WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

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An Exemplary, Original WW2 Army Ordnance Combat Service Issue Gurkha Kukri.Field Marshall Manekshaw once said,

An Exemplary, Original WW2 Army Ordnance Combat Service Issue Gurkha Kukri.Field Marshall Manekshaw once said, " If someone says he does not fear death, then he is either telling a lie or he is a Gurkha".

In amazing condition for a WW2 vintage British combat service issue Gurkha kukri. Ordnance stamps on the blade and the leather frog on the leather covered wooden scabbard, with original small brass chape end, and all parts have a stupendous patina.

It has spent over six hours in our workshop being artisan hand cleaned and hand polished. It was incredibly grubby when it arrived, but it has been transformed into how it once looked after the wars end. Evry single part is original, and complete, including its original leather laced belt frog

"Ayo Gorkali" The Gurkha Battle Call "The Gurkhas Are Coming!" Field Marshall Manekshaw once said, " If someone says he does not fear death, then he is either telling a lie or he is a Gurkha".

The Gurkhas are probably the finest and bravest, combat soldiers in the world, and universally agreed throughout the entire world, as the most feared, with legendary loyalty to the British Crown.

Just one example below of the Gurkhas combat service in WW2;

600 sorties by Dakota transport aircraft transferred 9,000 men to the landing zones. Chowringhee Chindit Gurkha base was abandoned once the fly-in was completed, but Broadway Chindit Gurkha base was held with a garrison which included field artillery, anti-aircraft guns and even a detachment of six Mk.VIII Spitfires of No.81 Squadron RAF from 12 March to 17 March. On 17 March they were attacked during take-off by Japanese Ki-43 'Oscars'. S/L William 'Babe' Whitamore and F/O Alan M Peart managed to get airborne, with both shooting down one 'Oscar' each. Whitamore was shot down and killed but Peart survived for over half an hour, holding off over 20 enemy fighters. The remaining Spitfires were destroyed on the ground for the loss of another pilot, F/Lt Coulter. Peart flew back to Kangla the same day in his damaged Spitfire (FL-E JF818) and reported the action.28 The detachment was duly ended by AFC Stanley Vincent, the CO of No. 221 Group.27

Fergusson's brigade set up another base named Aberdeen north of Indaw, into which 14th Brigade was flown. Calvert's brigade established yet another, named White City at Mawlu, astride the main railway and road leading to the Japanese northern front. 111 Brigade set up ambushes and roadblocks south of Indaw (although part of the brigade which landed at Chowringhee was delayed in crossing the Irrawaddy River), before moving west to Pinlebu.

Ferocious jungle fighting ensued around Broadway and White City {all the Chindit bases had British city region names}. At times, British and Japanese troops were in close combat, bayonets and kukris against katanas. On 27 March, after days of aircraft attack, the Japanese attacked Broadway for several nights before the attack was repulsed with flown-in artillery and the aid of locally recruited Kachin irregulars.

The deprivations of the Burma campaign were horrifying for all sides. This is just one account in Burma. Several British soldiers said that the crocodiles preyed on the Japanese soldiers in the swamp. The most prominent firsthand retelling of what happened comes from naturalist Bruce Stanley Wright, who participated in the Battle of Ramree Island and gave this written account:

“That night of Feb. 19, 1945 was the most horrible that any member of the M.L. motor launch crews ever experienced. The crocodiles, alerted by the din of warfare and smell of blood, gathered among the mangroves, lying with their eyes above the water, watchfully alert for their next meal. With the ebb of the tide, the crocodiles moved in on the dead, wounded, and uninjured men who had become mired in the mud…

The scattered rifle shots in the pitch black swamp punctured by the screams of the wounded men crushed in the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred worrying sound of spinning crocodiles made a cacophony of hell that has rarely been duplicated on Earth. At dawn, the vultures arrived to clean up what the crocodiles had left.” — Bruce Stanley Wright

The giant lizards had a feast of their lives as nearly 1,000 terrified soldiers dripped blood and sweat into the crowded confines of the Ramree mangrove swamp.

Around 500 Japanese soldiers are believed to have fled the mangrove swamps, with 20 of them being recaptured by British forces who had set up a perimeter around the dense jungle. Around 500 of the fleeing men, however, never made it out of the swamp.

Survivors are said to have heard harrowing stories of hundreds of crocodiles assaulting the soldiers in a mass assault, as well as appalling tales of crocodiles attacking the soldiers individually.

On 12/13 May 1945 at Taungdaw, Burma now Myanmar, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung VC was manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy. Twice he hurled back grenades which had fallen on his trench, but the third exploded in his right hand, blowing off his fingers, shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face, body and right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman, now alone and disregarding his wounds, loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for four hours, calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point blank range. Afterwards, when the casualties were counted, it is reported that there were 31 dead Japanese around his position which he had killed, with only one arm.In the Falklands War in 1982 the Argentinians abandoned Mount William without a fight simply because the enemy forces advancing towards them were the 2nd Battalion, 7th Ghurka Rifles.  read more

Code: 25570

425.00 GBP

A German Spy Radio Receiver. WW2 Sicherheitsdienst (SD) Abwehr German Spy Network Intelligence Service Radio Receiver. Organisation 'Max' Spy Ring In Teheran. Also Used For U-Boat Section Clandestine Commando Raids

A German Spy Radio Receiver. WW2 Sicherheitsdienst (SD) Abwehr German Spy Network Intelligence Service Radio Receiver. Organisation 'Max' Spy Ring In Teheran. Also Used For U-Boat Section Clandestine Commando Raids

The very same radio was used by German WW2 Abwehr Secret Agents Richard Kauder (codename: Richard 'Max' Klatt), who used it in Sofia (Bulgaria), in the 'MAX' spy network organisation and Franz Mayr, who used it in Tehran (Persia). See below the Max Klatt affair. Richard Kauder was one of the most intriguing German, Russian and American connected double-triple agent spying stories of WW2. and Franz Mayr one of two specific Nazi agents in Iran – Hitler’s Middle East spy ring and the plot to assassinate FDR, Churchill & Stalin at Tehran. When the spy ring collapsed in Teheran all their spy radio sets that had previously been used by the German Embassy in Tehran, they handed the radios over to the Japanese, who kept them until they were forced to leave as well. When the radios finally ended up in the hands of the British, they were no longer operational. "An Enigma Called Max" is an historical documentary series based entirely around Richard Kauder's 'Max' spy ring

A military shortwave receiver, developed and manufactured in 1941 by Radio N. Eltz in Wien (Vienna, Austria). It was used during World War II (WWII) by the German Army (Wehrmacht), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and the Intelligence Service (Abwehr). As a spy radio set. It was often used in combination with the RS-20M transmitter, but also as a standalone receiver, for example with the Abwehr S-87/20 transmitter.

Abwehr
The German Intelligence Service, the Abwehr, used the R-3/RS-20M as a small commando station. The R3 was also used as a stationary receiver in some head-end stations of the Abwehr, commonly in combination with an existing transmitter like the S-87/20 .
Sicherheitsdienst (SD)
Another WWII German secret service, the Sicherheitsdienst or SD (security service), also used the this R3. Examples are secret agent Richard Kauder (codename: Klatt), who used it in Sofia (Bulgaria), and Franz Mayr, who used it in Tehran (Persia, now: Iran)

U-Boat service of this receiver
The receiver and the RS-20/M transmitter were also used by the U-Boat section of the Kriegsmarine for backup purposes, and for troops that were landed ashore for special operations (commandos) This R3 is visible in the movie Das Boot

the “Max-Klatt Affair.” It takes some interesting twists and turns during World War II, and involves the intelligence services of 3 countries, 2 of whom were allies deceiving each other.

‘Max’ was the German code name for Richard Kauder who used ‘Richard Klatt’ as an alias.

Kauder operated an espionage network that penetrated the Kremlin in Moscow.

Germany invaded the USSR, our ally, and took massive amounts of territory and inflicted crushing defeats. Kauder operated radios from Budapest or Sofia that maintained contact with his network in the USSR. Kauder radioed their reports to the Abwehr, German military intelligence. Kauders’ agent in the Kremlin was sending details of Soviet military plans and strategy meetings to the Germans.

British signals intelligence had been able, through ULTRA, to read encrypted German communications. ULTRA was one of the greatest secrets of the war. Access to its intelligence was severely limited and could not be shared with the Soviets. So while we were aware of a massive intelligence leak at a time our ally was getting hammered, we could not tell the Soviets.

What neither the Germans nor British knew was that Kauders’ network in the USSR had been penetrated by the NKVD which was feeding deceptive information to the Germans.

Also unknown was the fact that the Soviets had penetrated British intelligence. NKVD agent Anthony Blunt informed the Soviets of the intelligence leak in the Kremlin. The Soviets felt betrayed because the British withheld such important intelligence. Of course the Soviets could not confront the British on their duplicity.

Because the Germans believed Kauders’ network was genuine, so too did the British, although there were some in MI5 who thought Klatt might be a Russian double agent.

Within German intelligence arose a question as to whether Kauder was legitimate. Eventually, German military intelligence concluded Kauder was a double agent. By this time, German military intelligence had lost a power struggle to the SD and were being ignored in Berlin.

In early 1945 the Gestapo became suspicious of Kauder and threw him in prison. He was freed in May and promptly went to work for the OSS and tried to reactivate his network in the USSR.

In 1946 a Soviet operation to kidnap Kauder was thwarted.

In 1947 Kauder confessed to the British that in 1941 he suspected his network had been penetrated.

by Erin E. Thompson, USAICoE Staff Historian

15 AUGUST 1943
On 15 August 1943, the U.S. Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) assisted British intelligence officers in locating and arresting German espionage agents in Iran. The capture of these spies within the Persian Gulf Region led the Iranian government to join the Allies in World War II.

The Persian Gulf was invaded in August 1941 by British and Soviet forces during Operation COUNTENANCE. Shortly thereafter, several CIC headquarters were organized in the region, with personnel located in Tehran, Iran and Basra, Iraq. Sometime in 1941, German spy Franz Mayr and a group of commandos arrived in Iran. Mayr, known as “Max” after a character from a German folktale, had been a law student before joining the signals platoon in Potsdam and being recruited by the German Security Service (SD). Mayr’s mission in Iran was to gather local collaborators and gain support for an invasion of the Persian Gulf by the German Afrika Korps. These operations were thwarted by the arrival of British and Soviet troops in 1941, and the British continued to occupy Iran while sending more soldiers to Iraq. Mayr’s team went into hiding.

Intelligence officers knew German spy rings were active in Iran and Iraq. Between February and November 1943, the CIC Iraq-Iran Group was the largest intelligence group in the Middle East. Agents from CIC headquarters and field offices in the Persian Gulf performed various counterintelligence duties, including “loyalty checks and investigations of disaffection, espionage, and sabotage.” They also assisted in the containment of pro-Axis campaigns during the British occupation. Despite efforts to root out these spies, German saboteurs continued their propaganda campaigns, inflaming the prevalent anti-Semitic and anti-colonial attitudes within the Iranian population.

Mayr’s group, still in hiding two years after Operation COUNTENANCE, moved frequently to avoid detection. In March 1943, diaries belonging to Mayr were discovered in an abandoned safehouse by British intelligence agents. These proved useful for connecting the work of the “Franz Group” in Iran to various espionage activities. When German officials realized Mayr was still in Iran, they began planning an audacious effort against the “Big Three”—President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet President Joseph Stalin—during the Tehran Conference in November 1943. German officials tasked Mayr with assassinating these leaders.

Mayr’s team was joined by six parachutists from the SD to help in this undertaking, codenamed Operation Long Jump. However, shortly after landing in Iran, the CIC learned of the commandos’ movements and began following them to meetings with Mayr. On 15 August 1943, Franz Mayr was discovered attempting to burn important documents. These papers included Mayr’s identification; maps of Iranian railroads and tunnels ordered destroyed by Adolf Hitler; and a lengthy list of informants, collaborators, and other German agents in the Persian Gulf. Approximately 130 Iranian collaborators were arrested upon the discovery of these documents by British and American intelligence.

Intelligence officer Horace D. Hodge of Bay City, Michigan, was one of the CIC team members who helped in the operation and reportedly played a key role in facilitating the capture of the commandos before handing them over to British intelligence officers. Mayr and his conspirators were extensively interrogated by the British and gave invaluable information, including implicating top German officials in planning the assassination attempt. Mayr was interned, tried, and executed by the British shortly after his capture. Lt. Col. John T. McCafferty, who commanded the CIC detachment of the Persian Gulf Service Command, later attested the arrest of Mayr pushed the Iranian government to join the Allies and declare war on Germany.

SOURCES:

MI6 Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, by Stephen Dorril (Touchstone, New York, 2000), pages 410-411, 419-421, 838 footnote 47–50

KAHN ON CODES Secrets of the New Cryptology, by David Kahn, (Macmillan, New York, 1983), pages 238-242, 323 footnote 51

A LIFE IN SECRETS Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII, by Sarah Helm, (Nan A. Talese, Doubleday, New York, 2005), pages 421-422, 425

SPY BOOK The Encyclopedia of Espionage, Updated and Revised Edition, by Norman Polmar and Thomas B. Allen (Random House, New York,1997), page 307  read more

Code: 25568

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An Original, Near Mint Blue Finish & Near Perfect Condition Original Walther PPK Pistol The Premier & Iconic Spy Pistol Since WW2. Deactivated To UK Spec. Fully Actionable. Possibly The Best Example You Could Ever Find

An Original, Near Mint Blue Finish & Near Perfect Condition Original Walther PPK Pistol The Premier & Iconic Spy Pistol Since WW2. Deactivated To UK Spec. Fully Actionable. Possibly The Best Example You Could Ever Find

The iconic pistol of James Bond and the British spy pistol of legend {despite being German} that represents everything quintessential of SIS and the MI6 intelligence officer. Interestingly Bond was never actually a spy, but an SIS intelligence officer, despite being constantly referred to as such as a ‘Super-Spy’. In amazing condition for age, signs of minimum service use. Circa 1960's issue {James Bond period}

THE WALTHER PPK: THE HISTORY BEHIND FILM’S MOST FAMOUS SPY GUN

Yes, it’s that gun – an undisputed legend of the silver screen. The Bond movie franchise made the sleek, refined Walther Arms’ PPK famous in the hands of the British super-spy, but the gun has a rather checkered and interesting past that predates smooth and suave Sean Connery as 007. As it was used during WW2 by all the major infamous figures of the Third Reich High Command, including Hitler & Eva Braun.

"Walther PPK. 7.65mm with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window. Takes a Brausch silencer, with little reduction in muzzle velocity. The American CIA swear by them."
― Major Boothroyd to James Bond


The Walther PPK is a German pistol issued to James Bond in the 1958 Ian Fleming novel, Dr. No, and is used in all subsequent books as his signature weapon. With the transition to the big screen, the PPK became Bond's primary weapon and was featured from 1962 (Dr. No) to 1995 (GoldenEye). In the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies, the transition was made to the Walther P99, which would be used for the rest of Pierce Brosnan's tenure as Bond.

Although the promotional material for Casino Royale (2006) featured the PPK, it was only used during the pre-title fight sequence with Dryden's contact, Fisher. For the rest of the film, Bond would continue to rely on the P99. For 2008's Quantum of Solace, however, the Walther PPK made a welcome return as 007's main sidearm throughout the film. This trend continued in Skyfall (2012), where the spy was provided with a modified Walther PPK/S.


THE ORIGINAL POLIZEIPISTOLE

The original Walther PP (Polizeipistole or police pistol) was a series of small handguns created by Walther in 1929 for German police and military, the K suffix was for the shorter and better concealable version. Wildly successful, the PP inspired lookalike pistols from several European manufacturers. For sale to within UK mainland only. Complete with official certificate of deactivation, no licence required to own or collect.  read more

Code: 25567

995.00 GBP

Original German WWII ‘Rabbit Ear’ Optic Sighting Periscope, Scherenfernrohr S.F.14.Z.Gi. Tank Turret Mounting

Original German WWII ‘Rabbit Ear’ Optic Sighting Periscope, Scherenfernrohr S.F.14.Z.Gi. Tank Turret Mounting

Original WWII German OBSERVER’S SF.14z “RABBIT EAR” FIELD GLASSES. (Scherenfernrohr) for: Observation and reconnaissance; Measuring angles of azimuth; Measuring angles of site and elevation; Measuring height of shell bursts; Establishing safety zones for advancing friendly troops; and to lay field guns.
It was often seen employed in different roles such as in vehicles being specifically delivered as standard equipment in many German armored fighting vehicles such as the StuG III, Jagdpanzer 38, Jagdpanzer IV, Panther, the Nashorn and on the King Tiger where it can often be seen poking out the commander’s cupola, primarily as a safe method for him to observe the enemy without risk to life.

SF.14Z was also used by infantry type artilery spotters. Not much point giving it to these guys if you cant use them to estimate range.
Range estimation is critical to acheive a first round hit by greatly increasing accuracy, which is what you want when hunting tanks. SF.14Z also have a magnification of 14. The tank equivelent of a snipers sight.
The Germans soon realised that the commander using the SF.14Z to give the correct range to the gunner wasnt just good for accurate HE shoots but made for potent tank killer.
So they then issued the SF.14Z to most of their panzerjagers.
It appears that another famously accurate German tank killer the Nashorn was also equiped with SF.14Z rather than a rangefinder per see.

According to "Der Artillerist, Der Kanonier (1940) the Scherenfernrohr was to be used for:

1) Observation and reconnaissance
2) Measuring angles of
3) Measuring angles of site and elevation
4) Measuring height of shell bursts
5) Establishing safety zones for advancing friendly troops
6) And to lay field guns.

To aid ground infantry and artillery observers the Scherenfernrohr was used in conjunction with a tripod leg assembly. It normally came with accessories such as the azimuth mount and spirit level, tripod, carrying case, and other items such as a battery powered removable illumination lamp kit and a trench mount (often referred to as a tree screw which was approximate to a sort of cork screw that could allow the mount to be imbedded in wood or the ground).

A dhq coded sight (by J.D. Möller G.m.b.H., Wedel)

Photos in the gallery of them used by Hitler, And Himmler, on down to Falshirnjager, Panzer crew and Nashorn crew.

This is a superb set of optical site in great condition, the screw covers have slightly loose threads  read more

Code: 25556

790.00 GBP

An Original WW1 M17 Imperial German Stick Grenade Stielhandgranate {aka The Potato Masher}. A Training Smoke Version For Distributing Smoke or Gas To Cover Assaults, Attacks or Retreats By German Shock Troops In The Trenches

An Original WW1 M17 Imperial German Stick Grenade Stielhandgranate {aka The Potato Masher}. A Training Smoke Version For Distributing Smoke or Gas To Cover Assaults, Attacks or Retreats By German Shock Troops In The Trenches

Overall in sound condition for age with surface russetting and its end cap is present {often lost}. Heavy rolled steel head, with gas perforations and belt hook and good wooden haft. Original alloy end cap. Übung Stielhandgranate. One side of the stick is marked 5 1/2 Sekunde, indicating that the fuse is a 5 1/2 Second delay. When in training it would contain a small detonation charge

Germany entered World War I with a single grenade type: a heavy 750-gram (26 oz) ball-shaped fragmentation grenade (Kugelhandgranate) for use only by pioneers in attacking fortifications. It was too heavy for regular battlefield use by untrained troops and not suitable for mass production. This left Germany without a standard-issue grenade and improvised designs similar to those of the British were used until a proper grenade could be supplied.

Germany introduced the "stick grenade" in 1915, the second year of the conflict. Aside from its unusual appearance, the Stielhandgranate used a friction igniter system. This had been used in other German grenades, but was uncommon internationally.

During World War I, the Stielhandgranate, under the name M1915 (Model 1915), competed technologically with the British standard-issue Mills bomb series. The first Mills bomb – the grenade No. 5 Mk. 1 – was introduced the same year as the German Model 1915, but due to manufacturing delays it was not widely distributed into general service until 1916. Thus, there was a small period of time where German troops had large supplies of new Model 1915 grenades, while their British opponents only had a small number.

As World War I progressed, the Model 1915 Stielhandgranate was improved with various changes. These variants received designations such as the Model 1916 and the Model 1917.

Otto Dix's Stormtroops Advancing Under a Gas Attack, from his 1924 set of first world war drawings, Der Kreig.

Inert and fully safe. Not suitable for export.  read more

Code: 25538

375.00 GBP

A Superb, Original, WW1 British Brodie 'Tommy' Combat Helmet. Veteran Painted With WW1 Cartoon & Theatre Character 'Old Bill'

A Superb, Original, WW1 British Brodie 'Tommy' Combat Helmet. Veteran Painted With WW1 Cartoon & Theatre Character 'Old Bill'

Unlike the closure of most wars, every WW1 Tommy veteran was allowed to take home his helmet. A very few then decorated the surface with comedic scenes or regimental devices etc.

Old Bill is a fictional character created in 1914–15 by cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather. It became a worldwide sensation. Old Bill was depicted as an elderly, pipe-smoking British "tommy" with a walrus moustache. The character achieved a great deal of popularity during World War I where it was considered a major morale booster for the British troops. Old Bill and his younger troopmate little Alphie were private infantrymen in the British Expeditionary Force.

Many claims have been put forth as being the model for "Old Bill" but the most likely appears to be Thomas Henry Rafferty, a lance corporal from Birmingham in Bairnsfather's regiment, the Royal Warwickshires, who was killed in the same action that invalided Bairnsfather in April 1915. Rafferty was featured in the Weekly Dispatch in 1917, referred to as "Old Bill," along with a photograph taken by Bairnsfather.

Bill & Alphie's, the Royal Military College of Canada on-campus cadet pub in Kingston, Ontario is named after Bruce Bairnsfather's Great War cartoon characters. Yeo Hall at the Royal Military College of Canada features sculptures of Bill and Alphie.

After the huge success of his first theatrical sketch Bairnsfatherland or the Johnson 'Ole (written in collaboration with Basil Macdonald Hastings) in the London Hippodrome revue Flying Colours in September 1916 , and with a second sketch due to open in See-Saw at the Comedy Theatre in Spring of 1917, the suggestion was made that Bruce Bairnsfather should write a full length play based around his popular character Old Bill,

The idea was taken up by Bairnsfather and, in collaboration with Capt. Arthur Eliot, he wrote a comedy-drama titled The Better 'Ole. It was made up of two acts and eight scenes (described in the programme as "Two explosions, Seven Splinters and a Short Gas Attack"): at a "Gaff" behind the lines, outside the Cafe des Oiseaux near the front, in billets behind the line, on the way back "in," in the trenches, at Headquarters, on the Leave Train and back at Old Bill's home in England.

First produced by Charles B Cochran at the Oxford Theatre, London on 4 August 1917, The Better 'Ole was an instant hit. Within a few months Cochran had sent out several touring companies, which took the play to all corners of the UK over the next 2 years. It was also produced around the world - from New York to Sydney, and Bombay to Tokyo - by several theatrical companies, and met with huge success wherever it was played.  read more

Code: 25537

450.00 GBP

A Very Good WW2 1942 German Infantry Fur Backed Tornistor Back-Pack

A Very Good WW2 1942 German Infantry Fur Backed Tornistor Back-Pack

In very good condition overall, maker stamped and dated 1942 by Lunschloss. This cowhide-covered rucksack was known as the Tornister 34 (developed in 1934) and was later fitted with new style straps in 1939. As the war progressed the design was simplified for economical and practical reasons so the cowhide cover was eliminated making these packs especially scarce on today's collector market.

The M39 has one vertical loop with quick release sewn at the bottom of the front flap for retaining the A-frame and comes with or without carrying straps. Troops that were isssued infantry Y-straps received the version without carrying straps (replaced by two hooks), while troops with no Y-straps received the version with carrying straps.
All of them were produced with a fur front flap (and some without fur) and it was called "Affe" in the German Army  read more

Code: 22105

295.00 GBP

Superb, 1908 Pattern, Historical, British Cavalry Trooper's Sword by Mole & Wilkinson Sword Co. Issue of 1909. British Front Line Cavalry Issue, & 1918 Australian Light Horse Issue, Original 1918 Australian Light Horse Service Issue Buff Hide Sword Knot

Superb, 1908 Pattern, Historical, British Cavalry Trooper's Sword by Mole & Wilkinson Sword Co. Issue of 1909. British Front Line Cavalry Issue, & 1918 Australian Light Horse Issue, Original 1918 Australian Light Horse Service Issue Buff Hide Sword Knot

Just returned from the workshop after 40 hours of expert hand polishing and conservation in order to return it, as close as possible, to its original issue bright polish finish. It revealed after all that expert effort it has just natural age wear and surface patination, and with no damage signs at all. It is now transformed back into its excellent condition for its age. We pride ourselves for the use of our expert conservation and restoration artisans, that are some of the very best available in the country, some expertly trained for over 40 years. Many types of conservation skills are now sadly lost, but some are still maintained, with no expense spared attitude in order to preserve historical artefacts for generations to come.

With many original ordnance inspection stamps still present, an the earliest is {'09} 1909, with several others, {'14} 1914, {'17} 1917, {'24} 1924, {'36}1936. It still has its original WW1 Australian issue buff hide sword knot still attached, by Hepburn, Gale & Ross Ltd. The knot also shows over 100 years of completely natural aging and darkening, yet still retains its great condition. The Australian service pattern issue knot differed somewhat from the standard British service issue leather knot.

Early British army regimental markings on the inner bowl, for the British front line regiments to which it was issued in 1909, and thus used at the outbreak of the war and through to the end of 1917, but its early war regimental markings were later struck out for its later war re-issue to the Australian Light Horse in 1918. No Australian Light Horse issue swords ever bore any Australian issue markings {certainly none that been found so far}. Likely as they were issued straight to the regiments direct at the front line in Turkey, and never went to the Australian ordnance until after the war.

One of the earliest issued examples of the 1908 trooper's sword, issued and used by British front rank cavalry, lancers and hussars from 1914, right through 1914,15,16,17, until it was re-issued and sent to Australian forces in 1918, as a WW1 Australian service, Australian Light Horse 1908 trooper's sword.
All the Australian issued swords came in 1918 to units in the Middle East and came from most British and Canadian cavalry units who were eventually dismounted in the trenches and had no further need for swords. The Australian regiment mostly used the 1908's in 1918 for routing entrenched Turkish forces positions. Before the availability of the swords the cavalry famously used their 1907 pattern hook quillon bayonets.

In its earliest service, it would have seen service with, for example, such as the 6th Dragoon Guards. In August 1914, the 6th D.G, deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served throughout the First World War (1914-18) on the Western Front, fighting in many engagements in both a mounted and infantry role. These included Mons (1914), the Marne (1914), the first two battles of Ypres (1914 and 1915), the Somme (1916), Arras (1917), Cambrai (1917) and Amiens (1918). 6 DG remained as mounted cavalry throughout the war, but there were occasions, notably during March/April 1918, when they did duty in the trenches or helped stem an attack. For these occasions they were dismounted temporarily. An original sword as can be seen used to incredible effect in the magnificent epic, by Steven Spielberg, 'Warhorse'. An antique original issue trooper's sword with full ordnance markings, used in the frontline British cavalry regiments during WW1. A current Cavalry pattern still used today by all forms of the current British Cavalry. Considered to be the best designed cavalry sword ever made. In exceptionally good condition, a superb collector's item from the finest cavalry in the world. Steel bowl with inner part still with original darkening present. Its steel scabbard is superb, as is its traditional service issue hardened rubber grip with crosshatching. Early in WW1, cavalry skirmishes occurred on several fronts, and horse-mounted troops were widely used for reconnaissance. Britain's cavalry were trained to fight both on foot and mounted, but most other European cavalry still relied on the shock tactic of mounted charges. There were isolated instances of successful shock combat on the Western Front, where cavalry divisions also provided important mobile fire-power. Beginning in 1917, cavalry was deployed alongside tanks and aircraft, notably at the Battle of Cambrai, where cavalry was expected to exploit breakthroughs in the lines that the slower tanks could not. At Cambrai, troops from Great Britain, Canada, India and Germany participated in mounted actions. Cavalry was still deployed late in the war, with Allied cavalry troops harassing retreating German forces in 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive, when horses and tanks continued to be used in the same battles. In comparison to their limited usefulness on the Western Front, "cavalry was literally indispensable" on the Eastern front and, in the Middle East, & Turkey.  read more

Code: 25527

1125.00 GBP

A Superb Solid Sterling Silver Cigarette & Cigar Box, Early H.M. Queen Elizabeth IInd Period With The Crest of the Royal Borough of Windsor, & The Castle

A Superb Solid Sterling Silver Cigarette & Cigar Box, Early H.M. Queen Elizabeth IInd Period With The Crest of the Royal Borough of Windsor, & The Castle

Presented to officers of the Household Cavalry, the mounted bodyguard of her Late Beloved Majesty, Queen Elizabeth IInd, in 1965 at Windsor Castle. Silver Birmingham hallmarked by William Neale & Son Ltd (their mark from 1909). William Neale & Son Ltd
Birmingham, 1933 hallmark. Firm established by William Neale in 1850 in Birmingham. Later the firm became William Neale & Sons as a partnership of William Neale Sr., William Neale Jr. and Arthur Neale, building new premises at 29 Warstone Lane, Birmingham (1896). In 1905, the firm was converted into a limited liability company under the style of William Neale & Sons Ltd moving in 1910 at 34 Cox Street, St. Paul's Square, Birmingham. In 1941,

The Arms of the Borough as shown upon the silver box are officially recorded in the College of Arms as having been entered in 1566 at the Visitation of Berkshire made in that year by William Hervey Clarenceux, King of Arms, in the following form:

Per fesse Argent and Vert a Stag's Head caboshed of the first in chief between the attires Sable an Escutcheon of France Modern and England quarterly in base a Castle Wall with three Towers also Argent in the central tower a open Port with Portcullis raised Or.

Origin
Arms entered (without tinctures) at the Visitation of 1532; Confirmed with tinctures at the Visitation of 1566;

The castle is, of course, a reference to Windsor's famous royal fortress, and the stag's head recalls that the Windsor Great Park around the town formed a hunting ground for the Norman kings. The shield depicts the old 1405-1603 Royal Arms and is appropriate as New Windsor is a Royal Borough.

The Freedom Of Windsor: The freedom of the Royal Borough of Windsor was given to the Household Cavalry at a special ceremony held in the home Park, Windsor Castle, today. Immediately following this ceremony the Household Cavalry exercised their right by marching through the town of Windsor with bands plkating. Armoured cars from the Lifeguards took part in the parade. May 05, 1965.

Gross weight 22.8 ozs approx 6.75 inches x 4.65 inches x 2 inches. Hallmarked silver lined with cedarwood interior.  read more

Code: 25511

675.00 GBP

A Solid Hallmarked Sterling Silver Horse, By Carrington and Company Of Regent Street, London, In 1961. Silversmiths To Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII and George V, Czar Nicholas I & II,Queen Alexandra of Russia.

A Solid Hallmarked Sterling Silver Horse, By Carrington and Company Of Regent Street, London, In 1961. Silversmiths To Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII and George V, Czar Nicholas I & II,Queen Alexandra of Russia.

A beautifully crafted horse, standing erect and proud, finely cast with a finely hand engraved coat

Made in two parts, with the horse free standing upon its rectangular base {hallmarked}. The horse is hallmarked upon its hoof.

The firm of Carrington was named after its founder John Bodman Carrington who established his manufacturing business at 130 Regent Street.

He was listed as a silversmith, goldsmith and jeweller working from the London premises of the Birmingham silversmiths G.R. Collis & Co. The business was re-styled Carrington & Co in 1880 and the firm specialised in extra strong silver plate for use in restaurants, hotels and ships.

By the early 1890s Carrington were advertising themselves as jewellers, diamond merchants, dealers in precious stones and manufacturing silversmiths. At this time the partners were John Carrington, William Carrington Smith and George Bruford. They were awarded the Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria and would go on to gain the warrants of Prince Albert, Edward VII and George V, as well as Nicholas I and II and Queen Alexandra of Russia. In 1893 they created the beautiful Dorset bow brooch for Queen Mary and in 1911 they set the famous Cullinan diamonds numbers III and IV into a brooch/ pendant for her, a jewel now owned by the Queen who affectionately refers to them as ‘Granny’s chips’.

John Carrington became Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1903 and retired from his business in 1906 leaving W.C. Smith to continue as sole remaining partner. Carrington co-authored a book ‘The Plate of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ which was published shortly before his death in 1926. The firm was converted into a limited liability company in 1922 and was eventually bought out by the firm Collingwood.  read more

Code: 25509

495.00 GBP