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I was with the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Southern Bavaria in 67-68 and then they moved us to Massachusetts in 68. I left the group in 69 bound for the 1st cavalry Division in Vietnam. That's me in the red circle. Just a boy.

Glad to send them with my compliments to your son. It's up to the young ones to keep history alive.

A fantastic idea! I have a Para patch I can send if he's interested. I picked it up in Germany in the 60s when my unit trained with some SAS folks.

I didn't know where to post this, so opted for here, this is my lad Zacs living autograph album he has started to remember the men and regts of d day, so far only 2 signatures, fred from 9th bn parachute regt and reg from the ox and bucks LI. He wants to add cloth shoulder titles as he goes, so if anyone has either of the already mentioned regts you would part with, hes interested, but not to pricey as he insists on doing this from his pocket money

More detailed pictures of the tunic I posted in one of @Lenny posts. The Waffenfarbe is Brown for Signals.

One simple solution, give them to me and I,ll display them for you, I,ve got the wifes glass cabinet that I can take her ornaments out of and all of those belts will fit nicely and there will be no charge, I,m good like that

I also am fond of French wines.

NO charge. It needs a good home. Just send me your address and I'll fire i across the pond. Also have a commando patch if he would like that.

Deactivated in England many years ago as required by the Italian laws but not butchered!The sling is WaA stamped on the metal parts and on the leather and the Gurttrommel is in its original continental yellow(Schlamm)

Nice patch @Utah Bob, @the colonel It's good to see another young lad who's into history, good on him!

If your interested, My mate is ex 3 Para, and he knew most of the Merville Battery 9 Para including Otway. He has a book that has quite a lot of their original signatures in. He said that he can copy them and I can pass them on to your lad, although they wont be completely first hand they are rare and this book is the only one of its kind and his Otway signature alone is worth £50. The whole book has been valued at £300-400, give me a couple of weeks and I,ll contact you to arrange posting.

This is my first ever deactivated weapon so i had to share it with you lot. I wasn't planning on getting a deac for a couple of years but the new legislation helped me persuade my fiancé.

IF you are in the neighborhood then this is a fair you wanna visit. Started in December of 2015, but already one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, fairs in the Netherlands. Lots of dealers (NL,BEL,GER,FR) and still growing every edition. http://www.militariabeurshouten.com/

This is going to be my DAK tropical set up, when I get myself a good mannequin, all the items are original and salty, just how I like them. The ankle boots are the full second pattern version and very hard to find. The straight leg trousers were made by LAGO SCHLESIEN BRESLAU and the depot stamp date is 1942, these trousers are made in the lower grade tropical twill, but have seen heavy use. Interestingly this firm made Heer tropical uniform items in 1940. I don't need the "A" frame or "Y" straps for this set up, but I thought i would post the photo anyway D

Recently picked this up. Japanese Type 99 "A" or mite commonly known as the "KISKA" named by GI after the island of the same name. Where this little grenade was first identified. I was happy to add this WWII mini to my small Japanese group. *all ordnance and related objects are completely inert and 100% free of any energetic material whatsoever."-TM

O.k. I have had this cap for many years. It was sold to me as a 1950's era movie prop. All it had was the Waffenfarb strip. The insignia I bought later. I love the cap, thats why I have hung onto it all these years.

Well I thought that handsome chap in the photo was you, just goes to show how wrong a person can be dont it!!!!

Thanks for your kind words @Davejb @Bil4338. I was very lucky to pick this one up from a friend of my late brother last year, at what I consider to be a very friendly price of £600.

E-Bay is the perfect medium for scammers, and proves one thing, a fool and his money are soon parted

Not you , The Field Marshal,... he can be mean at times

Ah the Black Watch, the wifes cousin was in it for many years, looked very smart in full "watch" uniform. But I drew the line when she wanted me to wear a kilt for one of her relations weddings, she wore her Anderson Tartan, I was happy with my suit

On a serious note, you could utilise the back of your door, buy some peg board ,the length and width of the door, allowing space to open the door hinge side, attach the peg board with spacers so that there is a small gap. You then attach the belts horizontally with spaced pegs and any over lap either end just folds over in between the board and the door, that way you could get at least 40-50 on the door, Yes I know I,m a genius but I dont brag about it.... MUCH

Lenny, One day soon you should make it your mission to get that helmet back, as it is a superb example D

Well 60/40 I,ve got a big cabinet!!!!!,,, ok the wifes got a big cabinet !!!!....alright ,the wifes just big and I,ll just use the cabinet!!!

Hi Lenny, Yes that is possible, but Thompson's could be classed as semi auto and full auto weapons and there is a danger with the directive as it stands that these could become category "A" and banned. If that is the case then I could not hand them over to be destroyed. D

Hello all, package 2 of 3 has now arrived, this one being the smallest. After looking for a couple years I have now been able to get a perfect 4.7x33mm G11 caseless rounds in my collection. I have written a small article about the rifle, the ACR program, and the cartridge itself, hope you enjoy it! A little on the ACR program, Phase I-II was started in 1986 and Phase III in August 1989. It was Funded by the US Army to find a replacement for the M16. 4 companies, AAI, Colt, H&K and Steyr came with new rifles. Other companies including Eugene Stoners Ares Incorporated was planning on putting the AIWS rifle in but withdrew due to complications, as did McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems. The ACR program ultimately failed even though the 4 designs worked well, but none could meet or approach improvement over the M16. the project was ended in April 1990 but led to the OICW project. The project ended up costing around 300 million. Now more about the G11 specifically. It was produced in small quantities by "Gesellschaft für Hülsenlose Gewehrsysteme", in English, "Corporation for Caseless Rifle Systems" which was a group of companies lead by H&K. Dynamit Nobel worked on the propellant for the cartridge and projectiles and Hensoldt Wetzlar for the optics. Production began in 1960 and went through until the 1980's. When it began it was funded mostly by West Germany and some NATO contries. It fired 3 round bursts and worked fairly well. They where able to overcome a number of technical issues and get a decent rifle working. Although a technical success, it never went into full production due to politics and the re-unification of Germany. Only 1000 rifles where ever produced, and the G3 was replaced with the G36 series. There was also a multitude of problems with the rifle, including the caseless ammuniton cooking off in the barrel after firing for prolonged times as there was no brass casing to absorb heat. Many different shapes and types of ammunition was tried, and the one here was the final design shape. Another problem was the very complicated firing mechanism and internals. Some have said to service the rifle you would have to be a very experienced German clock maker! The included cut-away rifle shows some of the complicated internals. Despite the problems there was some good things about the rifle too. Because there was no casing, there was nothing for the rifle to eject and no waste (casings). Another was the huge amount of weight saved as the ammunition weighed a significant amount less than the standard 5.56x45mm cartridge. This meant a soldier was able to carry much more ammunition despite weighing the same amount as a standard load of 5.56. The 3 round burst fired also gave a higher hit probability to the shooter. The round I was able to get came from a gent in Germany, and the round pictured is a variation of the DM10 dummy next to a 5.56x45mm as used on the M16. They have a hole through them to indicate dummy, and are made of plastic, and the bullet is metal. These would have been used for systems tests and tooling, although this one looks to have never been used! I have included a picture of a real dis-assembled round, which shows the propellant block, primer and ignition unit, bullet, and the plastic tab that keeps the bullet centered. I have included a number of pictures, also showing the other ACR rifles ammunition and an earlier design of the G11 ammunition. I hope you all enjoy this small article, and I couldn't be happier with this small little cartridge!

Oh, I didn't think about that, 'I think you're going into the realms of fantasy Jones'-Mainwairing

On March 9, 1916 troops under the command of Panch Villa attacked the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. 10 civilians and 8 US soldiers were killed. 67 of Villa's men were killed and the US cavalry troopers pursued across the border several miles into Mexico.The next day, President Wilson issued this statement. "An adequate force will be sent at once in pursuit of Villa with the single object of capturing him and putting a stop to his forays. This can and will be done in entirely friendly aid to the constituted authorities in Mexico and with scrupulous respect for the sovereignty of that Republic" I have collected a few items from the campaign against Villa over the years and would like to share them with you. The year-long expedition did not capture Villa but it helped the US military to prepare for the coming involvement in Europe. The commander of the expedition was John Pershing who later commanded the troops in France.

So Bennie and Adi were both in Poland at the same time in the early 1920s......Wonder if the guy sitting on the far right is Joey Stalin?

@Utah Bob you sir are a gentleman, and if you happen to be in Normandy in june any year I will ensure you are filled with iced beers my friend

The Mexican side is not my area of expertise but I'll see what I can find out for you.

Dinner time.... Took these pics for a book that was being written in Europe,, they authors approached me for some piccs after spotting a post of a forum of stick hr's. of course I gladly obliged

Thanks Dave!There are many official associations searching for burials rather than for the odd rotten bayonet or rifle!If you go to any militaria show in Italy seldom if ever you'll find dug artefacts for they're in private collections or small museums!Italy's been a battleground for several Wars since the Roman Empire and this kind of digging is made with historical purposes rather than to fill up Ebay with items dug from graves!

That's how serious guys look for fallen soldiers!This group of Italian diggers have just found the grave with two German soldiers.They think that one of them could be an from Alto Adige(Italy) because he wore a medal from a Mountain Hut there.At first they thought these soldiers were Gebirgsjaeger but the ID tags and some boot soles they found made them reconsider that even if,truth be told,gebirgschuhe were worn by just about anybody who could find a pair!As the others dig a member of the team calls somebody in Germany to tell the whereabouts of the finding.The items won't be kept or sold,they'll be brought to a Gothic Line Museum!

You need to check the whole interior for a makers name, especially as its an "Officers" cap, Mine is marked in gold lettering, Hobson and Sons, (London), Ltd 6 .7/8, the brass buttons are marked Firmin London, Its a Prince of Wales Rgt that has the all metal badge imbedded into a large cord knotted button, and has the gold wire piping across the two top halves, silken interior and "velvet" sweat band

I don't know why Facebook haven't thought of this before, it's a great way of giving someone your opinion of them...

Hi Lenny, That's an nice example D

Not the old TR-based forum guff again? how much do we need to do to emphasise that this forum is for EVERY form of militaria, not just one specific area? maybe Lenny will create a sub forum for this type of gear if you ask him nicely....

There sure is.. damned glad I brought them home with me,, Well chuffed the time machines working again

Are you really contemplating restoring this?? I,m not 100% sure but I dont think Duxford or Hendon have one of these in their collection, I,m not sure anyone has, Personally I,d be tempted to contact Duxford test the waters there, see if theres any interest in their restoring it, they will have the resources and possibly spare parts to do this, Be terrific to see it fly again

Here's one I visited with my son in Mannheim, Germany 2014. My son had gone over to study in Mainz for a year so I volunteered (wasn't difficult) to take him over and get him settled in.....even fitted in a trip to the Remagen Bridge! There wasn't very much WW2 related in Mainz but a google search (http://zgma.de) pulled up a small private museum located in a quiet suburb , inside an Air Raid Shelter in Mannheim. Dirk Schulz, the curator owns and runs the place. He couldn't have been more helpful and even met my son and I at the central station, took us to the suburbs, opened up the museum and gave us a private tour. His interest lies in the area itself, pre WW2, during WW2 and the Post War period. It was amazing to see what his display consisted of ...oh and I forgot to mention the Anti Aircraft gun that sits outside and can be played with. There is a primary school located at the rear of the building and the local head teacher is very supportive of his efforts and regularly visits with the kids for a history lesson deliver by Dirk, in Luftschutz Uniform no less!!!!!!! He displays many artefacts including SA, Luftwaffe, SS and concludes with a display of American Uniforms which is first rate.This has a personal connection as he was employed by them as an Air Traffic Controller. Here are some pics .....

Picked up a copy of this guide book a couple of years ago.....Started to line off the one's I've visited...Still plenty to go...OH YES!!!!!! Can recommend it.........There's a WW1 version as well.

There was quite a bit of BOB kit kicking about at the beginning but I believe it was swallowed up very quickly. I was lucky enough to get one of the last Resin Garands used in the series. We stayed at a B&B in Normandy a few years back, the Ivy House. It was owned and run by a Steve and Sarah. He was an ex Soldier and had also been an extra in BOB. He loved it. Think they got some stuff to keep.

Dont worry about this man Hetzers , he has a fetish of allowing Rabbits to run up and down his legs

http://45thdivisionmuseum.com/ The website does not do it justice, if you find yourself in the area pay it a visit.

Nice kits but why not go for the really big ones, 1 12th RC, only £20,000, but you do get the figures as well lol, I have a 1 16th all metal Tiger, got it in weekly parts from Hatchette , only cost me £700 all told, still not added decals yet

When people say 'the right price' they mean an arm, a bollock and everything you've got in your pocket.