I have two sextants dug up at Rabaul (can't post image). The local guys who found them assumed they were Japanese (as most thing are), but a close look at them shows no markings (except the numerals on the quadrant on the left one). I have not attempted to clean them as the filters etc threaten to fall off when handled. They are now safely in a display cabinet in the Rabaul museum.
They were found in the remains of wooden boxes, with their telescopes missing, deliberately buried under an old German tramline (1910-1914). It can be imagined that if you wanted to bury something, but be able to find it again later, putting it under a tramline would be a good idea (i.e. under fifth tie from junction etc.)
At Rabaul Imperial Powers have been in the situation of suffering imminent defeat and thus rushing to destroy or hid useful items three times - Germans 1914, Australians 1942 and Japanese 1945.
From the general pattern does anyone have any idea which? The fact that the left one has a non-martial heart design as part of its lattice work would point to it not being an official issue.
They were found in the remains of wooden boxes, with their telescopes missing, deliberately buried under an old German tramline (1910-1914). It can be imagined that if you wanted to bury something, but be able to find it again later, putting it under a tramline would be a good idea (i.e. under fifth tie from junction etc.)
At Rabaul Imperial Powers have been in the situation of suffering imminent defeat and thus rushing to destroy or hid useful items three times - Germans 1914, Australians 1942 and Japanese 1945.
From the general pattern does anyone have any idea which? The fact that the left one has a non-martial heart design as part of its lattice work would point to it not being an official issue.
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