Show your WW2 Middle East souvenirs.

[ObKrieger]

Man, this thread really makes me wish that I had my great-grandfather's Turkish stuff.

[sunsetIE]

Sunset, it is quite possible that not all the items in his posession
were actually awarded or used by him. Vets might pick up
things from buddies, or from anywhere at any time.

I bought a USAAF Nurse's wing from a guy who had a collection
from a Canadian Army Medical Corps nurse. It did not really
'belong' to the group and it could have been given
to her by anyone.........

You make a good point, but all the medals i have are in his name, so they are legitimately his!

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Here’s a presentation clock made by a Polish soldier stationed in the Middle East during WW2. It is made from an AFV engine piston and an 8-day Elgin military clock set into a triangular pennon made from perspex. The pennon motif symbolizes Polish cavalry, the traditions of which were adopted by the Polish Armoured units in WW2. Black and orange are the Armoured Corps colours.

Engraved on the piston in Polish are the words: “(To our) Beloved Commander on His Name Day from the S.P. Armoured Brigade Corps - Palestine 2-11-1944”. The “S.P.” may be “Szkoła Podchorążych” which translates to Officer Cadet School. There was such an educational facility set up for the Polish armoured units here in 1943.

The side of the piston between the ring slots contain the names of nine Poles that presented this souvenir to their C.O.

Regards,
Tony

[Adrian Stevenson]

An item from my wife's collection can be seen here:

Cigarette case made by German POW for a British ATS girl

Cheers, Ade.

[Jerry B]

An item from my wife's collection can be seen here:

Cigarette case made by German POW for a British ATS girl

Cheers, Ade.

I commented on this previously, but such a good item deserves a 2nd look and another mention, very nice, a real treasure and something I would happily own.

Regards,

Jerry

[Jerry B]

Not sure if this really belongs in this thread, but I thought it would be OK. I have no idea when it was made, with no makers back stamp and it is in mint condition.

Regards,

Jerry

[AIF]

And just when I thought this thread had died....

Tony, Mate that clock is an absolutel work of art!! Does it still keep time? I can only imagine the time the soldier put into making it

Ade, that box is beautiful as well mate, It reminds me of a box my uncles father made when he was a POW, He was also a German, he was a fitter and turner by trade before the war. He hated being in the army and he escaped (deserted) with his friend from Stalingrad and headed west through the freezing snow and met up with a heap of other deserters and they hid out for a while and eventually made it by foot to the western side of Germany so they could surrender to either he Brits or Americans because they knew what would happen to them If the Russians got hold of them


Luke.

[Jerry B]

Got a pink one to go with the white one. A different design, but the same type.

[RH1941]

My friends dad brought this back. Open its about 22 inches long

[aussie mick]

Heres my only one.Not sure if its Trench Art or Souvenir.
Cheers Mick