Well
I just don't know what to say.
For the first time in years I actually rang the wife whilst detecting. She firstly told me to calm down, then told me to stop swearing so much, and then said 'MmMmmm nice dear....gotta go...washing my hair. BYE !' .......... WOMEN !!
Can one of you lot give me a phone number so I can get a bit of enthusiasm on the end of the phone when I am peeing myself at what i just found ?
:D :D :D :D :D :D
Anyway.........I was back at the aircrew barracks and, if you recall, i had found a German dog tag and a pebble button and there was speculation that the barracks may have been used as a staging post for POWs towards the end of the war.
Well....I think i just proved it !!!!
Not only that, but I had a BUCKETFUL of finds.
Lets get started on some pics :D :D
Firstly....before cleaning and sorting and rejection of crap.
Now after cleaning and rejection of crap.
Ok....let's start with some stuff that i need identifying. The big rusty item looks like it's some kind of mounting for a firing mechanism of a gun. It's four inches long.
Now various other bits and bobs. The thing on a chain has no markings on it. And yes I know that is a penny ! The little tube I thought was a container for gun lubricant when i dug it....but did they make them of metal ?
Ok....now for the stuff that I am more sure of what it is !
Firstly, what appears to be the handle of a flare gun. No markings on it except a serial number on the front face of the handle. I think it's a flare gun because it is 5 - 6 inches tall and feels far too big for a pistol handle.
Shave anyone ? The complete one still has the blade in it !
Spoons..... One says made in sheffield. The other says TTU and shows the remains of another number stamp at the tip. The little one has a crown and AW on the front face of the handle.
Now for some interesting lids and a tube of American WW2 toothpaste. I love the 'antiseptic' wax :eek: lol
Here are some interesting buckles. One of them appears to be from an American belt. Can anyone confirm ?
One of them deserves closer examination. I cannot decide what on earth it is. It's about 1.5inches from tip to tip and I initially thought it was perhaps a tie 'pin'. Can anyone help ?
Someone dropped there pocket watch :( :(
Various buttons, including ANOTHER German pebble button and an American Lieutenants PIP !!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone identify the anchor button ?
Ok.....i know you've been waiting. Here's why I rang the wife !! First i found another German dog tag.....then i found what i think is the prong from a 'Gott mit uns' belt........and finally......A GERMAN WOUND BADGE !!!!!!!!!
The inside fuze of a British grenade.....and the spring still 'springs' !!
A 50 cal case and a bullet
3 .30 cal rounds and a .30 cal M! carbine round.
A British 303 drill round
And finally.....a number of trench art cartridges. The big one is a 30cal round with the cut off tip of another jammed on top. Strangely, the round appears to still have the bullet in place. One has a .45cal case jammed on top and the 303 with the bit welded to it appears to have been 'silvered'. Very strange.
Anyway...that's the lot. I am totally gob smacked at the German wound badge find and hope I can add more proof to the theory of POWs being there on my next visit.
Steve T