Update to my collection of helmets, field gear, damaged items, and items of interest.

[Jean-Loup]

The fridge markers, or whatever you want to call them. I was going to throw them out, and had riped one up already, when I thought they would be interesting to keep with the bullet.

[Atch]

I also forgot to post this picture illustrating the rifle grenade like the one found in the ex mass grave of german soldiers.

Very nice, I did not know that you could use a M-1 Carbine to launch a rifle grenade. Thanks for the post, it is a great picture.

Mark Atchison

[WalterB]

Terrific way to present all your very interesting items! Good job and thank you for sharing them. The Italian para helmet and the US para helmet are great, I never get tired of looking at them!

[Darrell]

Very interesting and some amazing pieces. These "finds" are the most intriguing of all collectables.

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks for the extra comments.

Here is another interesting item. At first site, it is a totaly incomplete and boring italian canteen.

[Jean-Loup]

What it actualy is is a souvenir kept by the french soldier George Bachelu, from the "65ième régiment d'artilleire de Blida" after their first important encounter with the Afrika Korps in december 1942, in Tunisia.

On the canteen he engraved "Taken from the ennemiy on december 22 1942". The ennemy also had his initials, G K, on the cup, as seen in the picture above. Not many Italians have names starting with a K, to my knoleage...

[Jean-Loup]

Other view. I still havent managed to decipher the first word, thow I suspect it is a misspelled and miswritten slang term for alcohol.

If I remember correctly, the battle lasted about 3 days, and caused very severe losses to both sides.

[Jean-Loup]

An other ring. At first I wondered what the deformation in the swastica was about

[Jean-Loup]

And then I saw this, and understood.

[Jean-Loup]

Some more relic italian stuff

[Jean-Loup]

An other view of my beloved Folgore helmet. Walter is never tired of looking at it, and I am never tired of showing it

[sunny59]

US camo helmet found in Peira Cava, southern France. It has the unit insignia of the 65th Infantry Division engraved in the paint. The 65th was composed of Porto Rican volunteers.

Fantastic You are right on 65 inf div, only that they weren't volunteers at all those puertorrican. First time I see a relic form my fellows brothers. I had made contact with a few down here in Puerto Rico....and still proud when they talk about their experience during ww2.
Rodolfo

[Ostmark]

A great collection you have Jean Loup, and a lot of your stuff has a known
history or is named to a soldier, that makes your collection very special