Interesting! I have seen pots like that in French car boot sales... Imagine if we had all those helmets in the early photos - we could also finance that Churchill Croc, Adam!
Just checked some militaria sites and I see what you mean. They're not exactly £20 anymore are they! (yet another thing I should have bought years ago... a tatty Churchill's going to cost a million quid in 10 years time at this rate ) Wonder how you could tell if an old pan was a conversion? The caption for the 5th picture said he was welding the vent holes closed. Perhaps traces of that could be a 'recognition feature'.
This seemed like a good place to post today's find, so please excuse the bump. Flicking through the Country Life Picture Book of Britain in Colour c1957, I found this picture of a 'Landing Craft Domestic': http://ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=22477&d=1258247894 An American version is here.
Idler - here in Northern Ireland I could take you to the almost-disappeared wreck of one of those! Left rusting in the surf and seaweed MANY years ago, I've watched it rust away slowly year by year... Wonder how you could tell if an old pan was a conversion? Doesn't matter if WE can or can't...only matters if the BUYER can't! Car booties here I come!
P.S..... the ULTIMATE sword-into-ploughshare... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/15869-shervick-tractor.html ...or rather - pulling the plough!
I seem to remember the opposite being true and have a pic somewhere of plougshares or at least pots and pans or similar being forged into the sword of Stalingrad we presented to Ivan.
or at least pots and pans or similar being forged into the sword of Stalingrad we presented to Ivan. ....had to do SOMETHING with all that crappy, useless metal that was collected!
No, not quite. I remember seeing the Stalingrad sword in an Illustrated London News or some such. A fine affair. Later on I found that during the presentation ceremony that jackass Marshal Voroshilov was already rather tipsy on account of all the toasting, and when handed the sword just dropped it! The SWORD OF STALINGRAD THE SWORD OF STALINGRAD Sword of Stalingrad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/fs/new/stalingrg/stalingrad_eng.htm Also an interesting snippet QUEEN ELIZABETH - HONOURARY CITIZENSHIP The City Council of Volgograd has decided to bestow honourary citizenship on the British Queen Mother Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Our correspondent Viktoria Ulianenko has the details: The honorary title comes as a tribute to the Queen Mother on the occasion of her birth centenary to be marked later this year. Also this year we mark the 55th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. During the war Queen Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI, was engaged in public activities, visiting hospitals and helping people whose homes were destroyed in Nazi bombings. During the war Britain regularly chanelled aid to Stalingrad, as Volgograd was called at the time. In the fall of 1942, when defenders of Stalingrad were engaged in a fierce fighting, the British city of Coventry sent them a telegram expressing admiration for their heroism. Your example, the telegram said, inspires every honest person to rise against the common enemy. During the Battle of Stalingrad Queen Elizabeth along with the wife of Prime Minister Churchill, Clemetina, collected parcels with warm clothes and food and sent them to the city's defenders. The "Battle of Stalingrad" Museum in Volgograd prides itself on an exhibit - a beautiful sword decorated with an inscription saying it was given by King George VI to Stalingrad's residents, strong as steel, in a sign of the deep respect of the British people. Britain's was not only moral aid to Stalingrad. The British people raised large amounts of money for the restoration of hospitals, a telephone exchange station and several electricity lines. When the Soviet Army crushed Nazi troops in the battle of Stalingrad, her Majesty sent Stalingrad's residents money from her private funds. Volgograd Mayor Yuri Chekhov had this to say: "Queen Elizabeth and King George made a considerable contribution to the restoration of Stalingrad. We'll always be grateful to their country for its support. This explains our decision to confer the title of Volgograd's Honorary Citizen on Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother." Hurrah for the old girl, may she rest in peace!
Got a pic of it being hand made see if I can get it online..must be the oldest forger tghy could find ..looks like jed out of Beverley hillbillies.
Sorry ZA Im having technology probs putting up pics. I no longer use a pc so in short term I mail pics and attachments until Iget answer from crapberry and nakier. If you want to see pic of Jed Clampet forging sword Ican email it or its on page 73 talking about the war by anne valery.
Picture here? - Corbis: photography, rights, motion. Stalingrad Sword Is Made By Britain's Oldest Swordsmith. Also found a nice website devoted to detailing the Sword's history with a fair few Archival bits and pieces: Sword of Honour The Documents are interesting stuff if you take the time to zoom in and read.
Blimey thats nothing like the pic I have..mines colour..smaller sword and an older gentleman dressed in what looks like his night cap..something a little fishy or propagandy here methinks.
Handing over of the sword on British Pathe website. British Pathe - STALINGRAD RECEIVES THE KING'S SWORD
Idler - here in Northern Ireland I could take you to the almost-disappeared wreck of one of those! Left rusting in the surf and seaweed MANY years ago, I've watched it rust away slowly year by year... Doesn't matter if WE can or can't...only matters if the BUYER can't! Car booties here I come! Could I enquire where its located Phylo? Would be interested in seeing it!