WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

Fabulous, Very Rare WW2 German Luftwaffe Falshirmjager Mobile Artillery Shells & Case with Luftwaffe Falshirmjager Issue stamps

Original falshirmhager issue transit case containing two original [unfired] shell heads and three original shell cases, held by its transit rack. As used by the elite German Falshirmjager special airborne troops during the Invasion of Crete. Also the type that was used by special SS combat groups, Heer Mountain Troops, and the Luftwaffe Falshirmjager Special Trained Special Forces Unit Troops of II/KG200. This set was used by the Luftwaffe Falshirmjager and marked accordingly as issue Luftwaffe for falshirmjager. The German small mobile artillery cannon was an incredible piece of artillery in that it was small enough to be transported in back packs, through mountain terrain and even dropped with falshirmjager parachute troops. During the invasion of Crete the German paratroopers found themselves attacked with clubs, knives and farm equipment as they scrambled to get out of their parachutes. There were numerous reports of citizens firing old rifles at landing infantry and even joining the New Zealander, Greek, or English counterattacks around the island. Believe it or not the Germans were outraged that common citizens, wearing no uniform, were actively skirmishing against their soldiers, [in other words, how dare the ordinary Greek peasants have the cheek to attempt to defend their homeland, from the noble and valiant German invaders, especially while dressed in poor quality civilian clothes!]. Thus, and consequently, the German invaders soon felt threatened by attack at all times, from any civilian quarter [poor things].
By this time, the Germans had gotten enough supplies to the island by sea and air to begin to wage conventional war against Crete's defenders. A big surprise to the Allied forces was German artillery. It had been thought that artillery was far to heavy and difficult to deploy in a primarily air based invasion. Unfortunately for the men on Crete, the Germans had developed a recoilless gun, named the LG40, that Fallschirmjager units were able to carry with them. The 7.5cm gun fired the same shells as the full size 7.5cm artillery being used by conventional units, albeit at around 2/3rds of the range. It was lightweight, easy to use, and generally very effective. This is a complete shell and detonator case that takes 3 shells and it this one is complete with 2 fuze heads and 3 charge detonator bases with adjustable charge discs. This case is clearly marked Luft for issue and use Luftwaffe Fallshirmjager. The 7.5 cm Leichtgeschuetz 40 could be air-dropped and had a maximum range of 6,800 m. Para-trained commandos of II/KG200 (also known as the 3rd Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 200), were a Luftwaffe special forces unit who were para-trained commandos. II./KG 200 remain a mostly unheard of arm of Germany's World War II parachute forces due to the nature of their role and were listed on II./KG 200's ORBAT as the 3rd Staffel. Please Note* Shown in the photographs, there are two shells with their heads included, 3 steel shell cases, but two heads. Inert and perfectly safe, but not suitable for export.  read more

Code: 22502

WW2 Royal Canadian Naval Battle Flag White Ensign. Made By Piggott Brothers and Co. Bishopsgate London. His Majesty's Canadian Naval Service On Juno Beach, the D.Day Normandy Landings

HMCS Algonquin, white ensign battle flag, with original toggle and cord, on wool. Maker stamped Piggott Bros. Assigned to the 26th Destroyer Flotilla of the British Home Fleet, she left Scapa Flow with HMCS Sioux on 31 Mar 1944 to help escort the carrier attack on the Tirpitz. In Apr 1944 she escorted a similar attack on German shipping off the Lofoten Island, Norway, and on 28 May 1944 left Scapa, from whence she carried out attacks on German convoys off Norway. Taking part in D-Day operations she bombarded shore targets on the Normandy coast. As part of Operation Neptune, the HMCS Algonquin operated within Force J heading for Juno Beach and bombarded the German Nan positions on 6 June 1944 for the benefit of Canadian land forces.
Juno and or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 during the Second World War. The beach spanned from Courseulles, a village just east of the British beach Gold, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and just west of the British beach Sword. Taking Juno was the responsibility of the First Canadian Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Free French, Norwegian, and other Allied navies. The objectives of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day were to cut the Caen-Bayeux road, seize the Carpiquet airport west of Caen, and form a link between the two British beaches on either flank.

Shortly after the Battle of Normandy, the Allied troops could no longer support Allied troops because of the limit of the range of their armaments and HMCS Algonquin deployed in the North Sea as part of the fight against the German maritime forces. On 22 Aug 1944, she took off 203 of Nabob's ship's company when the latter was torpedoed in the Barents Sea. In November 1944, Algonquin was part of an attack on a German convoy that sank or destroyed seven vessels.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), which started the war with only 13 vessels, had 450 ships in all, plus many smaller auxiliary units, when WWII ended. This 1945 figure breaks down as follows: 2 cruisers, 17 destroyers, 68 frigates, 112 corvettes, 67 minesweepers, 12 escort ships, 75 Fairmile motor launches, 9 motor torpedo boats, 12 armoured yachts and vessels of other types. This impressive fleet made the RCN the world’s fourth naval power.

The RCN expanded greatly during the Second World War. From its modest beginnings of six ocean-going ships and 3,500 officers and men (both regular and reserve) at the outbreak of the war, it grew into a large and capable fighting force. This was important as the navy was immediately called on to help. In fact, the navy was the main thrust of Canada’s war effort in the first two years of the conflict as German U-boats again made cutting off Allied shipping a top priority and the Allied navies had to find a way to protect the merchant vessels crossing the Atlantic Ocean so supplies could reach Europe.

This “Battle of the Atlantic” was the longest and one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War — lasting from the first day of the war in 1939 until the last day of the war in Europe in 1945. Canada played a major role with the RCN assuming responsibility for escorting convoys in the northwest Atlantic — the only major theatre of the war to be commanded by Canadians. This battle also saw the Germans bring the war to our own shores. U-boats even penetrated deep into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River.

A number of German U-boats, including U-130 surrendered to the RCN after the war in Europe ended in May 1945.

It was a tough fight, but with courage and the adoption of new technology and tactics, Canada helped the Allies to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. More than 25,000 merchant ships safely made it to their destination under Canadian escort, delivering approximately 165 million tons of vitally-needed supplies to Europe. The RCN sank or helped sink more than 30 U-boats, but at a steep price. The RCN lost 14 warships to enemy attack and another eight ships to accidents at sea during the Second World War, with approximately 2,000 losing their lives.

RCN ships also served in different ways during the war. They fought against the Japanese in the Pacific and took part in other kinds of military operations in the waters off Europe, like patrolling and mine sweeping in the English Channel and supporting Allied landings in Normandy, Sicily, mainland Italy and southern France.

At the end of the Second World War, Canada had one of the largest navies in the world with 95,000 men and women in uniform, and 434 commissioned vessels including cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes and auxiliaries. It was an incredible growth that symbolizes the great contributions that Canadians made in the cause of peace and freedom during history’s largest war.

This flag has small battle scars of tears at the section near the union flag, and longer tears at the far end.

Other WW2 Royal Naval White Ensigns shown the gallery.

Second World War period Royal Navy white ensign. This flag was flown by the Naval Officer in charge of landings Reggio di Calabria, on the coast of mainland Italy, on 3 September 1943 (and also previously during the Sicily landings). It is believed to have been the first British flag to fly on the beach at Reggio during the landings of British and Canadian forces as part of 'Operation Baytown'.
&
The White Ensign from HMCS Arrowhead
In June 1941, after commissioning in the RCN, Arrowhead joined the Newfoundland Escort Force and spent the majority of 1941 escorting convoys from St. John's to Iceland. In July 1942 she joined the Gulf Escort Force and participated in the Battle of the St. Lawrence. On 31 August the U-boats U-165 and U-517 entered the St. Lawrence River. On 6 September, the convoy QS 33, escorted by Arrowhead, HMCS Truro, two motor launches and the armed yacht HMCS Raccoon was spotted by U-517. Arrowhead detected U-517 and attempted to sink the submarine. See
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30016656
Also a WW1 Battle Flag white ensign of HMS Cornwall from the Battle of the Falkland Islands December 1914

Photo 9 in the gallery is of a similar WW2 White Ensign Battle Flag {but without battle scars} sold in New York in 2015
A Royal Navy White Ensign Battle Flag, C.1940 from an unknown vessel.
25 x 54 in (63.5 x 137 cm)
THE WORLD WAR II 70TH ANNIVERSARY SALE, Bonhams
29 April 2015, 10:00 EDT
New York
Estimate sale price US$3,000 - US$5,000


The flag is 57 inches by 103 inches

Another Royal Naval white ensign battle flag, raised on Sword Beach at the commencement of the Normandy landings sold in 2016  read more

Code: 25660

Original, Exceptional Example of the German SS/Heer Issue WW2 'Operation Barbarosa' Eastern Front Combat During 1941-1942 Service Medal. Made by Gustav Brehmer, Designed by a Serving SS Soldier SS Uuntersharfuhrer E. Kraus

Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on 22 June 1941, during World War II. This was the medal issued for bitter, horrendous first winter on the Eastern Front, in which millions of men who were unprepared for the brunt of the Russian winter were forced to fight in often inhuman conditions. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along a 2,900-kilometer (1,800 mi) front, with the main goal of capturing territory up to a line between Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan (A-A line). The attack became the largest and costliest military offensive in history, with around 10 million combatants taking part in the opening phase and over 8 million casualties by the end of the operation on 5 December 1941. It marked a major escalation of World War II, opening the Eastern Front—the largest and deadliest land theatre of war in history—and bringing the Soviet Union into the Allied powers.

Awarded for service during 15 November 1941 to 15th April 1942, for being wounded in action, killed in action or for 14 to 60 days served in active combat between the dates Nov 1941 to April 1942 on the Eastern Front. Designed by a serving SS Soldier SS Untersharfuhrer E. Kraus it was held in high regard by serving soldiers. It's issue was officially decommissioned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the 4th of September 1944. The centre obverse features a half open-winged eagle clutching an immobile swastika. Above the medallion is a helmet resting on top of a stick grenade. On the reverse is the purpose of the medal, which cites the winter in Moscow 1941-42 positioned over a sword resting on laurel leaves. The ribbon was red, white and black symbolic of blood, snow and death.

Unterscharführer 'junior squad leader') was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the Schutzstaffel (SS) between 1934 and 1945. The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives. That event caused an SS re-organisation and the creation of new ranks to separate the SS from the Sturmabteilung.

Although Hitler was warned by many high-ranking military officers, such as Friedrich Paulus, that occupying Western Russia would create "more of a drain than a relief for Germany's economic situation," he anticipated compensatory benefits such as the demobilisation of entire divisions to relieve the acute labour shortage in German industry, the exploitation of Ukraine as a reliable and immense source of agricultural products, the use of forced labour to stimulate Germany's overall economy and the expansion of territory to improve Germany's efforts to isolate the United Kingdom. Hitler was further convinced that Britain would sue for peace once the Germans triumphed in the Soviet Union, and if they did not, he would use the resources gained in the East to defeat the British Empire.

"We only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down."

— —Adolf Hitler

The operation, code-named after the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa ("red beard"), put into action Nazi Germany's ideological goals of eradicating communism and conquering the western Soviet Union to repopulate it with Germans under Generalplan Ost, which planned for the extermination of the native Slavic peoples by mass deportation to Siberia, Germanisation, enslavement, and genocide. The material targets of the invasion were the agricultural and mineral resources of territories such as Ukraine and Byelorussia and oil fields in the Caucasus. The Axis eventually captured five million Soviet Red Army troops on the Eastern Front and deliberately starved to death or otherwise killed 3.3 million prisoners of war, as well as millions of civilians. The invasion began on 22 June 1941 with a massive ground and air assault, resulting in large territorial gains for the Nazis and their allies. The main part of Army Group South invaded from occupied Poland on 22 June and on 2 July was joined by a combination of German and Romanian forces attacking from Romania. Kiev was captured on 19 September, which was followed by the captures of Kharkov on 24 October and Rostov-on-Don on 20 November, by which time most of Crimea had been captured. Army Group North overran the Baltic lands and on 8 September 1941, began a siege of Leningrad accompanied by Finnish forces, which ultimately lasted until 1944.

Frontline strength of the Axis combatants; Germany, Romania Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia (22 June 1941)

3.8 million personnel
3,350–3,795 tanks
3,030–3,072 other AFVs
2,770–5,369 aircraft
7,200–23,435 artillery pieces
17,081 mortars
600,000 horses
600,000 vehicles

Strength of the Soviet Frontline strength (22 June 1941)

2.6–2.9 million personnel
11,000 tanks
7,133–9,100 military aircraft

This Eastern Front Medal beautiful and is maker marked 13 on the ring for Gustaz Brehmer. These medals were all made of zinc, and most have lost their finish over time. This example has nearly all of its lovely, age patination finish. It shows service wear. The suspension ring is intact, and is stamped with the Präsidialkanzlei maker code “13”, indicating manufacture by the firm of Gustaz Brehmer. The ribbon on this Eastern Front Medal is a nice, long example, with bright original colour. These awards are scarce in this condition. This one is in near mint condition, and displays extremely well.  read more

Code: 25662

A Good Original German WW2 Faithful Service To the Reich 25 Year Silver Medal 'Fur Treue Dienfte' in Silver and Black Enamel

With blue silk ribbon. In super condition The design of the medal consisted of a cross pattern, similar to the Iron Cross award, with a square frame in the center that contains a large black swastika. An oakleaf garland connects every arm of the cross at about the midpoint.
The back of the medal has an inscription that reads "Fur Treue Dienfte", which translates to "For Faithful Service".
The body of the medal is of silver colour. A suspension ring is attached to the upper arm.

The condition is very good with most of its original combination of mirror bright and frosted silver finish, and its central, black enamel swastika within an oak leaf wreath. the ribbon has some marking to the rear.  read more

Code: 25661

A German Army Third Reich Period, Officers Sword By Eikhorn of Solingen

Doves head pommel with acorn leaf engraved p hilt, acorn leaf engraved backstrap and eagle and swastika langet. A gilded alloy hilt and the gilding is surface flaking with age. Swords made in the closing years up to the war tended to have alloy hilts [as opposed to brass or steel earlier on] that was then over gilded with thin pure gold. The blade is excellent and the steel blackened scabbard has no denting. The German Army (German: Heer, was the land forces component of the Wehrmacht, the German armed forces, from 1935 to 1945. The Wehrmacht also included the Kriegsmarine (Navy) and the Luftwaffe (Air Force). During World War II, a total of about 15 million soldiers served in the German Army, of whom about seven million became casualties. Separate from the army, the Waffen-SS (Armed SS) was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. Growing from three regiments to over 38 divisions during World War II, it served alongside the army but was never formally part of it.

Only 17 months after Hitler announced publicly the rearmament program, the Army reached its projected goal of 36 divisions. During the autumn of 1937, two more corps were formed. In 1938, four additional corps were formed with the inclusion of the five divisions of the Austrian Army after the Anschluss in March. During the period of its expansion by Adolf Hitler, the German Army continued to develop concepts pioneered during World War I, combining ground (Heer) and air (Luftwaffe) assets into combined arms teams. Coupled with operational and tactical methods such as encirclements and the "battle of annihilation", the German military managed quick victories in the two initial years of World War II, prompting the use of the word Blitzkrieg (literally lightning war, meaning lightning-fast war) for the techniques used.

The German Army entered the war with a majority of its infantry formations relying on the horse for transportation. The infantry remained foot soldiers throughout the war; artillery also remained primarily horse-drawn. The motorized formations received much attention in the world press in the opening years of the war, and were cited as the main reason for the success of the German invasions of Poland (September 1939), Norway and Denmark (April 1940), Belgium, France and Netherlands (May 1940), Yugoslavia (April 1941) and the early campaigns in the Soviet Union (June 1941). However their motorized and tank formations accounted for only 20% of the Heer's capacity at their peak strength.  read more

Code: 23075

An Exceptional Condition, German, 1936 Regulation Pattern Polizei /SS {Schutzstaffel} Degan By Clemen & Jung,

One of the nicest condition examples we have seen it quite a while, It would be most difficult to find a better looking example.

Silver plated steel regulation pattern degan hilt, with black ribbed grip, bound with silver wire, and with it's original inset badge of the Third Reich German Police, and an officer's version of extended pommel. Blade maker marked by Clemen & Jung, Solingen.
The Police and the SS officers shared this common pattern of sword from 1936 onwards. Although a solely serving SS officer may have a sigrunen rune badged hilt to his sword, a Police or combined Police/SS officer may have the Police badged hilt. The Ordnungspolizei was separate from the SS and maintained a system of insignia and Orpo ranks. It was possible for policemen to be members of the SS but without active duties. Police generals who were members of the SS were referred to simultaneously by both rank titles during the war. For instance, a Generalleutnant in the Police who was also an SS member would be referred to as SS Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei. In addition, those Orpo police generals that undertook the duties of both Senior SS and Police Leader (Höhere SS und Polizeiführer) gained equivalent Waffen-SS ranks in August 1944 when Himmler was appointed Chef der Ersatzheeres (Chief of Home Army), because they had authority over the prisoner-of-war camps in their area.

Heinrich Himmler's ultimate aim was to replace the regular police forces of Germany with a combined racial/state protection corps (Staatsschutzkorps) of pure SS units. Local law enforcement would be undertaken by the Allgemeine-SS with the Waffen-SS providing homeland-security and political-police functions. Historical analysis of the Third Reich has revealed that senior Orpo personnel knew of Himmler's plan and were opposed to it. Very good blade, good scabbard with no denting some paint wear. Very good bright hilt, with light natural age wear.  read more

Code: 23336

An Exceptional Example of a German WW2 Black Wound Badge. Verwundetenabzeichen

The Wound Badge (German: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers of the Imperial German Army, during World War I. Between the world wars, it was awarded to members of the German armed forces who fought on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War, 1938–39, and received combat related wounds. It was awarded to members in the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied bombings, it was also awarded to wounded civilians in air raids. It was awarded when the wound was the result of enemy hostile action, with an exception being for frostbite.
The silver grade of German WW2 wound badge, was awarded to officers and service men and women wounded in combat and receiving several wounds numbering three or four separate injuries but less than five wounds. Just like the current Olympic medals, all German gold and silver class medals are not hallmarked solid gold or silver. The badge had three classes:
Black (3rd class, representing Iron), for those wounded once or twice by hostile action (including air raids).
Silver (2nd class) for being wounded three or four times.
Gold (1st class, which could be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded

The "progression" could be waived in the event of loss of a limb or eyesight; when such a severe wound occurred, the silver badge was awarded.

Badges were made of pressed steel, brass and zinc. All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic. The badge was worn below all other awards on the left.  read more

Code: 25663

An Original WW2 German War Merit Cross With Swords..

In alloy, with date 1939 to reverse, and with relief Swastika to front. A medal for bravery when in military service but not necessarily when facing the enemy. For example, awarded for rescuing wounded in minefields, bomb disposal or bravery during aerial bombardment. Curiously the bravery required to achieve this medal could be greater than was required to receive the traditional combat bravery medal, the Iron Cross, as the recipient would have had little or no combat adrenaline rush to aid his heroic act. In superb condition with original ribbon of issue. Picture in the gallery of Gotlob Berger wearing his Knights Cross War Merit Cross With Swords  read more

Code: 25664

A Superb, Historical, WW2 'Surrender of Japan' Presentation Silver Kukri With Superbly Engraved Silver Mounts and Pommel. Excellent Quality Honed and Tempered Blade

Carved horn handle and traditional fine steel blade, {exceptionaly sharp} the elongated recurved blade, highly distinctive of the tradition kukri of the gurkhas.

Presented as a souvenir of the war's end surrender of Japan, to an aide de camp of a British General who was part of the negotiations of the surrender of the Empire of Japan, at the conclusion of the negotiations, that were made in 1945-08-28, Prior to the formal surrender a few days later aboard USS Missouri on the 2nd of September. The surrender was negotiated In the Throne Room, Government House, Rangoon, which was used for the surrender negotiations, by Lieutenant General Takazo Numata with Lieutenant Colonel Morio Tomura and Rear Admiral Kaigye Chudo 

Original Nepalese presentation silver gurkha's kukri, antique, circa 1870. Leather nicely patinated through age.
The kukri came to be known to the Western world when the East India Company came into conflict with the growing Gorkha Kingdom, culminating in the Gurkha War of 1814–1816. It gained literary attention in the 1897 novel Dracula by Irish author Bram Stoker. Despite the popular image of Dracula having a stake driven through his heart at the conclusion of a climactic battle between Dracula's bodyguards and the heroes, Mina's narrative describes his throat being sliced through by Jonathan Harker's kukri and his heart pierced by Quincey Morris's Bowie knife. In the hands of an experienced wielder Khukuri or Kukri is about as formidable a weapon as can be conceived. Like all really good weapons, Khukuri's or Kukri's efficiency depends much more upon skill than the strength of the wielder. And thus so that it happens, that a diminutive Gurkha, shorter and slight in regards to his stature, could easily cut to pieces a gigantic adversary, who simply does not understand the lightly built Gurkha's mode of attack and fearsome skill. The Gurkha generally strikes upwards with his Kukri, possibly in order to avoid wounding himself should his blow fail, and possibly because an upward cut is just the one that can be least guarded against however strong his opponent.
In the 20th century through the WW1 and WW2 period they continued to make silver or plated mounts presentation kukri, and the criteria for presentation became more flexible. After WW2 presentation types were almost always silver plated or nickle.

Photo in the gallery of Lieutenant General Takazo Numata and Rear Admiral Kaigye Chudo arrive at Mingladon airfield, Rangoon, to discuss arrangements for the surrender of the Japanese Army. We have more information on the provenance of this superb and historical piece that we will be pleased to pass onto to the next owner. In January we were delighted to acquire a superb Japanese General's gendaito sword also surrendered to a British General at this same ceremony. That Japanese sword, with other family swords and kukri, were sold to a private American collector the same day that it was acquired by us.

Excellent condition overall with small areas of contact use wear upon the horn.  read more

Code: 25655

Part of a Superb WW1 Machine Gunner's Collection, British and German. A Superb & Fabulous Set of POW Medals, Plus, a Letter From the King & Two Photographs. 1 Signed, of a Machine Gunner of the Most Collectable WW1 British Machine Gun Corps

A British Prisoner of War group. A lovely pair of medals from one of the great services of WW1. Would look spectacular fully framed! With two photos of the recipient and a letter of thanks from King George Vth sent to liberated Prisoners of War. Medals in near mint condition small photo a little worn the original period blow up photo [10 x 12 inches] is very good indeed but with smalll scratches.
On 2 September 1915 a definite proposal was made to the War Office for the formation of a single specialist Machine Gun Company per infantry brigade, by withdrawing the guns and gun teams from the battalions. They would be replaced at battalion level by the light Lewis machine guns and thus the firepower of each brigade would be substantially increased. The Machine Gun Corps was created by Royal Warrant on October 14 followed by an Army Order on 22 October 1915. The companies formed in each brigade would transfer to the new Corps. The MGC would eventually consist of infantry Machine Gun Companies, cavalry Machine Gun Squadrons and Motor Machine Gun Batteries. The pace of reorganisation depended largely on the rate of supply of the Lewis guns but it was completed before the Battle of the Somme in 1916. A Base Depot for the Corps was established at Camiers.There are many instances where a single well-placed and protected machine gun cut great swathes in attacking infantry. Nowhere was this demonstrated with more devastating effect than against the British army's attack on the Somme on 1 July 1916 and against the German attack at Arras on 28 March 1918. It followed that multiple machine guns, with interlocking fields of fire, were an incredibly destructive defensive weapon. The German army developed their Hindenburg Line, to which they withdrew in spring 1917, and relied greatly on machine guns for defence. The British copied this. In addition, both offensively and defensively, the MGC began to fire in co-ordinated barrages. The guns of the 2nd and 47th (London) Divisions fired an indirect barrage over the heads of their advancing infantry, and behind the German trenches (in other words, this was an interdiction barrage, to stop enemy attempts to reinforce or re-supply their front), during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. This was possibly the first time an indirect fire tactic was borrowed from the artillery. Later, and certainly by the Battle of Messines in June 1917, machine gunners were also employing creeping barrages, with fire falling ahead of the artillery barrage to catch enemy troops moving to the rear. They would concentrate fire on specific targets, or sweep the enemy ground behind his front and support positions. Machine guns for these tasks were generally placed about 1000 yards behind the advancing infantry and were moved up as soon as the enemy positions were captured. Machinegun tactics had in fact, become more like those of the artillery than of the infantry. Photo of a Machine Gun crew near the Somme in 1916 wearing gas attack masks, and a Lewis gunner using it in it's anti aircraft capacity, and the London memorial for the Machine Gun Corps. Photos for information only not included. The letter text is as follows;
Buckingham Palace

1918

The Queen joins me in welcoming you on your release from the miseries and hardships, which you have endured with so much patience and courage.

During these many months of trail, the early rescue of our gallant officers and men from the cruelties of their captivity has been uppermost in our thoughts.

We are thankful that this longed for day has arrived, and that back in the old Country, you will be able one more to enjoy the happiness of a home and to see good days among those who ansciously look for your return. [signed] GeorgeRI
Written in blue pen on embossed paper, it is considered the first mass communication from a British monarch after it was reproduced and distributed using lithography. The photos of the soldiers in the trenches and the memorial are not included [for information only].  read more

Code: 22858