Tony

Hello Ian, It looks like one half of those donkey ear periscopes. Do you know the ones I mean? They usually stand on a tripod. Apart from that I can't help you. Welcome to the forum by the way. Tony

Hello Morton, All great finds. Do you know if the propeller was found recently, if it was kept as a souvenir by someone since 1944 and the type of aeroplane it comes from? I've only been to Norway once and unfortunately didn't see anything of WWII interest, well, I didn't really have the time anyway. Tony

I saw a whole load of these for auction the other day, all were coloured postcards and look great. I think they were priced in GBP. I hope you'll post more Mervyn when you get the chance, they're very interesting. Tony

My father-in-law was a member of a flak gun team at the age of 14. Their gun was placed on top of a building, it must have been a real pain getting it up there and lugging the ammo up the stairs probably on a daily basis. He told me of the biggest air raid he could remember, they were all Lancasters. Luckily they didn't manage to shoot any down. Tony

Thanks very much for the help. As I'm not a collector of WWII items I only ever buy odd things that take my fancy from that period. I have always wanted to buy one of these flags but am not prepared to spend top dollar on one. It's strange that as every soldier had one and so many are still around that fakes are made but if the punter can't read Japanese I suppose it's easy money. I trawled through ebay today a saw quite a number for sale, many from Japan and the prices appeared ok. If I see any that take my fancy I'll post a pic here. Tony

I've always found these flags interesting but have never bought one because as Chris mentions, unless you can read Japanese you wouldn't know if it says tricked tourist or not. Tim has answered a couple of questions I wanted to ask, silk, artificial fabrics or cotton. Also about them being carried on the body as well as under the tin hat. But what about the tabs and strings in the corners? Is it unusual to find them with these and were the tabs leather? I see Tim's flag still has them attached. Could the red centre piece also be written on or was that frowned upon? Tony

I can see what looks like Handgrenaten on the lid. Hardy, is that Eierhgr. stamped on the front right corner? If so, I still have a very nice example. Do you remember looking at that one Chris? Tony

Hello Alec, They look very much like WWII 20mm German flak rounds to me but don't think they were necessarily confined to use by the Luftwaffe. Tony

Hello Rebbecca, Firstly welcome to the forum and secondly thanks for posting the information. It's just amazing to hear that the man pictured above is still alive and well. Tony

Leigh, Do you know what the reason was for the BWM and VM showing just RA whereas the 14/14-15 Star had RGA or RFA? Which unit abbreviation is impressed on Boer War medals? Tony

Hello Brian, I've seen a few postcards printed in Germany but think the only one I have shows a coloured cartoon type of card of soldiers on their way back from India. I've no idea why they were printed but there was obviously a market for them and interesting for us postcard collectors today. Tony

Hello Klink and welcome to the forum. I'm not sure how they're reissued but believe anyone can buy the medals from suppliers. I think Steinhauer und Lück still make the 57 medals etc. but the quality today is equivalent to that of a bubble gum machine toy. In my opinion, and it's only my opinion, you'd be better off buying old 57 decorations from the late 50s early 60s. I think the German government will want to distance itself from anything to do with decorations between 33 and 45 even if they are the 57 version. Others here will be able to give more direct information than me I hope. Good luck with whatever you go for. Tony

It's amazing what can sometimes be found in the back of cupboards. Tony

Nothing like being a transport copper at the top end of technology eh. Life before CCTV I suppose.

Ahhhhhhh, I didn't know that. Thanks Michael. Tony

Well Done on finding that, I was looking for ages. First of all I tried John Stark, then J Stark and then just Stark. On the last search it said no results so perhaps the internet was playing up. I can't find it on ancestry even though it obviously exists at the NA. Tony

I'll check to see if his service record or pension is online later after I've eaten (just bought a bbq chicken, yum yum). Do you have his MIC and what does the -S- after his number mean? The link doesn't work and there was I looking forward to a good read. Tony

I've seen miniature ribbon bars worn in Ypres on 11th November by a number of men in civvis but mess dress is probably the norm. Tony

That is just fantastic. I have a few periscopes from the Great War and one made of card especially for the King's coronation in 1937 which shows the route taken, but have never seen one as nice as that. You come across some really good items Mervyn. Tony

Rick, do you think the recipient may have left the 'obviously should have had' ribbons off the bar to keep the size down? Was the single BWM only for troops who policed the Empire e.g. India? Or did those who served in S. Africa only also receive the BWM without Victory medal? A nice grubby set, I like them in a used condition. Tony

Well I couldn't find his service or pension records and also couldn't pinpoint him on the 1901 census although many with that good German name Busch were living in East London. Finding his full name will help so it's worth having the medal rolls checked. Also I believe the 1914-1918 Roll of Honour (if that's the correct title) is online, I could be wrong though. The men themselves or their families had to pay to have an entry included so it by no means covers all servicemen and there are only 12 or 13 volumes for the whole of England. I did have them all on CD but don't know where it is. Aren't some war diaries available on the NA site now? A Private probably wouldn't get a mention though unless he did some unbelievable heroic deed but as soon as you have his full name it could be worth checking, if only to see what the unit got up to. I'm sure some of the others here can help you more. Tony

I'm not a collector of WWII militaria, especially German, but couldn't resist buying this special edition of the German illustrated observer. I've had it for years and only discovered it again while having a clear out over Christmas. It has a couple of pages about Boers being killed in concentration camps, the Irish, Indians starving, that England has been planning the war against Germany for years and much more. Does anyone know if the UK produced similar propaganda against Germany and do you have examples? Tony

You always get that one about the goodies and baddies wrong Great photos, especially the baddies with the MG.

Thanks very much for the information Sergey. That explains the the message in English on the reverse. Tony

That sounds like a very interesting VM, nice find. Not quite what you asked for but as for some common prefixes, as opposed to unit abbreviations, have a look here http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=40741&st=0&p=377110&hl=prefix&fromsearch=1&#entry377110 They may give a clue to a soldier's trade etc. Tony