I thought i would start this thread to allow members to share military items, old military photographs,etc handed down through generations of family or just personal collections of forces memrobillia.This pic is of my Grandfather (center of flags) during the Boar War around 1899.

The Burma Star newspaper announcing the surrender of the Japanese in 1945. My father brought this back from Burma at the end of hostilities.

Excellent stuff Bert,photo is superb.1899.

British Army 1945 ration biscuits. My Uncle brought these biscuits back with him from Burma in his kit bag to show his wife what he lived on. Around 1958/59 i had one of these biscuits from another packet he had, so i could see what they were like,( no death by date then.)The biscuits are now nearly 64 years old and in original packaging and have only ever been kept in the wardrobe.

LOL, looks like a good stash.

It does actualy.

Lets move on children, to buy such a stash you may need this. A Banknote issued by the British Army for circulation in Tripolitania in 1943.

SLOUCH HAT favoured by troops who served in Burma and the far east.The hat below was my uncles who served with the Chindits. The Chindits were a special force formed and lead by General Orde Wingate, 1943/44 and operated behind Japanese lines.The left side of the hat is turned up to prevent interference when carrying a rifle on the shoulder.

Wow
Ive never seen anything like this.

Thanks ever so much for sharing Bert

Though the Plaque (dead mans penny) has been in another post, now accompanied by memorial card and The British War Medal and Victory Medal. WW1 1914-18.

The appendices in dad's website show pictures of the memorabilia we have.

http://continuacs.googlepages.com/home

Snod

Excellent, thank you for sharing and thank your dad for his service. Definitely read in more detail again.

W Barker, recipient of medals above, photo taken about 1915, in kings reg uniform.

fantastic bert. thanks for Sharing

Towards the end of the war against Japan my Father served with the Intelligence corp. I have about 50 intercepted messages, of which i post a random few. i have no idea why they should still be in my fathers possession after the war.

Tremendous stuff Bert. Thanks.

Bert

For the same reason my dad has all his old documents ie they represent a very significant part of his life and it would be sacrilige to dispose of them. However, that then raises an important issue ie the eventual heirs (if indeed there are any) cannot be relied on to keep such things and to treat them with the respect they deserve - so what is best to do with such things?

I have hi-res scanned all dad's documents and those copies are fine for me. The images are properly stored in several places. However, none of us can predict what the state of "internet" storage or media storage will be like in say the same 60+ years that these paper documents have survived so far. My son has no interest in inheriting such things in the fullness of time.

Logically some or all of the originals + the bound copy of the texts from dad's website should go to a proper military archive. I did try contacting the Regimental Museum that now houses items relating to the what was originally dad's outfit ie Royal Army Service Corps, but their interest was minor/ cold.

Snod

Excellent material Bert.I was in the Kings myself (aka Kingo) I joined in 86/87 at the minimum age at the time was 15 and 3 quarters.Done my basic training in Newcastle,place called Albermale barracks Ouston an ex WW11 RAF base.(RAF Ouston).


Here is the cap badge that I wore (with pride) at the time.

Snod, i can understand the predicament you may well be in, i feel somewhat lucky in that respect. I do have family members who i feel confident will cherish and care for these items as i have. I can also understand the position museums are in, what we hold dear to us, you will normally find museums have the same or similar items a hundred fold.It is definitely a very difficult decision to make. Thankfully i don't have that decision to make.

Dava would have done his service in The Kings, Manchester & Liverpool regiment who amalgamated in the 50s whose cap badge he has displayed. photos below show modern day Kings and badges pre- amalgamation, with the Liverpool Kings cap badge, The White Horse of Hanover.

The Japanese occupied Burma in 1942 and then soon after distributed The Japanese Government occupational money to use as its currency.

A Forces Christmas Card sent from my Father to my Mother 1944.

Some old Army papers, its a bit much when you have to get permission to ware your own medal band. Also one of the subjects you had to pass was Army and Empire.

WW2 German Trench Knife

Zulu short stabbing Spear found about 2 miles from the Isandlwana battle site South Africa. Thought by finder to be Zulu resting place before the battle.

Wow, exellent thread bert, thanks for sharing everyone

I know why you had to obtain permission to wear your own medal ribbons. There where a men who where imposters, there where ones who obtained medal ribbons for which they where not entitled and there where even men who wore service uniforms that had not even been in the forces during the war. I actualy know of one, he was eventualy caught and put inside as it was a crinimal offence which carried a jail sentence during the war and i think it may still be. But these days under this present goverment and the way they treat the services all you would get is an asbo.

WW2 Soldiers repair kit.

Plaques commemorating exercise UHLAN EAGLE. A joint polish/ nato exercise conducted at Drawsko Pomorski, Poland. Taking part was a British Battle group including the 7th Armoured Brigade ( Desert Rats ).

If I remember correctly, this was called a Housewife.

That's right Chris, I knew it was called something, couldn't think what is was , thanks

Bert,I have only just managed to view the images on here (pc trouble.You have got some truely first class items there.Thankyou for sharing mate.Superb.

British Army Pass 1934.

First of all you was graded after your medical and if declared fit you received your call up papers.

This is interesting in a couple of respects. First, here the name is written with the initial is before the surname; I would have expected it to be Williams.D. Second, he was expecting to get from Aldershot to Liverpool & back between the end of duty on one day & reveille the next day (if I'm reading it correctly). I'm guessing that reveille would be no later than 7am.

Chris, can't explain the name, that's down to whoever filled it in. I do know it was for my Father to attend a funeral of family friend. Remember him telling me, travelled up, funeral, travelled back.

my uncles ww2 campaign medals and Chindits badge. Medals left to right, 39/45 British War Medal, Burma Star, Defence Medal, 39/45 Star.

The verse on the inside of the Christmas Card reads:

There's gladness in remembrance
Now greeting time is here,
And in my "Book of Memory"
Your name is ever dear.
May you while we are parted,
Happy and safe remain,
Till we renew our memories,
And share our joys again.

His Release Book lists his conduct as "exemplary" and the testimonial says:

A very honest and reliable man. He has performed his work in the Army very satisfactorily at all times, applying himself dilligently and conscientiously to whatever he has been given to do. He is recommended as being hardworking, adaptable, efficient and most trustworthy.

well done jay, glad you got them on.

I can't even begin to say how proud I am to be able to post these!!

LOL, what that actually means,Jaci, is "xx years of undetected crime" (just joking)
Cheers, Chris.

The Kings letter that accompanied the plaque (Dead mans penny) back in the thread.

Gratuity and credits due.

Worrying times waiting to hear from someone abroad

From the American Civil War

Hey!
Spent most of the afternoon uploading some pics from some items and photos I have, apologies in advance I used my camera phone to taken them.
All items have been passed down from family members.









A few badges I dug out



Some more..



First and second world war badges and medals



Couple of cap badges and another badge item on the far left not sure what that is???



Couple of dogtags
and some sort of wrist tag.



Admitedly not war related but earned by m great uncle who worked for birkenhead transport corporation before the second world war. One medal for 5 years clean driving and another for 10 years clean driving,



Dogtags of family members.

The following are photographs taken by my great uncle who served in the 8th army in the north african campaign as a despatch rider. He must have liked photography as the folowing photograps is only a quarter of the collection and paints a portrait of life in north Africa.

































































As I said thatis only about a quarter of the collection, plus there are numerous first world war pictures of family I didnt have time to take a picture of and upload via mobile Will upload more picture soon.

Oh dear I've made quite a mess sorry!

That's OK mate, easily sorted

My Fathers Army tunic 1944.

My Fathers campaign medals and Ribbon bar from left to right War Medal,Defence Medal, Burma Star,39/45 Star.Medal missing from Ribbon bar, India general service medal.

Sweetheart Card 1939/45

Preparing for action and crossing rivers, India and Burma.

The Kings Regiment 250th Anniversary photographic Record

amazing stuff, will try and get some of mine up soon

Here is my little collection


Original K98 with Bayonet!

Good start Lee, like the Karabiner.

Is that a v2 rocket controlling device next to the rifle? I also have an incendiary bomb that was dropped in Birkenhead will take a photo soon

I had a Mauser K98 re-bored to 7.62mm. Shot reasonably well out to 300 yards.

thanks all, i am trying to sell the flag to be honest it is a repro but i think its a rare type.... got a bren mag aswell and a ammo box.... i did have a few other things like wound badge and another german badge.

have got a similar picture of my grandads football team over in india from the second world war! i dont have a scanner but will try to get a picture of it.. and add it

i also have a 2nd WW bayonet, a napoleonic bayonet with sheaf, a 1905 police dress sabre without scabbard and a pair of french dueling "eppes (spp)"

This is a letter received by my father from his mates wife in 1944. I have tried to copy without making to many changes.

I just received your letter, i am very glad le (the) rest of the boys enjoyed the cigarettes, but i wish you didn't send me the PO (postal order) because i know soldiers need all they have.
So i decide to give half the money (can't make out) for my husband and the rest well i will send some cigarettes for you and your friends. I hope you will approve of it.
As you can see i am writing in English very bad but hope you can understand what i say. You see i am French and i found quite differcult for writing in English.
I was just wondering if you knew my husband, you see i cannot believe is dead for they told me and i imagine he will come back to me some day when the war is over, smiling and brown, tired and hungry, the way is likely to be after the long journey when he was coming home in leave.
The children and i are very well, i hope this letter found you all in best of health.
May god bless you all and keep you safe for the ones are waiting for you at home.
Cheerio good luck
i an your sincerely
Louise McGurn

nice pics thanks for sharing
julie

Any of you who know about/ collect bayonets may like to see these scans - and to drool over the item shown in the lower part of the picture.


These are both 1888 pattern Lee Metford bayonets. The upper one with two hilt rivets is the Mk11 but that lower down with 3 rivets is a VERY, VERY rare Mk1

Snod

Here's a Pic of a late WW11 pilots flying helmet i picked up a few years ago.