The Armourer September 2022

This month we are off to the City of Light, otherwise known as Paris in the 1940s. With the fall of France it was declared an open city to prevent its destruction and the Wehrmacht duly swept in to take control that would last four, long years. Initially German troops treated it as a tourist destination, as they were promised a week’s break there. Cinemas, cafes and music halls all catered to the occupier. However, with rationing for the local population, the tide of war going against Germany from 1942 and the rounding up of the Jewish population for deporting to the concentration camps, the mood soon soured. We bring you the story of what it was like for those living and resisting the occupation. This feature also marks the…

Regrettably, to offset the increases in costs of energy and raw materials the cover price of The Armourer has increased to £5.49; but you don’t have to pay that! SAVE UP TO 24% We’ve frozen our subscription pricesmeaning you can save even more than before when subscribing to The Armourer! Take out a digital subscription today www.pktmags.com/arm-sub22 Prefer paper? Have the magazine posted direct to your door each month. To find our latest subscription offers please visit militaria.ma/arm-subs22 or call 01778 392489…

MUSEUM Navy expands in Hartlepool Plans for the expansion of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool (NMRN Hartlepool) have received a huge boost following the £3.4 million purchase of the neighbouring Vision Retail Park. The 58,000 square foot, three-acre site, with 250 car parking spaces, lies alongside NMRN Hartlepool, and its purchase by the museum unlocks much-needed space for an ambitious expansion which includes new galleries, conservation workshops, reception and retail space. Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director General of The National Museum of the Royal Navy said, “Following the acquisition of the retail park it will be considerably upgraded to meet modern museum standards and the former shopping centre converted into new themed galleries large enough to permanently house World War II rescue motor launch RML 497 which is…

Tricorn Fairs has announced that the Bristol Fine Antique Arms Fair will return on 11 September 2022 at a new venue, the Aztec West hotel and spa in Almondsbury, Bristol. Originally scheduled to re-open this March at its former venue, Tricorn Fairs was forced to cancel the Fair owing to the last minute closure of the hotel to the general public. The new venue is within minutes of Junction 16 of the M5, and has free parking, a well-lit exhibition hall with bar, refreshments and washroom facilities within the Fair itself, and the full amenities of the 4 star hotel adjoining the Event Suite. Tricorn Fairs also intends to reinstate Bristol FAAF as a twice-yearly event on the first Sunday of March and September each year, as before. Dates for…

The organiser of the Mark Carter Militaria and Medal Fair being held at the Stratford Leisure and Visitor Centre, Bridgefoot, Stratford Upon Avon has announced that the date has moved from 23 October to a week later on 30 October. The venue is off the A439 Warwick Road, close to the town centre and just 10 minutes from Junction 15 of the M40. There are 90 tables of militaria on offer. Outside is pay and display parking, but note that the parking ticket machines in the car park are now card only. Payment can also be made online, by phone, by text or by app through RingGo.…

An archaeological dig at the former base of famed Easy Company, featured in Band of Brothers, has unearthed rare historical artefacts including one of the ACME lost clickers used in D-Day landings. The clicker, used by Easy Company during the D-Day landings 78 years ago, was found just feet away from two sets of dog tags that had belonged to members of the famed Band of Brothers. The dog tags were unearthed at an archaeological WWII dig conducted by archaeologist Richard Osgood and a team of veterans from Nightingale and Aldbourne Heritage Centre supported by Breaking Ground Heritage. Simon Topman, Managing Director at ACME, said, “This is a fascinating find for a number of reasons, but there was no doubt that it was an authentic ACME clicker issued for the…