Check out the Loot!

[lambstew]

Another Queens' Own vet I got to know had a whole wack of eye popping souvenirs and personal kit/clothing still squirrled away in his attic ---check out this amazing hoard of artifacts.

This particular gentleman was in the scout/sniper section and was issued with a dennison jump smock in Holland, likely while they were in the Niijmegen area. While in Niijegen, he also traded with the Americans and you can see his US web belt and .45 holster being worn with his jump smock in the picture.

Enjoy the pics,

regards,

Konrad

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/loot.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/loot2.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/loot3.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/loot4.jpg">

[vicjoy1945]

Hi Konrad !!

It would appear that my earlier comment on this fine grouping must have been obliterated...regardless, I must state once again....this is a simply fantastic grouping !!!

And I must also reinterate my earlier comment...Please let me know if you decide to part with it !!

Vic

[lambstew]

I don't actually own the grouping.....

Hi Konrad !!

It would appear that my earlier comment on this fine grouping must have been obliterated...regardless, I must state once again....this is a simply fantastic grouping !!!

And I must also reinterate my earlier comment...Please let me know if you decide to part with it !!

Vic

...and was just trying to illustrate what can still reside in the homes and attics of some veterans. I met this gentleman through a mutual aquaintance and the sight that you see in the posted shots is what met my eyes after he finished unpacking his kit bag and various other packs. In fact, the pictures don't do the experience justice since there were many other items I didn't take pictures of like jewelery still in the original shop boxes with the prices still on, silverware, postcards, liberated wallets still full of money, flags and a whole assortment of other odds and ends. This guy was truly a real scrounger! The amazing thing was that some of the packs hadn't been opened since he got back home so it was like experiencing the opening of a time capsul.

I only had the chance to meet him twice and he was good enough to let me take some shots on the second visit so that I had proof of what I saw. Despite having so much he and his family had zero interest in letting any of it go aside from what you see in this next pic. Anyhow, it was a priviledge just to meet him and the experience of seeing all that incredible stuff.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/lambstew/ss.jpg">

Regards,

Konrad

[vicjoy1945]

Hi Konrad,

Wow...its still a fantastic grouping...his uniforms, beret, gear, and photos are out of this world...great stuff !! The "bring-back" German items are interesting for what they are...his own personal trophies...and they add to the overall history but my main interest is in his own memorabilia and more importantly...his story.

Did he relay any of his experiences to you ?? I'd sure like to hear them.

Vic

BTW - What is that German visor hat ??

[lambstew]

Those two hours by went REALLY fast and so there wasn't really the chance to ...

Hi Konrad,

Wow...its still a fantastic grouping...his uniforms, beret, gear, and photos are out of this world...great stuff !! The "bring-back" German items are interesting for what they are...his own personal trophies...and they add to the overall history but my main interest is in his own memorabilia and more importantly...his story.

Did he relay any of his experiences to you ?? I'd sure like to hear them.

Vic

BTW - What is that German visor hat ??

to get into tons of stories. He was a D-Day vet though in the Scouts & Sniper section who incredibly, went through the entire war without a scratch. In the time I had, I asked him a lot of questions about his uniforms and the fact that he was issued a dennison jump smock as well as the wind proof hooded camo jacket. He and a lot of Queen's Own guys were issued with these in Holland. He also talked about trading with the Americans in Niijmegen and that's where he picked up the US web belt, carbine and .45....and before you know it my time was up. We also talked about guys that we both knew or had known, etc, etc, and all this while absorbing all his stuff on the kitchen table!

Regards,

Konrad

[DJT]

Awesome grouping Konrad. I especially like the US kit and the Camo smocks. Did the guy have a kill book noting his sniping "victories"??

[lambstew]

Hi Des....no that never came up in the conversations..

Awesome grouping Konrad. I especially like the US kit and the Camo smocks. Did the guy have a kill book noting his sniping "victories"??

..quite frankly I was too overwhelmed to ask about a lot of things...

Regards,

Konrad

[Adrian Stevenson]

Wow! Very interesting items.

I know what you mean about meeting Vets, sometimes it can be overwhelming and you forget to ask questions which you later think of.

Cheers, Ade.

[lambstew]

Adiran: would have any idea what that German peaked..

Wow! Very interesting items.

I know what you mean about meeting Vets, sometimes it can be overwhelming and you forget to ask questions which you later think of.

Cheers, Ade.

..cap pictured in the grouping is with the funky light blue piping and dark blue body?? Must be some kind of auxillary hat or something???

Reagrds,

Konrad

[grovb]

I do not know what I would do if I ever got some thing like that. Just seeing it for you must have been incredible. It would have been for me, not saying I would not have dreamed about getting my hands on it.

thanks for showing it to us.
Brandyn Grove

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Konrad, I don't know what branch of service that strange cap represents? Never seen one like it before either. I agree it is most likely some kind of obscure outfit.

Cheers, Ade.

[lambstew]

Hi Brandon, driving home that day was like being in a daydream..

I do not know what I would do if I ever got some thing like that. Just seeing it for you must have been incredible. It would have been for me, not saying I would not have dreamed about getting my hands on it.

thanks for showing it to us.
Brandyn Grove

..and being a collector, I would definitely would have given my left nut to preserve the grouping. The vet told me he rarely looks at it (some packs hadn't been looked at since 1945), but he knew he had the stuff and it was a part of his past and so still very much of interest. It might have been different if he would have had say Two dennison smocks but that was not the case. That's why I'm glad I took the pics just as a reminder.

Regards,

Konrad

[lambstew]

Hi Brandyn, driving home that day was like being in a daydream..

I do not know what I would do if I ever got some thing like that. Just seeing it for you must have been incredible. It would have been for me, not saying I would not have dreamed about getting my hands on it.

thanks for showing it to us.
Brandyn Grove

..and being a collector, I would definitely would have given my left nut to preserve the grouping. The vet told me he rarely looks at it (some packs hadn't been looked at since 1945), but he knew he had the stuff and it was a part of his past and so still very much of interest. It might have been different if he would have had say Two dennison smocks but that was not the case. That's why I'm glad I took the pics just as a reminder.

Regards,

Konrad

[lnijherald]

Whopee, that is some great grouping Konrad!

I just love the gravity knife, used to have one but I sold it.

Cheers, Luc

[RobNZ]

Beautiful cache Konrad, , love the pics.
My original post went missing,
I was also going to ask if this veteran relayed any stories to you on how he obtanied some of these items.

Its amazing what is still in families out there,
I often think how many houses have treasures like this in their attics.

Rob