coldstream

IMHO definately a helmet chin strap.....I'm away from my library at the moment but I'm sure someone will provide an illustration to confirm it :cheers:

My guess would be a chintrap or curb chain for some sort of helmet. The righthand rosette appears to have a hook to allow the strap to be either worn closed or hooked up onto the helmet. This item also has a backing which i believe would not be fitted to a cape chain. Could you tell us what size the entire thing is please.

Paul I enjoyed viewing these badges very much, could you please post your others when you have the opportunity. :cheers:

Leigh. Post 38 reminds me of the NITAT training down in tin city, always included the booby trapped poster somewhere and someone always seemed to get caught out! Trying to find a few Sinn Fein posters I brought back but as always there hidden amongst the junk somewhere. Simon

Perfectly clear, many thanks Noor, :cheers:

Thanks Chip. :cheers:

Noor A ridiculous question I'm sure but how was this medal bar affixed to the uniform, it appears to have no pin fixing...was it sewn directly to the uniform?

Mervyn Looking at the afv's in the background of post 5 I would say IMHO that that these tanks are 'General Grants' as the British called them or 'Generals Lees' in American service. I base this on the sheer height of them and the distinctive shine on the armour. A quick check on Goggle images will show you what I mean. All the best Simon

Mervyn, Yes I have had the pleasure of a visit to Bovington, the one for me was standing inside the Centurion with the simulated tank fire! Will take a look at your other post. Simon

Leigh, I know what you mean! Endless running about, de-turfing over so many previously started trenches, Madhouse Plantation and the promise of the 'Frog Hill' disco! Happy days.......I think! :cheers:

Thanks Chip, so if I understand it correctly then the men in the two photos are NCO'S in Feldgendarme service wearing their normal uniform with gorget.

Just one more, this ones called Jack!

An occupation pal!

Not just the German Forces that liked their pets, The British too albeit via India. :cheers:

Duplicated, sorry

Got it now, many thanks Naxos, Simon

Many thanks Naxos, Panjekommando? Could anyone enlighten me please Gentlemen?

The faint inscription to the rear of photo 2. Simon

Close ups.

Photo 2.

Gentlemen, I have recently acquired two photographs which I believe show members of Imperial German Feldgarmerie units in different uniform styles. My meagre reference library on the subject suggests that the intial Great War Feldgendarmerie were formed from Rural Police Officers and having viewed Chris' Kaisers Cross section on the subject it would appear that the uniform worn by the Man in photo 1 is similar. The men in photo 2 however wear distinctive items of uniform. ie, Spiked and Uhlan Helmets. What I am trying to understand is:- Were the Feldgendarme units issued with their own distinctive uniform or did they adopt the uniform of Units they were attached to? Did the German Army have a system similar to the British Regimental Police whereby a number of Non Commissioned Officers were assigned for the purpose of Regimental discipline and dealing with POW'S and so retained their own uniforms? Could a Soldier literally be handed a Gorget and told to henceforth adopt the role of Feldgendarme? I have searched the previous threads re this subject to no avail so any info or further reading would be much appreciated.

Couldn't say for sure without handling the item but the monogram certainly appears to be The shipping line again. IMHO :cheers:

I'm afraid I can't say whether Wellner produced items for the LSSAH however they definately produced items for the Hamburg America line and the mongram shown on your item matches that on these shipping items. The British magazine 'The Armourer' ran an article on similar items pertaining to the LSSAH in the March/April 2008 issue and then corected the information in the next issue. Unfortunately I can't find my copy of it now. sorry. If I remember correctly the corrected information that the items were shipping related came from Mr Andrew Mollo and Jamie Cross. Both very experianced collectors:cheers:

Sorry about this but in my honest opinion I do not believe that this item relates to the LSSAH. I believe that you have a piece of tableware from the Hamburg America Line shipping Company. The mongram does indeed look similar but having handled a few pieces like this I am pretty confident its from the shipping line. Simon :cheers:

Behind this Memorial there is a two mile marked walk around the perimeter of the old camp showing the location of various buildings and points of interest. If you are in the area its well worth a visit, it' also only a short drive from RAF Lakenheath where I spent a few hours watching the F16's of the US Fighter wing based there taking off. The Forest is still used as an Army training ground and I'm sure many of us have memories of our time there. (happy or otherwise!) :cheers: