charity ball in aid of Aerobility, an organisation dedicated to making flying available to everyone. Added to its already rare status, what made this suit particularly collectable was that it was signed by all the pilots of the relevant year in a diamond nine format. It sold for £293. Another signed suit was donated by Red 5 from the 2005 season. This suit went up for sale…

9 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Lake Nyassa 1893

Some Victorian military campaigns impress one with the sheer ‘can do’ attitude displayed by the military authorities. On numerous occasions, they chose to undertake operations under circumstances of distance, climate and terrain which were difficult, to put it mildly. At a time when Britain was expanding its areas of influence into central Africa and the area around the African Great Lakes, there were numerous small-scale punitive expeditions or anti-slavery campaigns largely employing volunteers from the Indian Army, most of these being Sikhs. In the midst of a fairly extensive and complex series of campaigns, one stands out as an extraordinary example of determination and enterprise, waged in central Africa in 1893 on the shores of Lake Nyasa (now Lake Malawi) - just about the most difficult and remote place you…

6 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The Stuart ‘Honey’ Light Tank

After General Auchinleck replaced General Wavell, following the costly failure of Operation Battleaxe to relieve Tobruk and re-capture eastern Cyrenaica, his Western Desert Force command, lately renamed 8th Army, faced a serious lack of tanks, 98 of all types having been lost. This was approximately twice the Afrika Korps’ losses, and as they retained battlefield control following the fighting, they recovered and repaired many of their damaged vehicles, leaving the British at further disadvantage. In preparation for Operation Crusader, Britain turned to America for supplies of its new Light Tank M3. Produced by the American Car & Foundry Co., the first production version was ready in March 1941, with over 300 vehicles delivered in Egypt from July to the end of October. By then, 188 tanks were issued to 4th…

11 min

The Armourer|October 2023

The First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845-1846

The Sikh Empire, the last great regional power emerging in India before the definitive ascendancy of Great Britain’s colonial rule, originated in 1799 under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh religion emerged in the Punjab region of India around the end of the 15th century and gradually expanded itself until becoming the fifth largest religion of the world. It developed from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first guru or master of the Sikh faith, being a monotheistic religion based on a complex system of philosophical precepts. It was soon persecuted by the Muslim rulers of the Mughal Empire who controlled most of India during the 17th century. The religious persecutions suffered by the Sikhs triggered them into organising military forces that could defend their expanding communities…

8 min

The Armourer|October 2023

reviewsroundup

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…

6 min

The Armourer|October 2023

Auction & Fair Diary

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…

1 min