Gallipoli Turkish Cartridge Box

[Tan Berk]

It is Anzac Day, maybe not the best time to remember artifacts of war but had to share this ultra rare (IMHO) German made Turkish Mauser bullet box. I have never seen any other example of this, it came from a collection of my dear Australian friend Rod, who spent his 50 years collecting Anzac items. He got most of his items from Gallipoli and Palestine campaign veterans all around Australia.

Hope you enjoy,
Tan

[Tan Berk]

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[Tan Berk]

The bullets are also souvenirs from different battle zones (including Gallipoli) where Australians fought with the Ottoman Army.

[römischIX]

Very impressive.

[muzrub]

Very cool indeed

Cheers,

Jamie

[nzef1940]

The bullets are also souvenirs from different battle zones (including Gallipoli) where Australians fought with the Ottoman Army.

Australians and New Zealanders....ANZAC's

[Tan Berk]

Yes of course Anzac's but the bullets were brought back by Australian Light Horse Veterans and my Ozzy friend collected the bullets from them over the years.

Thats why I did not include New Zealanders in that very particular sentence, no offense please...

Australians and New Zealanders....ANZAC's

[Greg B]

Yes of course Anzac's but the bullets were brought back by Australian Light Horse Veterans and my Ozzy friend collected the bullets from them over the years.

Thats why I did not include New Zealanders in that very particular sentence, no offense please...

I would very much like to know exactly on Gallipoli where your friend found this box to determine which battles (if possible). Reason being I have seen an identical mauser cardboard box decorated exactly the same in a very old collection here in the South Island of New Zealand. Most definately brought back by a Kiwi Vet (ANZAC). So most definately not just where the Aussies or British were fighting.

Greg

[Tan Berk]

Hello Greg

This is all known about this particular box, I am quoting from my friends' email. All I know is that he interviewed many Australian Vets from WWI, especially from Gallipoli and Sinai and they shared some of their souvenir pieces with him.

This box can only be picked up where the ALH was posted, probably the posts area at Anzac Sector, like Quinn's Post and surroundings.

Finally here is another item from the Turkish part of my collection. It is a
cardboard ammunition box. It came from Gallipoli with an Australian soldier.
When I got it it was squashed flat. I reshaped it (years and years ago) and
popped 15 Turkish Mauser rounds which I had come across over the years into it
for show.

These rounds are all souvenirs of either Gallipoli or of the Sinai and
Palestine campaigns. Like my Turkish buttons they will be a mix of both.

I would very much like to know exactly on Gallipoli where your friend found this box to determine which battles (if possible). Reason being I have seen an identical mauser cardboard box decorated exactly the same in a very old collection here in the South Island of New Zealand. Most definately brought back by a Kiwi Vet (ANZAC). So most definately not just where the Aussies or British were fighting.

Greg

[Mike39]

Hi Tan
A very nice item that you have. I think you'll find that the packet was typically standard packaging for Turkish Mauser ammunition at the early stage of the Gallipoli campaign and not specific to any one location or battle of that campaign. Other similar packets, such as yours, exist in local collections. As Turkish ammo supplies became exhausted, German supplies made up any short fall and German packaging & ammo was also known to be souveneered by ANZAC vets.

I have several Turkish ammo items in my collection that came back from Gallipoli..
Are you able to translate the information on the back of the cases ? Part of the info will provide a manufacturing date.

Cheers
Mike

[Greg B]

Many New Zealanders were ofcoarse at Quinn's post so this may very well be one of the area's the Kiwi vet found the mauser cartridge box , A lot of major fighting arround quinns post as it was the salient of the Anzac line and the nearest point to the Turk.


Thanks for the Information and posting as it certainly reignighted my memory when I saw this mauser cartridge box. Would not surprise me at all if there are more back here as we were great ones for bringing back Turkish momento's

Greg

[Tan Berk]

Hello Mike

Thank you for the information, I have never seen another example of this box, they all must be in private collections, I wish they were publicly available to see in museums. I also would love to see your Turkish items if you have the time to share photos either here or privately in email.

Tan

Hi Tan
A very nice item that you have. I think you'll find that the packet was typically standard packaging for Turkish Mauser ammunition at the early stage of the Gallipoli campaign and not specific to any one location or battle of that campaign. Other similar packets, such as yours, exist in local collections. As Turkish ammo supplies became exhausted, German supplies made up any short fall and German packaging & ammo was also known to be souveneered by ANZAC vets.

I have several Turkish ammo items in my collection that came back from Gallipoli..
Are you able to translate the information on the back of the cases ? Part of the info will provide a manufacturing date.

Cheers
Mike

[Tan Berk]

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