Show us your Militaria

[V.C. Brunswick]

Naval Visor Caps
Top: Imperial Japanese Navy (repro)
Bottom: WWII Royal Navy

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Air Medal

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Five Dollar Yard Sale Find
RAID Modified DCU jacket dated 2008

 

[Renault]

Rescued from a junk shop not too far from home!

35th div roundels painted on. Still has full liner and chinstrap.

 

[Renault]

Another local junk shop find. Marked on from to 29th div.

 

[Renault]

Assorted goodies

 

[green papaya]

US M1874 mess kit "meat can"

MODEL 1874 US ARMY MESS KIT OR MEAT CAN: The standard issue mess equipment for the Indian War soldier from 1874 into the 1890’s, the Model 1874 Mess Kit, or as referred to in the language of the time, Meat Can, was a necessary piece of equipment for every soldier, providing him with both a plate and frying pan.

the M1874 US marked spoon is very rare, this is what a soldier during the Indian Wars or Spanish American War would have used

 

[vintage.vendeuse]

I picked up this US Navy "Donald Duck" hat today and it came with what looks like a sash... but on closer inspection is actually a large scarf rolled and stitched in a few places so it doesn't come undone. Any ideas what this was for? I'm afraid I don't know much about this.
Thanks!

 

[green papaya]

looks like a USN neckerchief?




http://www.everettseacadets.com/images/neckerchief.jpg

 

[vintage.vendeuse]

Of course! Thank you

 

[Fastuni]

A very rare piece of early post-war history...

A tunic of the Saar state Gendarmerie 1947-1952. There existed only a few hundred - much more rare than most WW2 uniforms or early East German stuff.

Everybody knows that the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany became the German Democratic Republic and Germany was divided in two states until 1990.
But for a short time after WW2 there was a third German quasi-state. After WW2 France occupied the coal and industry-heavy Saar-Country and made it a semi-independent French protectorate separated from the German state acting as a "buffer". It had it's own security forces and was economically tied to France. It wasn't until 1957 that the Saar-Country returned to West-Germany.

During the later years of the Saar state the Gendarmerie was dressed in dark navy like the normal Saar state town police. Beside that there was the khaki-uniformed paramilitary "Saar Bataillon".

I love the cut of the tunic. Very 1930's... very nipped waist and peak lapels.
It is a size 36.

 

[Rabbit]

A rare piece indeed, Fastuni.

For those versed enough in reading German, here is a website on the history of the Saarland, written by a retired school teacher. There is lots to be found here, including many historic photos. For instance, the history on flying and airplanes is under Verkehr.

http://www.saar-nostalgie.de/

Edit:
The navigation of this website is a bit tricky - for a starter, here is the story of a B17 bomber crew that went down on Feb 25th 1944 on the Saarwiesen (near the river side, at a spot where the city autobahn is today).

http://www.flugzeugabstuerze-saarland.de/Saarbrucken_Saarwiesen.pdf

 

[Annixter]

While I don't collect militaria, I came across these wonderful pieces of history that I had to save. A WWII W.A.V.E.S. bridge coat (not sure if that's the technical term for a WAVES sailor) and trousers issued to the same woman. Preparing to post them in the classifieds, I got to read up a lot about WAVES and their role in the war. I feel all the better for having learned much more about them.

 

[vintage.vendeuse]

While I don't collect militaria, I came across these wonderful pieces of history that I had to save. A WWII W.A.V.E.S. bridge coat (not sure if that's the technical term for a WAVES sailor) and trousers issued to the same woman. Preparing to post them in the classifieds, I got to read up a lot about WAVES and their role in the war. I feel all the better for having learned much more about them.

I wish we had a "like" button on this forum!

 

[Annixter]

I wish we had a "like" button on this forum!

Thanks. I too like the set, and I only wish they fit the misses, as does she.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

A very rare piece of early post-war history...

A tunic of the Saar state Gendarmerie 1947-1952. There existed only a few hundred - much more rare than most WW2 uniforms or early East German stuff.

Everybody knows that the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany became the German Democratic Republic and Germany was divided in two states until 1990.
But for a short time after WW2 there was a third German quasi-state. After WW2 France occupied the coal and industry-heavy Saar-Country and made it a semi-independent French protectorate separated from the German state acting as a "buffer". It had it's own security forces and was economically tied to France. It wasn't until 1957 that the Saar-Country returned to West-Germany.

During the later years of the Saar state the Gendarmerie was dressed in dark navy like the normal Saar state town police. Beside that there was the khaki-uniformed paramilitary "Saar Bataillon".

I love the cut of the tunic. Very 1930's... very nipped waist and peak lapels.
It is a size 36.

The tunic does appear to be an ex-Luftwaffe Tuchrock because over the right breast pocket you can just make out a triangular ghost of the Luftwaffe eagle. Looking at it on my phone the outline was more distinct.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

WWII CBI Veteran's Reunion Cap

 

[Fastuni]

Brunswick,

The cut and fabric is very similiar to the Luftwaffe tunic, but it is neither identical nor an ex-Luftwaffe item. Luftwaffe didn't have scalloped pocket flaps (except on some costum-made tunics) or such distinct shar lapels. There are no traces of an eagle actually - probably just an illusion by the photo.

The Saar-Uniform details like the lapels and the cut of the jacket were uniformly used by all Saar formations (khaki for Saar Batallion, dark blue for Police, grey for Gendarmerie).
These were without a doubt specially made uniforms, though certainly using old fabric stocks. The cloth could have been from the Luftwaffe, but is less blueish than most Luftwaffe stuff.
It is a rather purplish grey and rather coarsley woven... could be very late war Luftwaffe cloth.

The buttons of course are typical Third Reich pebbled (hollow) uniform buttons.

Here a slightly better shot (actually just as blurry... ):

 

[Bushman]

I've got this medical bag that I bought in a thrift store earlier this year.

I also have my Grandfather's tags (both of theirs), my Grandfathers' service knife, and my grandfather's service cap, but those are all Korean-Era items.

 

[Giftmacher]

Soviet parade uniform for ground troops M1969. Sorry for the colors, I have only a camera with ir filter removed.