The Armourer August 2022

Operation Chariot has been described, and indeed is titled on our cover this month, as The Greatest Raid. That’s a pretty big claim considering all the operations during WWII, yet it’s hard to deny the case for the raid on the Nazi-controlled port of St Nazaire in France. Containing U-boat pens and a dry dock big enough to service Germany’s battlecruisers, it was a key facility that the Royal Navy decided had to be put out of action. Doing so would force German ships such as Tirpitz to use German or Norwegian ports for repairs and supplies, thus running the gauntlet of Royal Navy attention in the English Channel or the North Sea. The plan was audacious, consisting of refitting an old destroyer, HMS Campbeltown (originally an American Navy ship)…

RECORDS New records for Jubilee In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign Forces War Records is releasing medal rolls from the Coronation and Jubilee celebrations of former monarchs King George V, King George VI as well as reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Forces War Records is currently transcribing thousands of these new records with further records being added weekly. The records include information on individuals that were awarded the medals as personal souvenirs for their participation in a previous Coronation or Jubilee events. Much of the content being added is exclusive to the Forces War Record site and will be beneficial to those wanting to find out if any of their ancestors received this royal honour. There is a long history of awarding medals to mark Royal Jubilees and…

Due to the way magazines are published, I write this column well in advance of you reading it, so it can be hard to be topical. I’m writing this on Monday 6 June, the 78th anniversary of the D-Day landings, so please forgive me as you read it sometime in July. The D-Day Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France (and later western Europe) and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front. Due to its importance, items from D-Day are highly sought after and often…

Ratisbon’s 50th Contemporary auction The next Ratisbon’s auction is fast approaching and runs from 2-10 July. All items sold are subject to a 22.5% Buyer’s Premium. Let’s see what’s been consigned, starting with an early M33 SS service dagger with vertical hangar. This is a nice clean blade featuring the etching ‘Meine Ehre heißt Treue’ and the maker’s mark of ‘Rich. Abr. Herder, Solingen’. Bidding starts at £2,995. Next up, a German Cross in gold to Major Hans Endres serving with Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 74. Part of the 2. Panzer-Division. He was also awarded the Knight’s Cross on August 14, 1943. This is made by Gebrüder Godet & Co. Berlin. Maker marked ‘21’ on the back of the pin, six-rivet type. It has a black, enamelled swastika without chipping, multi-piece construction with…

The next auction at Morphy runs from 12-14 July and has a mix of classic arms and firearms. One of the first items is an Indian Shield (Dhal) from around 1850. This has engravings reminiscent of Farsi calligraphy. There’s a central, raised area decorated with pierced decorations with further depictions. The estimate is $1,500-$2,500. The next item is an attractive German Morion with gilt and blued decoration of the Munich Royal Guard. From the first quarter of the 17th century it has distinct form with a high comb and dual peaks. It’s a two piece construction with eight floral rosettes. The estimate is $2,000-$4,000. If you’re looking for a wheelock, then take a look at this German pistol, c. 17th century. It features an octagonal barrel made without sights, retained…

This little gem of a military museum to the famous Men of Harlech, covering seven famous British regiments, is located centrally in the main street of the pretty town of Brecon, South Wales. Whilst it is much smaller than the big, national museums, do not be put off, as it is a treasure trove, packed with over 33,000 rare and fascinating soldiering memorabilia. There is much to see and enjoy, a very good variety of items, all being laid out very carefully and descriptively in each room, covering the different periods. There are some wonderful, framed prints of famous actions, medals and uniforms and this is a fine reference centre for any student of militaria. The museum covers the fascinating story of some of the British army’s most famous regiments,…