I got this helmet about 35 years ago. I had known that it was in town and was in an attic but the homeowner whose nickname was "Peachy" was unwilling to look for it. When the old guy died, I asked the family if they could find it. They did but then did not want to sell it but showed it to me. Several years later the mans son, the soldier who had sent it to, was in my business and I offered to trade him a used riding lawnmower for it. He agreed and I made the trade. Several days later he brought me a letter that he had gotten as a boy describing how it was being sent to him in the mail. That made it even more interesting. I have never posted this helmet on a forum.
It turns out I also knew the soldier who sent it home. I talked to him and said he picked it up at the end of the war. I also got a few items from him too. The Iron Cross second class. When he first told me about the metal,he described taking it off a German prisoner and he made a motion like he was taking it off of the throat of the German! I got real excited and thought maybe it was a Knights Cross. I was disappointed it was not but he did sell it to me. It is marked with the maker mark 24 on the suspension ring. I added the ribbon later, he did not have the original ribbon. I have read some KC winners did wear a second class EK2 around their neck. I can only hope.
I also got a lot of nice photos from him, the cool little V-mail letter and the faucet knob off the troop ship Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary when he shipped home. He thought it was funny it said hot salt and took the knob as a souvineer.
It turns out I also knew the soldier who sent it home. I talked to him and said he picked it up at the end of the war. I also got a few items from him too. The Iron Cross second class. When he first told me about the metal,he described taking it off a German prisoner and he made a motion like he was taking it off of the throat of the German! I got real excited and thought maybe it was a Knights Cross. I was disappointed it was not but he did sell it to me. It is marked with the maker mark 24 on the suspension ring. I added the ribbon later, he did not have the original ribbon. I have read some KC winners did wear a second class EK2 around their neck. I can only hope.
I also got a lot of nice photos from him, the cool little V-mail letter and the faucet knob off the troop ship Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary when he shipped home. He thought it was funny it said hot salt and took the knob as a souvineer.
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