We found 69185 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 69185 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
69185 item(s)/page
Lot 27
A WW2 medal set awarded to Sergeant C. J. Newton 6018485, 2nd Bn. The Essex Regiment, Oak Leaf & letter confirming mention in dispatches, twinned with a WW2 set with bar on Burma Star, a National Service medal & a WW1/2 miniature set, medals bequeathed to current vendor by a family called Caton
Lot 178
WW2 Fantastic RAF Colour 29x18 Overall Size Print Showing Spitfire MH434 Mounted to a very high standard. Personally Signed by WW2 Legends Douglas Bader, Adolf Galland, Johnnie Johnson, Robert Stanford-Tuck, Brian Kingcombe, Geoffrey Page, Alan Deere, Peter Townsend, John Cunningham, Paddy Barthropp, Johannes Steinhoff, Gunther Rall and Christopher Foxley Norris. Fantastic Signatures. Mint Condition. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Lot 8
The highly emotive and unique Second War D.S.O., D.S.C., and Posthumous Albert Medal group of eight awarded to Commander W. R. Marshall-A’Deane, Royal Navy, whose distinguished command of the destroyer H.M.S. Greyhound came to a sudden end when she was bombed and sunk by German aircraft during the battle of Crete in May 1941 when he was amongst the survivors picked up by H.M.S. Kandahar; later in the day H.M.S. Fiji was sunk and Kandahar again went to the rescue. ‘Commander Marshall-A’Deane, despite the ordeal he had already been through that day, dived overboard in the gathering darkness to rescue the men in the water. He was not seen again. This was the last proof of his great gallantry.’ Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse of lower suspension officially dated 1941, with integral top ribbon bar; Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1940 and hallmarked London 1940; Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, the reverse officially inscribed ‘Awarded by the King to Commander Walter Roger Marshall-A’Deane, R.N. H.M.S. Greyhound for gallantry in trying to save life when H.M.S. Fiji was sunk, 22nd May, 1941.’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, these last five unnamed as issued, the first with enamel flake to one reverse arm, all with old lacquer and with some underlying discolouration, otherwise good very fine (8) £20,000-£30,000 --- D.S.C. London Gazette 11 July 1940: ‘For good services in the Royal Navy since the outbreak of War:- Commander, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Greyhound.’ D.S.O. London Gazette 8 July 1941: ‘For courage and skill in a successful attack on an Italian Submarine [Anfitrite]:- Commander, D.S.C., Royal Navy, H.M.S. Greyhound.’ An additional announcement in the London Gazette of 16 February 1943, stated ‘Appointment to date 21st May, 1941.’ Albert Medal (Posthumous) London Gazette 4 November 1941: ‘Commander Walter Roger Marshall-A’Deane, D.S.O., D.S.C., Royal Navy. When his ship, H.M.S. Greyhound, was bombed and sunk, Commander Marshall-A’Deane was among survivors picked up by H.M.S. Kandahar. Later in the day H.M.S. Fiji was sunk and H.M.S. Kandahar again went to the rescue. Commander Marshall-A’Deane, despite the ordeal he had already been through that day, dived overboard in the gathering darkness to rescue the men in the water. He was not seen again. This was the last proof of his great gallantry. Commander Marshall-A’Deane had already in this war been appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, won the Distinguished Service Cross, and twice been mentioned in despatches.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 16 August 1940: ‘Commander, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Greyhound’ (Dunkirk). M.I.D. London Gazette 29 July 1941: ‘Commander, D.S.O., D.S.C., Royal Navy, H.M.S. Greyhound’ (Battle of Cape Matapan). Walter Roger Marshall-A’Deane was born at Keswick, Cumberland on 14 May 1902. He was the younger son of Mr Richard Marshall, originally of Enholmes, Panington, East Yorkshire, and Mrs Gertrude Ellen Marshall, originally of Geraldine, New Zealand. He entered the service of the Royal Navy under his original surname of Marshall during the First World War and entered Osborne Royal Naval College on 15 January 1916; Midshipman, September 1919; Acting Sub-Lieutenant, 15 January 1922; Sub-Lieutenant, 15 September 1922; Lieutenant, 15 August 1924; Lieutenant-Commander, 15 August 1932; Commander, 30 June 1939. Following his marriage in 1926 in New Zealand to Miss Margaret Hamilton A'Deane, the then Lieutenant Roger Marshall added the maiden name of his bride to his own family name and henceforth was known by the family name Marshall-A'Deane. The couple had met in New Zealand when Lieutenant Marshall and Lieutenant Laurence Tollemache, who were both officers from H.M.S. Dunedin, and attachés to Lord Jellicoe, Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy. With Jellicoe, these two officers were regular visitors to the A'Deane family home of Ashcott, Takapau, Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island. On the same day that Lieutenant Marshall married Margaret A'Deane, Lieutenant Tollemache married Margaret's sister, Violet, in a double marriage ceremony. Lieutenant Tollemache also went on to become a Commander in the Royal Navy and served in WW2, where he had the misfortune to be taken prisoner by the Japanese at Singapore in 1942. On 5 July 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war, Marshall-A'Deane was appointed commanding officer of the G Class destroyer H.M.S. Greyhound (Pennant No H05) which was transferred to the Western Approaches Command at Plymouth in October. On 12 November 1939, she collided with her sister ship, Gipsy en-route to Harwich, and her new assignment with the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla, but she was only slightly damaged, and her repairs were completed two days later. The ship rescued survivors on 18 November from the ocean liner S.S. Simon Bolivar, which had struck a mine, and from S.S. Torchbearer the following day. Greyhound began escorting coastal convoys on 5 December when she was transferred back to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla. On 14 January she captured the German blockade runner Phaedra in the North Sea. The ship was refitted between 16 February and 18 March, 1940, and later reassigned to the Home Fleet. On 5 April Greyhound escorted the battle cruiser Renown as she covered the minelayers preparing to implement Operation Wilfred, an operation to lay mines in the Vestfjord to prevent the transport of Swedish iron ore from Narvik to Germany. The ship was present during, but played no part in, Renown's brief engagement with the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau on 9 April. Greyhound remained in the Vestfjord when the five ships of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla sailed into the Ofotfjord on 10 April to engage the German ships that had transported the invasion force to Narvik. She covered the withdrawal of the three surviving destroyers later that day. Greyhound was damaged by German bombers at Scapa Flow on 18 April and was repaired at Gravesend, Kent, between 22 April and 19 May. During the Siege of Calais, Greyhound and her sister ship Grafton provided naval gunfire support for the 30th Motor Brigade on 25 and 26 May. On 28 and 29 May she evacuated 1,360 men from Dunkirk before she was damaged by German bombers. She was towed out of the harbour by the Polish destroyer O.R.P. BÅ‚yskawica and taken to the relative safety of Dover with her compliment of rescued soldiers. After her repairs were completed at Chatham Dockyard on 17 June, Greyhound rejoined her flotilla at Dover. On 30 July the ship, and her sister ship Gallant, escorted the aircraft carrier Argus to Gibraltar and Greyhound was assigned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla based there. The ship participated in Operations Hats at the end of August when the British reinforced the Mediterranean Fleet. During the battle of Dakar on 23 September, Greyhound, together with the destroyer Fury, and the Australian heavy cruiser H.M.A.S. Australia engaged the Vichy French destroyer L'Audacieux which was set on fire and forced to beach itself. The ship escorted the battleship Barham and the cruisers Berwick and Glasgow during Operation Coat in early November as they joined the Mediterranean Fleet. Greyhound herself was transferred to the 14th Destroyer Flotilla in Alexandria, where she participated in the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento on 27 November during Operation Collar. Greyhound participated in Operation Excess in January 1941 and then sank the Italian submarine Neghelli on 19 January while escorting a convoy to Piraeus...
Lot 466
Interesting Selection of WW2 Propaganda Leaflets from the Italian Campaign, being examples produced by the German’s and dropped on the allies. Many relate to the Po River and the campaign in Italy, one interesting and scarce Anti-Semitic example and others relate to Russia and Joseph Stalin. Many with good illustrations and artist drawings etc. All generally good condition for their age, one with a tear. (13 items)
Lot 467
Grouping of WW2 Military Maps of Mostly Occupied Europe, interesting grouping of geological and survey maps produced on areas of occupied Europe, mostly France, Belgium and Holland. Dates ranging from 1942 – 1944. One map of Brighton and Eastbourne also. Areas include Caen, Gace, Zeebrugge, Oldenburg (Germany), Antwerp, Orbec, plus others. Various conditions and scales. (19 items)
Lot 468
WW2 Bristol Home Guard Notebook and Manual Grouping, all belonging to Corporal H G Edwards who served with the Bristol Home Guard. His notebook contains lists of ‘G’ sections men, addresses, rifle drill and notes on the use of the Lewis Gun. Accompanied by a varied mix of Home Guard and Home Front manuals and publications. An interesting grouping.
Lot 562
WW2 British NAAFI Canteen Enamel Sign, good large example of the white enamel sign with the emblem of the Navy Army & Air Force Institute (NAAFI) to the centre. Some rust damage and small sections of the sign now absent around the edge. Good original example. Sadly many reproductions of this iconic sign have appeared on the market over the recent years
Lot 563
WW2 Allied Anti-Hitler Propaganda Figure, being a painted clay figure of a skunk with Hitlers face being used as the skunks head. Remains in good overall condition. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS STORED IN THE USA, THE LOT WILL BE SHIPPED FROM THE USA. ALL ITEMS STORED IN THE USA WILL BE SHIPPED AFTER MONDAY 15TH AUGUST 2022. PLEASE READ INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS STORED IN THE USA ON THE AUCTION INFORMATION PAGE AND IN OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.
Lot 598
WW2 British Airborne Forces 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion Parachute Regiment Fibre Rim Steel Combat Helmet, excellent example of an early fibre rim pattern steel combat helmet of the airborne forces. The helmet retains much of the original combat paint finish to the shell. The helmet has original formation sign to the side for the 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion, this being the sign for the Somerset Light Infantry. Helmet is complete with the original 1942 dated liner system and the leather harness chinstraps. The helmet does show some service wear but is generally still a very good example. The 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment was formed from the 10th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry in November 1942. Originally part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade but was later transferred to the 5th Parachute Brigade, part of the 6th Airborne division. The 7th (Light Infantry) battalion jumped into Normandy on D-Day (6th June 1944), they were tasked with relieving the glider-borne coup de main that had captured the bridges across the Orne river and canal. The battalion participated in the defensive battles around Breville and the eventual break out to the Seine, before being withdrawn back to the UK in August 1944. The battalion was later deployed during the Ardennes offensive and later on Operation Varsity, where they jumped across the Rhine under enemy fire.
Lot 599
WW2 1943 British Airborne Forces Steel Combat Helmet, fine example of a British Airborne forces steel combat helmet which retains much of its original combat paint finish to the exterior of the shell. Fitted to the shell is the original camouflage helmet net. Interior of the helmet retains the original 1943 dated liner system with the early pattern leather harness chinstrap. Some wear to the rubber and cracking to the leather chinstrap harness, but generally a very good example.
Lot 600
WW2 British Parachute Regiment Beret and Cloth Insignia Grouping of Walter Jokel who Captured Irma Grese the Head Warden of the Women’s Camp in Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp and was Tasked with Her Interrogation, the wartime beret appears to date from 1945, it shows heavy service wear and has some moth damage. Beret with leather trim and black cloth lining has the remains of the war department broad arrow stamp and possible date letter “Z” for 1945. Beret is complete with a chromed beret badge for the Parachute regiment. Leather patch behind the air vent gromets. Spiralling pattern to the top of the beret. Accompanied by his post war 1955 dated Airborne forces beret, by this time he was a Second Lieutenant in the Parachute regiment. The berets are accompanied by a large grouping of both cloth and metal insignia, including various pairs of parachute jump wings, printed and embroidered Pegasus formation signs, rank badges, medal ribbons, airborne pattern rank pips, etc. Also with his Normandy 1944 commemorative medal in its box and various items of wartime and post war paperwork. Walter Jokel lied about his age when he enlisted for service in WW2. Because he was born in Austria, he spoke fluent German, because of this he was placed under the Field Security Section of the Intelligence Corps. Newspaper articles written during the 50 year commemoration of the liberation of the Belsen camp gives us details of Walters time with Irma Grese and how he found her, “He found a young woman hiding in a barn a few miles away from the camp – her blonde hair was matted with straw and she wore only the tattered remains of her Nazi uniform. She looked scared”. Jokel was selected as her sole interrogator, he states in the article, “despite 12 intense days alone with her – he never saw fear in her blue eyes again, only glee”. He continues to say, “I thought I had been hardened by the war. I thought nothing could shock me. But Grese did. In the seclusion of a small wooden hut, she boasted to Jokel about her violent acts”. The evidence that Jokel provided at the Belsen War Crimes trial, helped convict Irma Grese of war crimes and he watched as she was hanged at Hamelin in December 1945. Walter Jokel parachuted into Normandy on 6th June 1944, he also participated in Operation Market Garden and the Rhine Crossing. See lot 1215, 1245 and 1498 for the souvenirs Jokel brought home as war booty. This collection has been consigned directly from the daughter of Walter Jokel and has never been offered on the collecting market before.
Lot 601
WW2 British 1942 Dispatch Riders Helmet Worn by Captain R D George South Wales Borderers and Parachute Regiment with Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force (S.A.A.R.F), fine example of a British dispatch riders pattern steel combat helmet which retains the original combat paint finish to the exterior of the shell. Helmet is fitted with its original camouflage net. Interior retains the original liner system with the leather sweatband being stamped BMB and dated 1942. Overall a very good example. This helmet was worn by Captain R D George South Wales Borderers and Parachute Regiment. He served in Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force (S.A.A.R.F) so possibly this is why he wore a dispatch riders helmet. Sold by direct descent of Captain George. See other listings in this auction catalogue for items belonging to Captain George and also souvenirs he brought home.
Lot 602
WW2 British Steel Helmet of Superintendent Fred Stansfield, Chief Officer Peak District Ambulance Service, superb untouched example of a standard model British steel helmet from WW2 with much of the original finish remaining to the shell. To the front of the helmet is painted red cross above “P.D . A.S.” white stencilled “A” in black circle, green painted “S” for superintendent and decaled “AMBULANCE SERVICE”. The helmet is fitted with its original early pattern camouflage net cover. Helmet retains the original liner system and webbing chinstrap. Painted to the interior rim of the shell is “F S”. Accompanying the helmet is some original pictures of Fred Stansfield and his ambulance. Helmet comes with some research material. Originally acquired by the current vendor when the helmet was sold off by the family, they gave the following information, “My father & his ambulance, Mr Fred Stansfield who founded Peak District Ambulance Service in 1930’s based in Eyam”.
Lot 604
Extremely Rare Hong Kong Made WW2 British Royal Navy Port Defence Hong Kong Steel Combat Helmet, the helmet is an excellent example overall which retains much of the original green paint finish to the exterior of the shell. Royal Navy decal insignia to the front of the helmet and remains of a painted marking to the rear. The helmet brim is folded over to give it the look of not having a rim, known as a “Dutch Fold”, this is a characteristic you find on these Hong Kong made helmets. The helmet is complete with the original liner system which was made by the Chiap Hua Manufacturing Company in Hong Kong and is dated 1941. Helmet has the original chinstrap. The liner dome pad is present but loose. Very few of these Hong Kong made helmets are in existence today and are missing from most of the serious WW2 British helmet collections.
Lot 605
WW2 British 1st (Wickford) Battalion Essex Home Guard Private Purchase Steel Helmet, untouched example of a private purchase British steel helmet with the interior having the remains of the rubber liner system. Underside of the shell is painted with the original owners name “Powell. D” and “1st ESSEX. H.G”. Very worn with not much original paint remaining. Accompanied by another civilian type helmet with the brim slightly down turned. Complete with much of the sorbo rubber liner padding still present to the interior and a webbing two piece chinstrap. (2 items) Ex John Ingham collection.
Lot 606
WW2 British Zuckerman Helmet with Painted Insignia, interesting example of a standard Zuckerman type Fire Watchers civil defence helmet in the standard blue / grey paint finish. To the front of the helmet is a large white painted S within a C. Helmet is complete with its 1941 dated liner. Shows some service wear. No indication of the identity of the painted insignia to the front, possibly a factory.
Lot 607
WW2 British Police Steel Helmet, retaining nearly all of its original dark blue paint finish to the exterior of the shell. White stencilled “POLICE” to the front. Interior retains the original 1939 dated liner system with webbing chinstrap. Accompanied by a semi-relic British helmet shell with remains of the POLICE stencil to the front and Special Constabulary decal above. Complete with its chinstrap but no liner. (2 items)
Lot 608
WW2 British Special Constabulary / Police Commanders Steel Helmet, good example with much of the dark blue paint finish remaining to the exterior and interior of the shell. Stencilled to the front “POLICE” with S.C. in circle decal above and two white bands around the centre. Helmet is complete with its 1939 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap.
Lot 609
WW2 British Home Front Sub Controller Steel Helmet, fine example of a Civil Defence home front steel helmet with white painted exterior, two thick black bands running across the top and the centre of both sides “SUB CONTROLLER”. Helmet interior semi black painted, dome having the original army khaki colour. Helmet is complete with the original 1938 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Generally a very good condition example.
Lot 610
WW2 British Special Constabulary Police Inspectors Steel Helmet, being a standard Police issue steel helmet which has a white over paint finish with painted blue POLICE and above decals “S” and “C” with a inspectors decal rank emblem. Helmet retains the original 1939 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Police blue paint to the interior of the shell.
Lot 611
WW2 British Home Front Docks Police Steel Helmet, good example of a Civil Defence issue steel helmet with the three drill holes to the brim of the shell. Blue painted exterior with stencilled to the centre “DOCKS POLICE”. Interior of the shell has makers stamp and date 1940. Original liner system with unclear date mark. Complete with the webbing chinstrap. Some wear to the exterior of the helmet.
Lot 612
WW2 British Home Front National Fire Service (N.F.S) Section Commanders Steel Helmet for the London District of Wimbledon, fine example retaining much of the original khaki green paint finish to the shell. Front with NFS decal and district number decal “38” to the brim. Two red bands to the centre of the helmet indicating the rank of Section Commander. Helmet is complete with 1942 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Interior rim of the shell with service number 38/239427. Generally good example.
Lot 614
WW2 British Home Front Helmet Mobile First Aid Post, standard WW2 British steel helmet with black over paint and white stencilled to the centre “M.F.A.P”. Helmet is complete with 1939 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Some rusting to the top of the shell but generally a good example.
Lot 615
WW2 British Auxiliary Fire Service (A.F.S) Steel Helmet, blackened British home front steel helmet with white painted “C/18 AFS” to the front and a red central band. Complete with the original 1940 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Some wear and paint loss to the helmet but otherwise a good example.
Lot 616
WW2 British Home Front Heavy Rescue Steel Helmet, standard WW2 British steel helmet which has a olive green paint finish to the exterior and interior of the shell. Crudely painted white band around the helmet and to the front painted “H & W” over “H R”. Complete with 1939 dated liner system and webbing chinstrap. Accompanied by a Sam Browne leather belt and cross strap, felt covered water bottle with leather cradle and shoulder strap.
Lot 618
Historically Important WW2 American M1 Helmet Belonging to Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn, Chief Quartermaster for the European Theatre of Operations (E.T.O), Hugely Responsible for the Equipment of the US Troops During the D-Day Landings and the Normandy Campaign, fine example of a fixed bale M1 steel combat helmet shell with split to the front seam. Helmet has a rough textured green paint finish to the exterior and fitted with two Generals rank stars which have been screwed into the shell with small bolt fittings to the reverse. Helmet is complete with the original webbing two piece chinstrap which has his name inked to the underside. Remains in very good overall condition. Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn was born on 23rd October 1890 in Jonesville, South Carolina. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point on 2nd March 1908. He graduated from West Point on 12th June 1912. His first post was to the American 8th Cavalry regiment in the Philippines. He returned with his regiment to the USA and was involved in the Pancho Villa Expedition. He later moved to the 17th Cavalry regiment where he was placed in charge of the Machine Gun Unit. On 11th June 1918, he assumed command of the 332nd Machine Gun battalion of 86th Division. The unit moved to the Western Front in September 1918, but did not see active service until after the armistice was signed. They took part in the occupation of the Rhineland in 1919. Between the wars, Littlejohn continued to serve in the US Army, mostly in the USA, rising up through the ranks in many of the staff and logistical departments. In January 1938, he was sent for his second tour of duty in the Philippines, he ended his tour as the Quartermaster of the Philippine Department. He returned to the USA in June 1940. From June 1940 to May 1942, Littlejohn commanded the Clothing and Equipage Branch in the Office of the Quartermaster General. The division was primarily concerned with procurement, but was accustomed to working closely with the Standardisation Branch, which was responsible for design and development. He was promoted to Colonel on 16 November 1940 and Brigadier General on 30 January 1942. In May 1942, Littlejohn was appointed Quartermaster General of the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) by the new CG-SOS-ETO Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, a position he held for the rest of the war, with the rank of Major General from 3 November 1943. For his services as Quartermaster General, Littlejohn was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and foreign awards that included the British Order of the Bath, French Croix de Guerre and Dutch Order of Orange Nassau. His first Distinguished Service Medal citation read, in part:“General Littlejohn displayed marked aggressiveness, exceptional organizing ability, and a superior quality of leadership in rapidly establishing a quartermaster service throughout the theatre which met and solved the many unexpected and seemingly insurmountable problems of supply. By his broad experience, foresight and splendid ability which was largely instrumental under his leadership in solving many complex questions in organization and supply of the African Task Force. His untiring efforts and devotion to duty in this connection contributed markedly to the successful landing of this force in North Africa on November 8, 1942.” His later Oak Leaf Cluster citation noted that he "not only maintained anticipated requirements, but exceeded them". However Littlejohn was severely criticised when winter clothing was not delivered in a timely manner, resulting in thousands of cases of trench foot and frostbite.He was made Major General just before the D-Day landings in June 1944. He was responsible for the complex and difficult task of supplying the allied troops for the invasion of mainland Europe. The US Army Quartermaster Foundation gives the following details, “After a successful landing on D-Day, a stalled drive inland and failure to capture port facilities right away meant that Quartermaster supply soldiers had to continue bringing material in over the beach: sort, store and distribute it along a fairly narrow and dangerous front. If Littlejohn felt good about the initial landing, he was none the less surprised by the effects of strenuous fighting in the Normandy hedgerows. In a matter of weeks, U.S. troops slugging it out in the mud consumed roughly 2 1/2 times the amount of clothing and other Quartermaster items of equipment that he and his staff had planned for. “The capture of each hedgerow meant a life and death race,” he noted afterwards; and in trimming down to meet that race, the American soldier “frequently left behind his overcoat, overshoes, blanket and shelter.” As a result, Littlejohn had to completely re-equip the better part of a million soldiers while still in the early stages of the campaign. The breakout and pursuit that followed only intensified pressure on the Chief Quartermaster, who saw the overall supply picture go from feast to famine. The situation in late summer and early Autumn 1944 illustrated the old adage that a stationary front is the Quartermaster’s dream come true, while a war of unchecked manoeuvre poses as the ultimate nightmare. By September the Allies were required to deliver to forward areas no less than 20,000 tons of supplies daily. As the lines stretched further and further from Cherbourg, the inevitable shortages began to be felt-with crippling effect. Whether it could have been otherwise is debatable. Letters from Littlejohn to a colleague in mid-September give some indication of the trials faced during this period of “frantic resupply:” “It is very difficult,” he wrote, “to sit here and determine current requirements on clothing and equipage. We know that the Maintenance Factors on many items are entirely too low. We also hope that the war will come to an end before many weeks and it will not be necessary to ship troops as originally planned. Somewhere in the field I must make an educated guess.”Littlejohn was discharged from the army in 1946. President Truman appointed him head of War Assets Administration with the responsibility of approximately 34 billion dollars of surplus government property. He died on the 6th May 1982 and is buried at Arlington Military Cemetery. This helmet was gifted to the current vendor back in the 1950’s by a family friend, who had worked as a secretary in Major General Littlejohn’s office. She took the helmet shell from the office as it was left behind when Littlejohn moved. She was using the helmet to store knitting material in. The helmet has never been offered on the collecting market before.
Lot 619
WW2 American M1 Helmet Grouping of Normandy Invasion Interest, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, being a front seam M-1 steel helmet with rough textured paint finish to the exterior of the shell. Blue painted winged boot insignia to both sides of the helmet. Rear of the shell with thick white strip. Complete with the webbing chinstrap fittings. Interior rear is painted in white “6 HQ 2-“. Accompanied by a stars and stripes American national flag and a wooden box with plaque to the lid which reads “NORMANDY BEACH FRANCE AUG.13.1944”, inside the box is a original invasion stars and stripes flag arm patch, finger ring, badges and other pieces. Sadly no part of the grouping has a name, so are not able to unattributed the grouping. Purchased by the current vendor all together. The date of August 1944, might indicate that the original owner was a replacement or joined 508th after the invasion? Interesting small grouping. The 508th P.I.R were heavily involved in operations in North West Europe, jumping into Normandy on 6th June 1944, tasked with securing Saint-Mere-Eglise and the river crossings. They suffered very heavy casualties, with only 995 paratroopers out of the 2056 who jumped into Normandy returning. The 508th PIR were awarded a presidential citation for their part in Operation Overlord. The unit re-equipped in the UK and later took part in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS STORED IN THE USA, THE LOT WILL BE SHIPPED FROM THE USA. ALL ITEMS STORED IN THE USA WILL BE SHIPPED AFTER MONDAY 15TH AUGUST 2022. PLEASE READ INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS STORED IN THE USA ON THE AUCTION INFORMATION PAGE AND IN OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.
Loading...-
69185 item(s)/page