Spasm

Thank you Gents. 

Here's the one to finish the pair with Monty. Colours look a bit weird but I just trust in the camera.

This one will be a pair

I was thinking that I need to get a bit better at portraits so using up some old board from the garage I've started to do a few. Just in case they are unrecognisable I've written their name alongside. Obviously the older ones don't have a lot of resource material (pictures) available:

An on going project at least until I use up the old boarding from the garage. May last until I get bored or the living room is so full of portraits stacked about that the Admin Staff decides to tidy them up.

Played around a bit with your picture and blurred up a silver war badge. The negative areas are very similar, so I'd go with Simon's details.

These are really nice. Fairly easily available and relatively cheap given what they are. I know basically a veteran's medal rather than a campaign but still... 

Here it is alongside my sketch of Uncle Billy Tecumseh

Thanks very much. Really good to have some more info and especially his picture.

Thanks again hucks 

I have this pair of certificates awarded to Ernst Schlett who is listed as missing from 1/6/1944 in the memorial book at Potylicz/Poteilitsch cemetery. His date of birth was 4/10/1911 and his death/missing area is listed as Brody/Knaise/Kosin. Would there be any way as to get a few more details? Are any available?

He served under Gen. Robert Martinek (who has signed the EK2 cert) I assume within the 39th Panzer Corps and 841 Artillery Abt. Can their whereabouts be traced for the missing date?

While having a look at the fiver given to me at the local co-op when I first saw one, the serving wench said that those with the prefix AK47 were sought after. The woman next to me asked how much they were worth. The teller said "about five pounds I think." 

Andy

Thanks for that, I'll let him know. At least he'll be pleased that they're original.

Steve

Here's the second one. My mate brought them to me as I've had more relic steel helmets pass me than the Das Reich Division (or so it seems) but I have absolutely no idea if these are worth him keeping on his shelf or whether he needs to have a chat with the dealer when he goes back to France again early next year.

I told him I knew some experts so thanks in advance Chaps,,, 

7 minutes ago, paul wood said:

It appears to be Bavarian but that is all I can really say.

Paul

Thanks Paul, I'll let him know

Gents, I was at a militaria show yesterday and a friend brought along these pickled onion helmets. I've absolutely no idea as to origin, whether they are original and what value-ish they could be, given their condition. He bought from a dealer in France earlier this year to be part of his collection of WW1 stuff. All help greatly appreciated.

Here's the first (sorry about the pictures but it was indoors and half way up the Welsh mountains.....)  

Anyone have any ideas on the WW1 helmet flash unit? 

Leave it as it is. It's survived 100 years so another few being kept dry in your collection will do it no harm.

More, for interest  all mine, all mine....

Thanks Gents and I'm glad you like it Tony.

Here's the spare one you sent along with another French lady:

Remember the M42 at the top of the thread? Well, Tony sent me a cuppa cement and I cracked on with it. Here it is now.

Still a liner and chinstrap to fit (should've done that before fitting the helmet belt strap as it's on there pretty tight). Spent some time trying to get it to look like the rust is coming through the paint. As usual I need a better camera but you get the idea.

Jock, yes, could be AP I suppose although it doesn't have a boat tail, just straight. 

Was it normal for POWs to move around quite so much in the US? 

Apparently they were transferred to 2./Gren.Rgt.473 within 253 Inf. Div. and surrendered to the Soviets at Mahren. However, some of the Div didn't take to that idea and marched 10 miles to the US lines to hand in their rifles. Hence the tour of the US. 

Picked this set up a few weeks ago to an Unteroffizer of 2./Gren.Rgt.464

Certs and medals

His ID tag

A few photos, one of him at Reserve Hospital I in Warsaw 

And his record of POW transits and camps

I also found this in the leather ID holder

I haven't put a micro whatsit on it but it measures by eye for a 7.92 round. It's been a while but am I correct in saying this is a tracer round? There is what could be remains of a painted tip if you look closely. 

Lovely original to be left alone, particularly with the chin strap over the rear rim. Great when there's some spirit left from the original user - who would even think of undoing that chin strap buckle. Nice find Tony. 

No worries, all of them are newly printed copies from Boots the Chemist and although the seller didn't say as much, it was pretty obvious so maybe a part pikey. I hardly buy anything original these days so they cost a mere few pennies each.

I'm continually on the look out for good pictures to help me compose paintings or spark an idea. I know Mr google has access to all areas but having pictures hanging around, in the flesh, spurs me on.

I'm off to a reenactor thingy (where ze Germans attack on the flat beds trucks behind a real steam train) over the weekend so will keep my eyes open for a girl in heavy DAK gear.

Seems like it was done on a large scale too

Hucks, now that was good  the Bladerunner CSI, GMIC forensic details are obviously the giveaway, why didn't I spot that? I was going on the printing on the back that says BOOTS.

Searching on the image thingy in Goggles (WW2?) the picture is all over the place but mostly in Flicker and Pinuninteresting. The forums that also have the picture seem to assume that it is period and shows a DAK soldier.

Lots of forums include it in their Bundesarchive photo lists. Normally these photos would have the little Bundesarchive printing in the margin but I can't find any that have it.

So, I've searched the Budesarchive for the photo but cannot find it, no matter what search term I use.

One forum titles the picture "circa 1943, M40 helmet, M43 hat and tan shenagh" - well that's wrong then - it's an M42 to my eyes with single decal. Another titles it "DAK equipped for combat sandstorm, note mesh helmet still in European colour" - combat sandstorm? Blimey.

I'm probably going for the goggles and covers to be for dust rather than cold, no gloves and loose fitting. But his helmet hanging on his belt including two grenades, the helmet strap wouldn't be lasting very long.

And those socks! No pack but has a single strap and what's that sleeve badge, one epaulette missing, something stuffed in his pocket, white thumbnail, wire mesh with correct twists? Dunno, still a good picture though. 

Jock, not especially as I get stuck into them with sandpaper to give the paint a key. A filler primer is sometimes needed when I get a bit too enthusiastic or too heavy a grade paper. I tend to pick the first bit of sandpaper I find in the work drawer, I should probably buy more and file it. But I can't be bovvered to be organised and give myself more work cocking things up.

Gents

I bought some photos because I espied this one amongst the pile. A great picture that I intend to use as a basis for a painting. It came with more than 40 others that have a variety of shots from sailors to paratroopers but mostly look to be in the wilderness of the Eastern front with some showing winter camo. I'm assuming then a winter shot rather than Africa due to the goggles. Not much to go on but any ideas?

Steve

Thank you Larry, it's appreciated