German war booty from the Desert

[Stijn David]

Hello,

Here is a very nice remembrance piece that does form a link between the German and britisch opponents during WWII, more specifyed from the Tunesian campaign.

This regiment cuff was taken of a Britisch prisoner jacket during the winter 1942/43 in Tunesia.

The German who did obtain this piece was part of the German Lw. Feldregiment "Barenthin", I Batallion. During a battle these troops where engaged by britisch troops near Sidi N'Sir. The Germans could capture some Britisch soldiers wich and otehr war booty (a small armoured vehicle, etc...). The Britisch soldiers where then sent towards Mateur towards a P.O.W. area.

This cufftitle was taken by Gefr. X who did ship it in a Fieldpostletter back towards the homefront. He was soon also a prisoner of war and was sent towards the US, etc... as a P.O.W. The Fieldpostletter with this piece did make it towards Germany and did so survive untill this very day with the family of the Gefr. X.

Upon his release as a P.O.W. during 1947 he did find this piece as it was kept by his mother. He did keep it untill yesterday upon he did gave it towards me as a remembrance for the almost forgotten battle of the Lw. Feldregt. "Barenthin" and the Glider troops wich where used there as Infantery.

FOr me it is a very first to actually see the proof of wich Allied unit was the direct opponent at some time of these German troops, namely the : The Hampshire Regiment.

Is there anyone who does know where such a unit designation was worn by the Britisch? , etc....

Is this a enlisted or officer piece, etc....

Many questions about a piece captured in the Tunesian mountains near Sidi N'Sir.

Cordial greetings + thanks for looking,

[Tony]

Hello Stijn,

It looks like the regimental title worn just below the shoulder strap at the top of the sleeves. I don't know if there's any difference between OR and officer titles.

Here's an example of a title being worn http://books.google.com/books?id=swdANrA3g...CY2KmRs-5sMMIus

A great story and it looks as though the title was very well looked after over the last 65 years.

Tony

[The Saint]

As already stated, this is a regimental shoulder title for the Hampshire Regiment, worn by all ranks. Although unofficial (Regulation title would be white letters on red background), it was universally worn by members of the Regiment from 1943.

As far as I can ascertain, the following battalions on the Hampshire Regt fought in Tunisia : 1st Bn (50th Infantry Division), 2nd, 1/4th and 5th Bns (128th Bde, 46th Inf Div).

Eric

[Stijn David]

Hello,

Thanks for the information => anyone a idea if there does exist a good unit history on their whereabouts of this uit during the Tunesian campaign?

I also do understand that there does exist a regimental museum => anyone ever been there?

Very interesting to read that this is actually a unofficial piece

Cordial greetings,

Edited February 6, 2008 by Stijn David

[The Saint]

David,

After some googling, I found out that it was the 5th Hampshire (46th inf Div) who fought at Sidi Nsir.

Here's the story of a member of the battalion who was captured during the battle :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/34/a4789434.shtml

Other than hard-to-find regimental histories published after the war, I think your best option is the following :

"Royal Hampshire Regiment 1918-1954", by D. Scott Daniell, Naval & Military Press Ltd; New Ed edition (May 2005)

Cheers

Eric

Edited February 7, 2008 by The Saint

[Stijn David]

Hello Andy,

Thank you very much, very interesting for sure + it seems that the Hampshire's did get a hard time with the I.Lw.Regt. Barenthin as opponents.

Here is a small picture from a Armoured vehicle that was captured by the German's (I.Lw. Regt. Barenthin) during one of the many fire fights. Anyone can ID this kind of Tank?

Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

Hello,

And here we have a Englisch prisonner of war (he was one of the Hampshire's). These pictues did belong towards the owner of the Hampshire cuff.

Cordial greetings,

[The Saint]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

I am not a specialist of armoured vehicules, but I think it is an Italian tank, not British.

Actually, the two central soldiers in the second picture are British POWs. Too bad that the right one does not have insignia on his sleeve (already taken as booty ? LOL), we could have had identified the division and unit.

Cheers

Eric

[peter monahan]

I am not a specialist of armoured vehicules, but I think it is an Italian tank, not British.

Cheers

Eric

I agree that the tank is Italian. Quite a number were employed by the British and other troops after capture. Years ago I even made up a model of one - covered in large white Kangaroos to protect it's new owners (Aussies) from "friendly fire". I no longer have the armoured figthing vehicle library I once did but if I can find some info. post an Id later today.

Yeah, really nice shots and a great story/sovenir!

[speedytop]

Hi Stijn,

the armoured vehicle is an Italian "Sturmgesch?tz"

Please see here:

Italien/Panzer/Sturmgesch?tz

http://www.panzerlexikon.de/

Regards

Uwe

[Stijn David]

Hello,

Thank you for the comments => nice to read that the Britisch also used captured vehicles (such as this one )

Here is anotehr shot from the Tunesian campaign, it is a rather rare one from because it is a colour picture. This is a very typical shot as it shows a so called "Pendeltrupp". This is actually a troop of the 1. / Lw. Feld.Regt. Barenthin on the march towards a new point they had to occupy. Iff one does read the German diary's on this campaign they where almost always on the move and the mule's where one of their important transporting animals.

Cordial greetings,