Gordon Williamson

A Godet made piece. Unfortunately just a scan of a photocopy of a piece in a friend's collection. I make a conscious effort not to buy any more of these as it would be too easy to get totally addicted to them.

Not a patch on the sheer, beauty, quality and style of the Turkish made ones though

Come on Rick. I know its one of your favourite subjects. My German made piece. 900 silver mark on pin, multi piece construction.

Bears no resemblance to the style that Steinhauer illustrate in their wartime catalogue. Not that this is conclusive as other makes ( namely e.g. L/18 ) come in two distinct types for the Tombak and later Zink types. Could be Steinhauer started off with this Schwerin type in Tombak and then later changed to the FO style for zink, but I have seen these FO styles before, apparently wartime, but with spurious maker marks on them.

I'm not a fan of the Schwerin U-Boat badge but if you're gonna have one, this is the best way, minty with original tissue and envelope.

R.S.& S. , Usually found on High Seas Fleet & Minesweeper badges.

Rick, I know the ship for the second example, even if it wasn't on the document. It was the Jan Wellem, formerly I believe a "mothership" for the German whaling fleet. Taken into the KM as a fleet auxiliary on the outbreak of war she was I think the only auxiliary to make it into Narvik with the Destroyer flotilla, the other two sent with her were sunk. I believe that he got the Blockade Breaker badge for the eventual return to Germany of the Jan Wellem, but not really sure what her eventual fate was. Any ideas ?

Thanks for the confirmation Sascha. I thought mine might be a Scholz after see John's example above. I agree not a great example, I kept it only because it belonged to a U-Boat officer and DK holder.

Interesting group Darrell. This guy could have been a Jock . The campaign medals are exactly the same as my father got, and he was with 51 (Highland) Division, North Africa, up through Italy and into Europe in June 44. Whatever units this guy was in must have been in the same theatres at the same time as the Highlanders

These finer quality enamelled pieces are really superb Michel, thanks for sharing these.

Hi Darrell, Its a frustrating process, every time I think it is finished, some more material appears that I want to include. However, I have now reached the stage where I am drawing a line under what I have and sending in the material to Roger Bender. In any case, after Roger receives the material there would be several months in design and layout work before it would go to print. Jason Burmeister has contributed some superb detailed photos of fantastically rare pieces such as the RK of the KVK in Gold, with and without Swords and a mint cased Steinhauer RK of the KVK, the Cross still in its cellophane wrap. I thought my Steinhauer RK of the KVK was minty but this one is awesome. Josef Charita has come up with the most accurate and complete listing yet of the RK winners and we have photos of the majority of them. Many of these people are obscure civilian types and only known from brief announcements in period newspapers, so its difficult to track down photos of them. I'll keep you posted.

Friedrich Linden of L?denscheid. FLL sometimes as here, with the date. Found on Marine Artillerie badge

Quite fabulous. For anyone not familiar with these special U-Boat binoculars, they are incredibly rare and desirable. Most Binos used on U-Boats were just regular Navy issue, but these are specially designated U-Boat binoculars with the disticntive grey green coating. If I was offered the chance to obtain a Knights Cross, or a set of these Binos, I'd go for the Binos every time. Wonderful !!!

Very interesting EK1 certificate. Different letter font to normal. Is this a locally produced version. ?

Truly phenomenal. Got to be the best U-Boat grouping I have seen. Where's the "green with envy" smiley ?

Andy, 100% good. Distinctive hinge fitting exactly as an L/15 should be.

That boxed stopwatch from the Unterseebootschule is truly awesome ! Hard to overstate just how rare such pieces are. Michel, can you please show your fabulous Kommandantenglas !

Here is the Steinhauer cased mini RK set. One on buttonhole fitting with ribbon, and the other two in stickpin form along with a KVK1 with Swords.

Rare photo of the half-size miniature being worn.

And a later Schwerin zinker with the dished centre to the reverse

Another Tombak Schwerin

This one to a Merchant Marine Officer serving on a Fleet Auxiliary Tanker.

Military issue issue document to a KM sailor.

Reverse

Original factory produced piece by B H Mayer, L/18 marked.