What is this?

Hi all,
A poser for those that may know, in the attached picture. What is the item tucked into the belt of this KM trooper at Dieppe?


For Discussion Purposes only



Now at first i thought it was a M24 Stielhandgranate with fragmentation sleeve but there looks like there are other fittings on it, so any knowledgable individuals out there can help that'll be most appreciated.

Nick

 

I don't know what it is, but it is interesting that he is carrying a WWI Kar98a.

Regards
TonyE

 

My guess is some kind Of Navy Signal or Divers Torch

 

Looks like a Shimwell Alexander & Co RN morse signalling torch.

There were different models, but they all had a morse-code key at the base of the torch - which appears to be visible in the photo.

They also had various types of filter holders and/or beam hoods, which again looks like the photo.

Just a guess, but that would be exactly the sort of booty that might be lying around the beach to be picked up by a German souvenir hunter! Nice War Office pattern golok machete as well....

 

so my guess was right

 

A good spot.
The photograph is full of good detail.

Regards
Tom

 

Can anyone id the sleeve badge?
Were there many KM 'troopers' at Dieppe and were they combat troops or just happened to be around when the raid took place?

 

Can anyone id the sleeve badge?
Were there many KM 'troopers' at Dieppe and were they combat troops or just happened to be around when the raid took place?

German Ground Order of Battle - 19 August 1942

From the above:
Kriegsmarine Units
- 2. Sicherungsdivision had some harbour personnel and sailors in Dieppe
- German convoy that ran into the eastern landing force included small submarine hunters UJ1404 and UJ1411, and small minesweeper M4014

So it appears no organized combat units but personnel from the dock facilities in Dieppe armed for defence.
Cheers Mark

 

Cheers Mark

 

why would someone have a machete at dieppe?

 

For Clearing obstacles, also were they issued to machine gun crews?, or was that the billhook.

 

Gentlemen

Such a fountain of knowledge on this site, ...booty, why i'd not thought of that i don't know, this helps me no end. KM Coastal Artillerie units manned some of the strongpoints a Dieppe, so for them to scour the beach afterwards makes a lot of sense, also the WW1 Kar 98 cavalry carbine was issued from existing stocks, new weapons went to the 'front'. The uniform of this individual is the basis of a figure that i'm modelling for a Dieppe diorama, so all the questions have been well and truly answered, top shelf guys.

Nick

 

Also

I just found this great link, with a Canadian machete from the dieppe, and sad but interesting collection of badged insignia, helmets from the Raid.

DIEPPE! The helmets from the Raid - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

Here is an even better link for you Nikademus, a life size recreation of the man...

DIEPPE! Mannequins Make-up & Display - Page 6 - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

 

why would someone have a machete at dieppe?

For cutting bushes for vehicle cam, etc.

I think we had the identical goloks (and i mean 1940s dated!) on vehicle Complete Equipment Schedules (CES) well into the 1990s. In fact the same goloks are still available from stores.

 

Now... do we have any real spotters who can tell us whether his binoculars are British or German?!


The binos might also be loot - or they may be normal part of a KM gun crews' equipment, especially if he is the "No1".

 

Such a blurry photograph up close,
if German 6x30
Or British 6x30 KERSHAW

They do not have the hold down tab that attaches to tunic button, as you see on German Binos

My guess is British they look like Brass and Alloy unlike all Alloy German type.

 

Not quite 100% , first though d.glas - the lanyard is leather , stud fastening, which would say "German", on the other hand size wise might be Kershaw.
Picture looses definition when enlarged and it is difficult to make out any detail on the ocualrs, if detail could be got it would be easy id the set with more certainty.

 

Yes the neck strap was obvious to me", if it had been web with "Buckles" it would be British made.

"Kershaw still produced them, with a leather strap and brass stud fastener's , into WW2.

While the Germans, carried on with leather neck straps and stud fastener's.

In my collection, I have a pair of Kershaw 6x30 1918 dated, But they were used by a NZ officer in WW2, with the leather neck strap.

I used to have a 1941 dated pair of Kershaw 6x30 with leather neck strap and studs.


So the Strap was nothing to go by for me...


German Binos, as you would expect to see with
hold down tab that attaches to tunic button and lens cap.

Where as the in the photograph they have nothing typical of British binoculars.