Small country auctions are a Hoot!

[A. F Medic]

Coffin shield. Usually given to family members..



WWl mixture. All one soldier..



WWl but unknown use....



WWll Marine Presidential Guard...




20 mm Cannon shells....




Box of WWll Bren magazines. Covered with cosmoline!!



The soldier...





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

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[A. F Medic]

Posted in wrong section..Should be in discussion area!!

[Amatikulu]

Done, moved as requested

[gew8805]

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.

[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.

[Badger]

Really interesting pics ...

Thanks for posting them ...

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

Regards,
Badger

[Gibbs505]

Were all the bren mags loaded?

[Mike Haas]

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.

[A. F Medic]

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!!

[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!