2011 April | Sõja ajaloo portaal. Militaria.ee

Relic ID Help

I got these relics that were found around Stalingrad. I could use some help, as usual:)

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Taisho T14 ‘Nambu’ Auto pistol in 8mm

Hello-the Taisho 14 pistol was adopted by the Japanese army in 1926 (14th year of the reign of Emperor Taisho was 1925-this was one of several equipment designation systems used by the Japanese forces). It was intended as a simpler to produce pistol to equip the expanding Imperial army and was the first auto pistol to be issued to officers as previous pistols had to be privately purchased by them.

This example was made in January 1941 as it is marked ‘16.1′ (16th year of production,Jan.)-unusual for a weapon to have the month of production stated on it but standard on this type. It is a mid production example with the enlarged winter trigger guard for gloved hands adopted in the late thirties and still with the earlier milled knurled cocking knob-finish and production methods deteriorated as the war situation went ever more against the Japanese after 1942.

While well balanced and well made (at least until later in the war) the type has several faults including using a low powered round, the 8 x 21mm Nambu and a weak firing pin striker spring, in contrast to 2 strong cocking springs that rest the breech block against magazine top when the last round is fired, making it very difficult to remove for reloading. The clamshell holster is repro but a good one.

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Pte Thomas Barnes Coleman 14th Battalion Australian Imperial Force

Thomas Coleman was my Great, Great Uncle. He was born on 17th July 1888 in a sleepy, rural village called Brighstone on the Isle of Wight. He worked with his Father as a Dairyman on Marshgreen Farm, Brighstone until he emigrated to South Gippsland, Victoria, in Australia sometime in 1914 and continued to work as a Dairyman. When The Great War broke out he signed up, and ended up in 14th Battalion Australian Imperial Force http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Battalion_(Australia) .

The battalion embarked on H.M.A.T ‘Ulysses’ from Melbourne for training in Egypt in December of 1914, the journey took 1 month. On the 21 August 1915 the 14th Battalion A.I.F took part in the Battle of Hill 60, the last major assault of the Battle of Gallipoli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_…_60_(Gallipoli)

Tom lost his life sometime between 26th and 28th of August 1915, he was 27 years old.

As Tom has no official grave I thought I would post this thread and share with you the last year of this man’s story.

The following are some scans from items which are in the care of my Dad.

Pte Thomas Barnes Coleman 14th Battalion Australian Imperial Force.

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