Small country auctions are a Hoot!

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09-27-2009, 07:25 PM
A. F Medic

Small country auctions are a Hoot!

Coffin shield. Usually given to family members..

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...MG_17391-1.jpg

WWl mixture. All one soldier..

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1740-1.jpg

WWl but unknown use....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1743-1.jpg

WWll Marine Presidential Guard...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1744-1.jpg

20 mm Cannon shells....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1749-1.jpg

Box of WWll Bren magazines. Covered with cosmoline!!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1750-1.jpg

The soldier...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1753-1.jpg

His campaigns... Defensive is for service in Russia after WWl ....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_1741-1.jpg
09-27-2009, 07:28 PM
A. F Medic

Sorry!!

Posted in wrong section..Should be in discussion area!!
09-27-2009, 07:30 PM
Amatikulu

Done, moved as requested
09-28-2009, 01:13 PM
gew8805

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. F Medic

His campaigns... Defensive is for service in Russia after WWl ....

Actually, his division was in the Meuse – Argonne Defensive Sector on the Western Front. The Division was held in reserve and probably did not see any actual combat there. US Troops serving in Russia (85th Division of mostly Michigan troops) saw most of their action there post – WW1, so no mention is made of that service on the Victory Medal. The US 85th Division was in action there in January through May of 1919 along with some US Naval forces.

A very nice collection.
09-29-2009, 06:30 PM
Alfred

A friend has a rather nice collection of memorabillia that a elderly lady left to his wife.
It has letters from the old lady's boy friend when stationed in Gibraltar and possibly the most interesting is a spy camera that fits into a matchbox.

I looked the camera up years ago and found that German tourists visiting countries that the Nazis had designs on were given these little cameras and instructed to take photos of anything that might be of interest without drawing attention to what they were doing.
I suspect the young soldier had taken the tiny camera from a tourist who got too close to something of importance.

I'll see if I can get some photos of the collection and the camera.
09-29-2009, 06:33 PM
Badger

Really interesting pics ... :)

Thanks for posting them ... :thup:

If you get a chance, put them up in the Members Photo Gallery ...

Regards,
Badger
09-29-2009, 07:05 PM
Gibbs505

Were all the bren mags loaded?
09-29-2009, 08:14 PM
Mike Haas

Probably a MINOX Camera..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

A friend has a rather nice collection of memorabillia that a elderly lady left to his wife.
It has letters from the old lady's boy friend when stationed in Gibraltar and possibly the most interesting is a spy camera that fits into a matchbox.

I looked the camera up years ago and found that German tourists visiting countries that the Nazis had designs on were given these little cameras and instructed to take photos of anything that might be of interest without drawing attention to what they were doing.
I suspect the young soldier had taken the tiny camera from a tourist who got too close to something of importance.

I'll see if I can get some photos of the collection and the camera.

The camera is probably a MINOX Camera and is quite valuable if in good condition. Pre-War & WW2 bring premiums but I sold a 1957 MINOX II with seperate Light Meter both cased for $700.00+ 2 years ago.
09-30-2009, 02:11 AM
A. F Medic

response

Quote:

Originally Posted by gew8805

Actually, his division was in the Meuse – Argonne Defensive Sector on the Western Front. The Division was held in reserve and probably did not see any actual combat there. US Troops serving in Russia (85th Division of mostly Michigan troops) saw most of their action there post – WW1, so no mention is made of that service on the Victory Medal. The US 85th Division was in action there in January through May of 1919 along with some US Naval forces.

A very nice collection.

I have not researched his division yet but early finding on the "Defensive Sector" says that to be awarded the bar you had to serve in Russia post WWl (as you stated). Somehow I remember Siberia being part of the Sector! I wonder why we went?:

To be honest, I did not know that we went there post WWl.

My youngest brother is an information fanatic and he is doing a ton of research on this soldier. Soldier is from Pennsylvania.

I have two handwritten letters in pencil from him on donated Knights of Columbus paper. It is very hard to read but I intend to scan it and play CSI to read them. Thanks!!
09-30-2009, 02:28 AM
A. F Medic

Searching help.

Back in my older entry of "Small country auctions are a Hoot!"

There is a coffin shield of an Edmund Potter. Killed in Old church Virginia and the date of death. I have found a great deal of information on him but not where he was buried. He was a First Sgt. and died of gun shot wounds.

There are several choices of what could have happened. Body not found. Body buried at Old Church Va (which I doubt since I have the plaque. It is pure silver and has square nail holes).

Or the body was sent home to Cattarogus (bad spelling) NY and buried in a cemetary called Farmington or something like that.

Does anybody know how the remains were ID'd on the coffin, so that they went to the right family?

The shield had to be put on his coffin by the North as the Southerners used other names for the same battle.

If any fourum members live near Old Church Va. could you let me know if there is a research place there. Same for NY but we are working on that but every little bit helps. Doing this is as hard as tracking down the original owner and history of a firearm!
10-01-2009, 08:51 PM
A. F Medic

Bren

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibbs505

Were all the bren mags loaded?

Nope, the mags were not loaded. I just stuck a .303 in there to see what it looked like.

There are 12 mags and 10 are covered with cosmoline. That includes the container. The mags appear to be used but in good shape. I had to soak two mags in gasoline and kereosene to remove the gook! Thanks!!
10-01-2009, 09:01 PM
A. F Medic

Coffin plate..

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Back in my older entry of "Small country auctions are a Hoot!"

There is a coffin shield of an Edmund Potter. Killed in Old church Virginia and the date of death. I have found a great deal of information on him but not where he was buried. He was a First Sgt. and died of gun shot wounds.

There are several choices of what could have happened. Body not found. Body buried at Old Church Va (which I doubt since I have the plaque. It is pure silver and has square nail holes).

Or the body was sent home to Cattarogus (bad spelling) NY and buried in a cemetary called Farmington or something like that.

Does anybody know how the remains were ID'd on the coffin, so that they went to the right family?

The shield had to be put on his coffin by the North as the Southerners used other names for the same battle.

If any fourum members live near Old Church Va. could you let me know if there is a research place there. Same for NY but we are working on that but every little bit helps. Doing this is as hard as tracking down the original owner and history of a firearm!

I just found a web site by the Sons of Civil War Veterans and it found Edgar Potter. He died at the 2nd Cold Harbor (Gaines Hill?) He was 24 and a First Sgt.

Buried at Old Church VA--Hanover County VA. However, the Natl Cem. there does not list the soldier. Other cemeteries exist but I can not search them all.

Now I wonder how his coffin plate made it's way so far North without Sgt. Potter?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...MG_17391-1.jpg
10-22-2010, 12:32 AM
bogtrotter2

When I get it back from a friend, I have a book about the U. S. involment in Russia which I will provide you the name. There were two different groups. The largest U. S. troops were in Vladivostok and were active with a Japanese contingent and a small British outfit. At the start of this action, the U. S. troops were not issued weapons and when some sniping took place they begged some Arisaka 39's from the Japanese until they got word they could break open some of the Moison Nagant cases we had sent and use them. The second group were based around Archangel along with some French and British. Both were charged with progection of equipment sent to the Czarist and Kerenski government prior to the Bolshevik take over and the treaty of Brest-Litovsk which stipulated the Russians were to turnover all material the allies had sent to them. The allies objected so some rather brisk engagements resulted. When the material in question was returned, in spite of some rather strenuous protests both in the U. S. and Europe all parties withdrew. The Japanese lastly and most reluctently. It was a minor and rather interesting postscript to the war that started the bloodiest century in history.