Memorabilia

British WWI 'Toffee Apple' Trench Mortar Round

This is the infamous 'Toffee Apple' or 'Plum Pudding' mortar bomb, one of the iconic weapons of c.1915-1916 trench warfare.  Inert 9" diameter round steel warhead is complete with the launching rod.  Top of the warhead has raised embossed inscription " 2" TRENCH HOW'R".  The launching rod is attached with a glaringly bright, modern screw (easily sorted by digging through those dusty mason jars of old fittings you have been saving in the garage for just such an opportunity!).  These were originally equipped with a standard artillery fuze, and later with threaded housing for an impact fuze which improved the bomb's effectiveness when used to clear barbed wire entanglements in preparation for an assault.  This example has the soft metal shipping / fill plug in place.  They were dispatched to the front lines with the projectile, fuzes, propellant, and launching rod as separate components, to be assembled just prior to use.

Numerous WWI personal accounts mention these projectiles specifically, especially those written by the troops on the receiving end who despised them.  Ernst Jünger called them "...personally malignant.  They're insidious beasts." in his classic account of WWI trench warfare Storm of Steel.  In his 1931 work Up to Mametz and Beyond, Captain Llewelyn Wyn Griffith of the 15th Royal Welch Fusiliers describes a barrage of 2-inch mortars: "A pop, and then a black ball went soaring up, spinning round as it went through the air slowly; more pops and more queer birds against the sky. A stutter of terrific detonations seems to shake the air and the ground, sandbags and bits of timber sailed up slowly and then fell in a calm deliberate way. In the silence that followed the explosions, an angry voice called out in English across No Man’s Land, ‘YOU BLOODY WELSH MURDERERS.’"  They were not much liked by either side, as it turns out. 

The artillery-fuzed mortar bomb produced numerous complaints when it was discovered that it burrowed into the soft mud and then exploded, creating a huge crater which was filled with the barbed wire entanglement that had been previously on the surface.  This created a much more formidable obstacle for the advancing infantry than what was there before. One reference notes a few further features that annoyed those on the sending part of the equation: the shorter-range shots were dangerous due to a tendency to fall short, it was imprecise, and often the explosion sent the rather heavy and thus kinetically deadly launching rod sailing back toward the trench from whence it came.  All of these complaints led to its replacement in 1917 by the Newton 6-in Medium Mortar.

As Advance Guard Militaria we had a few of these that came to us in the purchase of the Oorlogsmuseum Dadizele back in 1999 / 2000, but since that time I could count on one hand the number that that I have observed in collections or at shows here in the US.  An iconic and very interesting artifact from the war in the trenches!

$500 - $700

British WWI P08 Ammunition Pouches & Miscellaneous Accoutrement Mixed Lot

Includes P08 ammunition pouches with the stud and buttonhole closures; one left and one right side, with the right side pouch showing evidence of blanco, and a spot of heavy wear and fraying on the left side pouch.  Lot further includes a P08 waistbelt with blue exterior finish, several equipment straps, three (empty) ammunition bandoliers, a rifle breech cover, and a pair of waterproof mitten covers with attachment string. 

$50 - $100

British WWI Soldier's "Lifeguard" Private Purchase Periscope

5"x5"x2.5" when compacted and stowed in its thick khaki canvas belt case, this extends accordion-style to be a 22.5" tall periscope when deployed.  Embossed with a shield "THE LIFEGUARD / PATENT / PERISCOPE / SOLE MAKERS / F.DUERR & SONS / MANCHESTER / S.W."  One of the mirrors that makes the magic happen is cracked, and the other is missing entirely, though it still displays fine.  The example in the Imperial War Museum is labeled "'Lifeguard' trench periscope made by F Duerr & Sons of Old Trafford, who usually made jams and preserves. Sold privately to soldiers or their families, these periscopes filled a practical need, whilst also helping a local business to make money in wartime.  Consists of two parallel sets of lazy tongs, with mirror holders at each end. In 1915, the periscope cost 12/6 for a "cloth-covered leather-board box", or 15s for a "strong khaki collapsible waterproof case for belt".  We found an original advertisement for these archived on the web, which is in the photos for context, (but not physically included with the item - we encourage the buyer to download the image to print and display with it.)  $100 - $150

Six slightly different WWI British water bottles, includes an aluminum example with a nice 1915 dated Birmingham maker mark on the spout, one of khaki painted iron which retains a wool cover, and one of another non-magnetic metal with a slightly corrugated body and soldered construction.  Also includes three blue enamed iron bottles, one with it's wool cover.  $150-$200

Includes four examples of the mess tin, one of which includes the interior tray which was discontinued in 1906 by the British, but continued in service for Canadian made mess kits.  Lot also includes a nice example of the circular mess tin set for mounted troops.  $200 - $300

British / Commonwealth Private Purchase Raincoat

Private purchase raincoat of khaki rubberized fabric has stains and some sewn repairs, with one replaced cuff button and the other missing.  No visible markings or labels. 

$200 - $300

British WWI Machine Gun Accoutrements LotLot features the very scarce special issue 'Mask, Machine Gunners', which was issued to MG crews firing from fixed positions where it was desirable to camouflage their face.  The issue of masks for machine gunners working from fixed positions only was clarified in a general order from April 1915 which specified that these were not necessary equipment for the Motor Machine Gun Batteries. Other MG related material consists of a nice Lewis Gun ammunition pouch set - complete set of four Pattern 08 webbing drum magazine shoulder pouches and shoulder straps, soiled but good condition, mixed 1917 and 1918 dates.  Lot includes a very nicely marked 1918 dated Lewis Gun magazine carrier for three drum magazines.  Carrier is fitted with brass swivel fasteners, with modified (shortened) carry strap as is often observed.  Lot also includes Bag, Spare Parts and Tools, MG., Mk III, a leather reinforced canvas bag intended for use as indicated with both machine guns and the Hotchkiss.  Example has a faint illegible inscription on the cloth flap.  Leather fittings and strap are intact and pliable. $300 - $500

British WWI P14 Equipment Lot with Late War Double-Strap Closure Ammunition Pouches

Includes entrenching tool carrier, two worn but intact P14 ammunition pouches, one modified pouch with two closure straps and two originally made with two straps.  In February 1918, it was officially permitted to alter existing pouches or produce new pouches with two closure straps on the front flap instead of one. This was likely done to improve security and prevent the flap from accidentally opening in field conditions, and most examples seen are field conversions rather than purposely manufactured variants.  Photos from 1919 (e.g., 2nd Bedfordshires, 34th Division) show troops with a mixture of single and double-strap pouches, documenting their limited issue late in the war and into the post-Armistice occupation duty.

$300 - $500

Black leather boots have brass eyelets and a top closure flap with three billets and buckles.  Soles appear to be marked, but that is long since illegible.  The soles and heels have hobnails, toes with metal toe plates.  The leather shows soil and wear but remains in very good displayable condition.  Lacks laces.  $400-$600

British WWI Pattern 08 Field Equipment Set

An original set with a mix of wartime (and some illegible) dates, all components are original khaki shades and none seem to have been serviced with blanco.  All show light wear but remain in good serviceable condition.  Set includes a belt with 1918 date, right and left ammunition pouches with pebbled brass snap flap fasteners dated 1916 and (illegible), water bottle carrier is dated 1915, bayonet frog with 1915 date and complete with the elusive original helve holder.  Of the braces, one is dated 1915 and the other has no legible marking.  The entrenching tool blade carrier is dated 1915.  Lot shows normal service wear, stains and soiling, some light fraying around pocket edges, but no weak spots.  Belt has a soldier's inked service number marking.  Overall, a very presentable set for display.  The P08 set is an essential part of any WWI Commonwealth display, and though they were never easy, has become quite challenging to acquire within recent years. 

$1000-$1500

P08 Web Belt with Webley Holster & Ammunition Pouch

P08 waistbelt has double-BroadArrow demil marking on the interior.  This is set up for display as a pistol rig, with web shoulder braces, and the brown leather holster and ammunition pouch for the Webley revolver.  Holster includes the cleaning rod.  Web equipment is rough, with corrosion on the metal fittings. 

$50-$100

British WWI Pattern 08 Field Equipment Set

An original set with a mix of wartime (and some illegible) dates, all components are original khaki shades and none seem to have been serviced with blanco. All show light wear but remain in good serviceable condition. Set includes a belt with illegible marking, right and left ammunition pouches with pebbled brass snap flap fasteners dated 1915 and 1916, water bottle carrier is dated 1916, bayonet frog with 1915 date and complete with the elusive original helve holder.  The braces on this set show an interesting field repair in that they are riveted directly to the waistbelt. one has a faint date that appears to be 1917, and the other has no legible marking.  The entrenching tool blade carrier is dated 1918. Lot shows normal service wear, stains and soiling, but no weak spots.  Several components have random unit issue number stamps.  Assembled from parts as most all are (with the exception of the braces that have clearly been wed to the belt since their service days) - overall, a very presentable set for display. The P08 set is an essential part of any WWI Commonwealth display.  Though they were never easy, has become quite challenging to acquire within recent years.  

$1000-$1500

British WWI Pattern 1914 Field Equipment Set

A very nice displayable set; these all match up quite well visually.  Includes 1914 dated belt, two ammunition pouches without visible markings, bayonet frog with helve holder which has BroadArrow marking but no visible date, shoulder braces of which one is dated 1915 and the other visible but illegible, small pack has BroadArrow stamp and "28" but no maker or date, entrenching tool carrier is unmarked, water bottle carrier is dated 1915 and includes the water bottle, and the large pack which we left unattached has no visible marking.  All components show light wear and soil but remain in very good condition.  Leather is pliable and has not been subjected to Pecard's or any other such treatment.  Assembling a good complete set of P14 gear is often a quest that takes a collector years to accomplish!

$1500-$2500

Belgian WWI Adrian Helmet

French made Model 1915 Adrian steel helmet retains 80% khaki painted finish with dark patina visible in the worn areas.  Obverse has Belgian lion's head badge.  Interior has a black leather second pattern liner and adjustable brown leather chinstrap.  White initials "S.L." are painted on the interior of the crown. 

$150-$200

Belgian WWI Headgear Lot: 2nd Division Infantryman's Visor Cap & Medical Soldier's Sidecap

Includes a Belgian Medical Service sidecap with bullion tassel; interior has quilted khaki lining with buttons for an internally mounted chinstrap (which is no longer present.)  Shows light service soil and wear, just a pinhole or two on the exterior, quite nice overall. 

Belgian WWI second division infantryman's visor cap is of olive drab wool twill with a reinforced cloth-covered visor, obverse with an enameled Belgian red, yellow, and black cockade, a silver Roman numeral "II" insignia, and dark blue soutache piping, complete with matching cloth chinstrap secured by tan composition side buttons.  Interior has painted fabric sweatband, gold silk twill lining printed with "G. LEHOUK" maker's logo with French address, and "YSER / 1914 - 1915 - 1916 - 1917 - 19_".  Shows normal light wear with a few small holes, but great condition overall.  Blue piping would also be appropriate for Infantry or Army Administration, with the difference between the two options only being the patch and piping combination on the soldier's uniform collar.  $400 - $500

Belgian WWI Trench Combat Training Knife

A duplication of the Belgian M1889 (1915) trench close combat knife, except made with spring-loaded telescoping rod rather than a blade, with a medium density round rubber contact tip.  Gray metal guard retain traces of black painted finish.   You can definitely see that the Belgians were training exclusively for the stabbing attack.  A very interesting contextual item to add to a trench knife display.  

$100 - $150

Introduced in 1915, these were made with blades from M1889 bayonets and therefore designated by the Belgians as the M1889 Trench Knife.  This example has an 8" double-edged blade in good polish, ricasso with proof stamps on both sides and original leather scabbard washer, standard concave oval steel guard, and walnut one piece grip pierced at the pommel for a wrist strap, which remains.  Includes the correct blackened metal scabbard; functional, but has the attachment tab broken.  $150 - $250

59.2cm overall, with 46.3cm fullered sawback blade in good overall condition with areas of light pitting; ricasso has the scales with "A/C" German maker Alexander Coppel & Companie trademark stamp, with Belgian poinçons; opposite side also has inspection poinçons with "1888" date.  Hilt has steel guard with forward-swept quillon and spanner adjustable muzzle ring, cast brass grip and pommel with steel button and leaf spring attachment catch, inspector stamp on the pommel.  Guard has accountability number "V/4404".  References note that this bayonet will fit both the Comblain and Albini-Braendlin rifles, which replaced the Terssen.  Lacks scabbard.  $200 - $300

Belgian WWI Bayonet Lot: M1889 Short Knife Bayonet & M1916 Infantry Bayonet

Belgian M1899 Infantry Short Knife Bayonet has 29.5cm (11-5/8") fullered blade finished bright in very nice condition with just a few age blemishes.  Ricasso is unmarked.  Guard has hooked quillon and muzzle ring, marked on one side of the guard with accountability number "A1573".  Nice two-piece wood scale grips.  Includes brass mounted black leather scabbard with "1811" on the frog stud.  Leather shows age and wear but remains in good condition.  M1916 bayonet has17.5mm muzzle ring for use with the M1889 rifle, one-piece forged hilt identifies it as being made originally as a M1916 bayonet rather than a conversion. 57cm (22-3/8") overall, has 45cm (17-5/8") double-edge blade with medial ridge, in very good condition with 85% blued finish.  Hilt is also nice, marked with accountability number on the guard "130.1 Ch".  Walnut scale grips show light wear.  Scabbard has blackened finish, missing one throat screw. 

$200 - $300

Bulgarian WWI Visor Cap

Coarse olive wool cap has red wool piping; obverse with cockade in the Bulgarian national colors.  Composition visor remains in good condition.  Interior has drab cotton lining with size marking "57" and a short brown leather sweatband.  Our consignor had not removed the price tag after he originally purchased it, so now we know that it was sourced from our colleague, Mr. Bill Combs!  Shows light service wear, no readily apparent mothing. 

$150 - $200

Canadian WWI Field Artillery Lance Corporal's Service Jacket

Canadian Model 1913 seven-button service dress jacket has flaming bomb collar devices, "C.F.A." and "CANADA" shoulder titles, Lance Corporal chevron, and Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has dark khaki facings and lower pockets, with uninscribed (or faded away) name tag on the interior button stand.  Marked with C-Broadarrow stamp on one of the facings, and has stenciled numerals in the skirt.  Shows wear, stains, and fading with several small scattered holes and a dime size hole in the back under the collar. 

$200 - $300

WWI Canadian Five-Button Service Dress Jacket

Canadian made British 1907 Pattern service jacket of dark khaki wool has flaming grenade collar devices, "GG CANADA" shoulder titles of the 87th Battalion, Canadian Grenadier Guards, pre-1918 style 'double dart' feature under the collar, and Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has olive cotton lower pockets and facings, with a good portion of the paper label remaining, with date "1917" and a Montreal maker.  Shows little wear - a very nice example! 

$300 - $500

Canadian WWI Soldier's Service Dress Jacket

Khaki wool service dress jacket has the five-button closure and 'rifle patches' of the British (and Canadian Produced) Pattern 07 coat, with the short standing collar of the Canadian Model 1913 coat.  The collar has been further altered to include a cotton pattern cloth interior lining.  Coat has Canadian maple leaf collar insignias, "CANADA" shoulder titles, two blue service chevrons, and a War Medal ribbon sewn above the upper left pocket.  Interior has drab white cotton facings and pockets, with purple laundry pen name inscription "J.B. ELLIOT".  Nice condition overall, but it does have a large seam separation at the right armscye. 

$300-$400

Includes examples of both the earlier seven-button and later five-button overcoats.  Seven-button khaki wool greatcoat has Canadian general service buttons; interior has off-white flannel partial lining, white cotton facings, sleeve linings, and pockets.  Lining is inscribed with a soldier's name.  Nice coat - just a few small inconspicuous holes.

The five-button example is also of khaki wool with Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has off-white flannel partial lining, white cotton facings, sleeve linings, and pockets.  Flannel has a tear near the collar, and is marked with a C-BroadArrow stamp in the body.  Exterior khaki wool has some moth tracking and holes, primarily around the collar and on the center back.  $300 - $500

Canadian WWI Service Dress Jacket With Piped Shoulder Straps

Khaki wool five-button service dress jacket has "CANADA" shoulder titles on Infantry blue piped shoulder straps sewn into the shoulder seams in the style of the Model 1913 seven-button service dress jacket.  Interior has white cotton pockets and facings, and is complete with a Toronto, Ontario maker's paper label with soldier's name "G.G. Brigden" inscribed.  I located a "G. Brigden" who is on the rolls of the 62nd Regiment, St. John Fusiliers in 1913, listed as "George Brigden" on the 1914 rolls.  

The branch piping has faded, otherwise nice condition with no readily apparent mothing. 

$400-$500