Favorite items in your WW2 collection

Within family circles, my late father's brother's air gunners logbook would be my first thought, I have been its caretaker for the past 50 years so above all it would be the item I would think of first and foremost.
Thinking of items which I have paid for probably this binocular which was cleaned and serviced by a very good friend who has since passed away, the box is a preproduction of it's period transit case.

 

I'm very proud of my compass and kukri that survived Operation Longcloth in 1943. Even having travelled all those miles across northern Burma and several very wide rivers, the compass still correctly points to the north.

 

This scrap of paper is one my favourite objects in my collection. It is a page torn from an officer's note book in Burma in May 1944. It is effectively a medical assessment, a sick note and a prescription. It undoubtedly changed and possibly saved the life of the man it was written for. This man had seen action in Torbruk and had been part of the only Chindit Brigade that had marched into Burma during Operation Thursday. Exhausted and severely underweight, he had contracted a foot infection and this scrap of paper was his ticket out, allowing him to board a Dakota bound for India. No wonder he kept it as a souvenir.

 

Could I ask you to type in what it says? I can't make it out and I'm sure it is very good

 

'22' Enterprise

1909386 Spr Turner. F.W.

Localised inflammation of medial side of right ankle for four days. Very tender, inflamed.

Treatment.
Fomentation of Sulphanilamide Grains I? First loaf? began on 22.00 Hrs. 20.4.44

21.4.44

A.G.S. Miller

Capt. R.A.M.C.

 

A copy of the travel guide 'Lets Halt Awhile', which my father managed to retain throughout his time in Japanese POW Camps. The LHS picture is of the book, the RHS picture is from the dust cover of a post war edition of the same book with an appreciation by a fellow FEPOW.



Tim

 

No value but the sentimental: grandfather's identity discs.

 

One question that just occurred to me: was it usual for soldiers to retain identity discs after discharge?

Were they considered personal effects or army equipment?

 

Going by the number I've seen (and have) then yes, not really reusable so the Army would probably have little interest in them

 

Situation update from post #20. Anyone else any favorite items to add?!