Some help with a translation

[John Brandon]

Can anyone shed any light on what this says please? The pictures are not mine so I make apologies for the quality
Thanks

[stakeside]

JOHN BRANDON....this dedication starts with 01 December 1933 and ends with 31 December 1942.

I am impressed that the free hand engraving is bold and flows with little hesitation, a sign of skill and experience. There are many abbreviations showing familiarity with the subject matter. However the script is almost hieroglyphic. The unusual amount of inflections above many words suggests a French influence even though the language is German. I would like to translate the first name as ERNST, but I cannot justify the "E".

[HPL2008]

I am impressed that the free hand engraving is bold and flows with little hesitation, a sign of skill and experience. There are many abbreviations showing familiarity with the subject matter. However the script is almost hieroglyphic. The unusual amount of inflections above many words suggests a French influence even though the language is German. I would like to translate the first name as ERNST, but I cannot justify the "E".

Nothing French there, really. There are some Umlauts and some of the little marks above the letter "u" that serve to tell it apart from the letter "n". The engraving was indeed done with skill and precision, making the Sütterlin script quite clear and well legible. It says:

"1. Dez. [= Dezember] 1933.

Kameradschaftliche Zusammenarbeit
baute das R.A.D. Meldeamt 108
auf u. [= und] vereinte uns bis heute!

Schwäb. [= Schwäbisch] Gmünd, d. [= den] 31. Dez. [= Dezember] 1942

Ernst Bauer
Arbeitsführer, Major a.D. [= außer Dienst]"

...meaning:

"1st December 1933.

Comradely cooperation
built the R.A.D. Registration Office 108
and has united us to this day!

Schwäbisch Gmünd, 31st December 1942

Ernst Bauer,
Arbeitsführer, Major [ret.]"

[John Brandon]

Wow.....such skill. A trait I sadly have not got. I am forever indebted to you ....... I suppose it's easy when you know the answer. I am
Soooo impressed... Thanks again