The German MG Capture & Trophy

[MG1918]

Jim you are right and of course those in museums are untouchable. I am looking for the 08's and mounts that are either slowly decaying or are available for disposal. For example there is one very sorry looking MG08 and mount cemented into a school playground. I contacted the school and offered to pay for its removal, not only because it is rotting but it is surely a 'health and safety' issue with ragged rusty metal and bits sticking out! I was informed that it would stay there until it had disintegrated. Now I could partly understand this if it were alongside a memorial but in a school playground??? I am sure you do the same in Canada but it is like Regimental Colours of various Regiments. In UK the 'old' Colours are placed in the Churches and Cathederals. This is lovely and very 'romantic' but of course the flags/ensigns simply decay, and so actually for future generations they just won't be around! In Salisbury Cathederal there are battle scarred Waterloo Colours just hanging there....dying. I know it is a balance between remembering and tradition but if they are not visibly there one day no one will remember. So although thereare plenty of MGs in museums I say save the ones that can be saved!!
Mark

[bearrowland]

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think any of them are here except in museums. I haven't come across any and I've been pretty much everywhere at one time or the other in the States.

[MG1918]

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think any of them are here except in museums. I haven't come across any and I've been pretty much everywhere at one time or the other in the States.

States as in USA or Canada?
Thanks
Mark

[Bruce McAskill]

I know of two that are in museums here in the US. One is in Shreveport LA. and the other is in Newport RI. The one in Newport came off a Rum Runner and was in tough shape but the rust was removed and it had to be painted to save it but it is capable of firing if one can find the right cloth belt for it.

[browningautorifle]

Some guns are still in the hands of full auto collectors in Canada. I've attended the Wardlow Alberta shoot where an 08/15 was warmed up a bit. They're not just in museums...and they're also out in public, as in Digby Nove Scotia, in front of the Legion, in concrete. It states that the gun was put there in 1917 (I think) to replace the one that dissappeared from that spot in 1915...I have a pic of my kids in front of it.

[bearrowland]

Mark, US. Sorry about that. We have a military museum here in town (Boalsburg, PA), where the 28th Infantry Division memorials are located. There are a couple watercooled MG's there, but I believe they are Brownings. The best photos I've seen of German hardware, MG wise, has been in this forum.

[MG1918]

I will post some pictures of 'Memorial' images sent to me by wonderful people shortly. These are from Canada and the USA. This image always makes me smile.


---------- Post added at 12:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------

Beautiful Memorial.

[gsimmons]

I like the bloke in the front wearing boxing gloves.

[1812we1]

I do believe that rum "jar" is feeling pretty light. Classic pic, I hope it was taken on the 11th. and they all made it home with the trophys.

[1812we1]

Mark, I should mention that we have an 08/15 in our reference collection. It's an RH.M.&MF., Sommerda,#3187,marked 7K GW2. Unfortunately the list of trophys does not include serial #s so we don't know this gun's story other than it ended up on PEI [one of many]. It is also missing quite a few bits so I doubt if it will ever join our working reference collection. Thanks again for the pictures. Steve Knechtel.