Picked these two up today at the carboot sale I love the bayonet as the gentleman's number and name on
Can't find any reference to H Medlicott in any online source, i.e. casualty lists/CWGC - is that service number P/J 963287? Excuse my ignorance is that Royal Navy?
Hi Tony I think the name is A Medlicott and that looks like his service number, just looking online I think it's a German made bayonet for export per WW2, it was a Jewish factory closed down by the Nazi, trying to find out any more information.
Hello Tony56 and Vespa100. Excellent finds Vespa! I am thinking that the number inscribed may not necessarily relate to Mister Medlicott (perhaps?) P/J would indicate, if it is indeed a British services number, Portsmouth/Seaman, so WW1 Royal Naval Battalion maybe, fought as infantry on the Western Front, and Navy provided gunners there too. Are there any manufacturers markings Vespa100? If it's of foreign manufacture it may well have been taken as booty/spoils of war. A very interesting "knife" Kind regards, always, Jim.
Had this sent to me by a great web site called worldbayonets.com Sword bayonet for the 6.5 mm. M1904 Mauser-Vergueiro rifle. This bayonet was also used with the 8 mm. M1904/39 Mauser-Vergueiro Short Rifle conversion. The M1904 bayonets were made 1904–1909 by Simson & Co. of Suhl, Germany. Approximately 75,000 were made, before Portugal ran out of money to continue production. Portugal was the poorest of all European countries and was plagued by financial difficulties
Maybe it originated with the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps which served on the Western Front from 1917. There are three H. Medlicott RN ratings on the WW1 medal roll. Could it be that he is one of these and all RN service numbers were changed when the new pay codes were introduced in the early 1930s? serviceNo
Great information Richelieu, top job! It's the human side that makes any object special, and interesting to boot. Vespa100, it's a cracking find, thanks for stumping up for it, and taking the time and trouble to post the photographs and information here. Kind regards, always, Jim.
Sorry but the info in the link in #7 is incorrect. Basically RN Official Numbers (not called Service Number in the RN) goes as follows: Originally letter indicating Branch then number. 1925 Anyone joining had an X added (this was to indicate a lower Pay Scale from those already serving). 1931 All pre 1925 numbers now had an X added. 1934 The Port Division prefix (eg P/) was added. 1953 The X was dropped and a new series of numbers started beginning with 925000 P/J 963287 indicates a Seaman Rating with Portsmouth Port Division joining after 1953. Tim