Today's first carboot finds

Discussion in 'WW2 Militaria' started by vespa100, Jul 5, 2020.

  1. vespa100

    vespa100 Member

    Picked these two up today at the carboot sale I love the bayonet as the gentleman's number and name on IMG_20200705_095536_copy_1368x1824.jpg IMG_20200705_100137_copy_1368x1824.jpg IMG_20200705_100225_copy_615x1809.jpg IMG_20200705_100242_copy_994x1543.jpg IMG_20200705_095557_copy_1368x1824.jpg
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    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?
     
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  3. vespa100

    vespa100 Member

    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.
     
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  4. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    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.
     
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  5. vespa100

    vespa100 Member

    Hi Jim it has maker's mark of Simson and Co, Suhl and 4078 on the pommel
     
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  6. vespa100

    vespa100 Member

    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
     
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  7. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    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
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    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.
     
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  9. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    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
     
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  10. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    No need to be sorry Tim - if it's wrong, it's wrong - I'm sure we would all rather know.
     
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  11. vespa100

    vespa100 Member

    Hi I have been told the frog is South African so that makes this more of a mystery
     
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