WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century
A Good & Sound 1889 Pattern Imperial German WW1 Officers Sword With Prussian Eagle Hilt. Double Fullered Blade and Bright Polished Steel Combat Scabbard
Double fullered straight blade, and all bright steel combat scabbard. Overall in nice condition with field service stitched leather covered grip. With Prussian ordnance stamp at ricasso of the blade..
The Infantry Officer Degen 89 has a fixed, decorative, semi-basket guard, whereas private purchase version often had folding guards. The guard contains a Prussian Eagle.
Many of these swords were also used in the 3rd Reich by veteran officers serving in WW2. Numerous Vintage photographs of WW2 German Officers show them wearing this pattern of sword.
Prussians were the dominant force in the new state of Germany, but it was their King, Kaiser Wilhelm II, an impetuous, impatient man, who effectively globalised the First World War (by joining the Austrian declaration of war on Serbia after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand) because he thought the English and French were seeking his annihilation. That was the beginning of the end for Prussia; the Kaiser abdicated at the end of the war, and the Prussian state was abolished by the Nazis.
So while there’s no place called Prussia any more, the word ‘Prussian’ is still out there in general useage, but has become more generic, used to describe someone good at giving and obeying orders, being punctual, proper, disciplined, punctual, and honest. As well as rather blinkered, inflexible and unimaginative. read more
395.00 GBP
A Very Good German WW2 Heer (Army) Officer's Dagger and Portopee .WKC (Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co.) One of the Most Famous and Historic Blade Manufacturers From Solingen, Germany,
An exceptional early 1936 army officers dagger by renown maker WKC
This is a textbook example of this early type of officers dagger by maker WKC With a 90-plus year old matching patina. The grip is a beautiful deluxe amber pumpkin colour with zero chipping or cracking. The cross guard is very good, as is the pommel. The edges are crisp while the surfaces remain smooth. The blade is well marked. It is relatively bright throughout. The early scabbard is the finely-detailed type with hand detailed beveled bands. The scabbard is perfectly straight with some slight aging marks along its length, exhibits nice bright finish small edges of dark patina. With good hanging rings with matching tone. Additionally with an original tied knot, aluminium wire portopee, in fine condition. This piece is overall in fine condition for age. A local acquisition and has remained untouched.
The army dagger was designed by Paul Casburg and was allowed as a side arm option in place of the Army sword in 1935.
The grip came in white, yellow or orange and had a carved groove format, running clockwise, on the grip. One type is the Amber glass grip that is twice as heavy as real amber Early grips are found being a solid plastic material, by 1939 the grips changed to being plaster filled and wood base with a plastic coating.
The very early cross guard and pommel were made from brass with a thick 4 microns of silver plating. Later issued fittings range from nickel based to an alloy plated with 1-2 microns of silver, as well as nickel plating. The last daggers made had a dull gray oxide finish. It should be noted that early daggers were finished with a dark burnishing in the reassess of the fittings, that was to make the dagger look like an antique.
Cast onto the cross guard was an eagle with wings wide open holding an oak leaf wreath in its talons. At the centre of the wreath was a swastika. The pommel had a ring of oak leaves rising vertically from the grip to the pommel top, with the pommel screwed onto the blade tang to secure the grip, cross guard and blade. On early daggers there was a clear lacquer applied over the fittings.
The blade had no motto or engraving as standard. Many blades were cross-grained polished, but it is usually lost over the decades. Etching as well etched presentations, or applied presentation Damascus or just plain damast blades were available at extra cost. Its rare to find real damast blades with a trademark on them as this cost the buyer extra to have this applied.
Early Army dagger’s had a brass based scabbard, that after 1936 went to a steel based scabbard that was covered in a simple "pebble dash" finish. Again the very early brass based had 4 microns of silver plating where as the later were reduced to 1-2 microns of silver finish as well as the nickel finish and late issues with the gray oxide finish. Pressure fitted to the scabbard were two hanger suspension rings with oak leaf patterns onto which the hanger was clipped. The early daggers had a clear lacquer applied over the finish.
Two hanger straps, Silver coloured face with field grey velvet backs were used. The fittings range from base material of silver-plated brass to a natural aluminium finish.
The army dagger ceased production in 1943 read more
695.00 GBP
A Very Attractive, Original, British, Regulation Royal Naval Officers Sword, Post 1953 Pattern, Used in The Falklands War The South Atlantic Campaign. Made By Gieves Of Saville Row, London
Made by Gieves of Saville Row London. Almost all the original gilt remains to the hilt, sharkskin grip multiwire bound. Brass mounted leather scabbard overall in very nice order. the blade is maker marked Gieves, with ERII cypher of the late wellbeloved Queen Elizabeth IInd.
A good and sound light grade Royal Naval officer's sword.
Gieves Ltd was one of Britain’s most prestigious naval and military outfitters, established in the late 18th century and closely associated with the Royal Navy. Operating from key naval centres including London, Portsmouth and Devonport, the firm supplied uniforms, swords and equipment to generations of naval officers. Like many high-end outfitters, Gieves commonly retailed swords manufactured by specialist blade makers, applying their own etched retailer panels to private-purchase officer swords ordered to individual specification. Pieces bearing the Gieves name are therefore strongly associated with officer-quality dress equipment and remain highly regarded today.
The Fleet: The British force assembled 44 warships, 22 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, and 45 merchant ships.Key Ships: Core air support relied on the aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible.
Air and Sea Control: The primary strategy focused on securing total maritime and air dominance before attempting major troop landings.
Amphibious Landings: Troops went ashore at San Carlos Water on East Falkland on 21 May 1982, an operation heavily supported and enabled by naval escorts.
Logistical Hurdles: The task force operated 8,000 miles from home bases without local air supremacy, exposing ships to heavy air attacks in confined coastal waters.
Aircraft Carriers HMS Hermes (The conflict's flagship) HMS Invincible
Aircraft Carriers:
HMS Hermes (Flagship) & HMS Invincible.
Landing Platform Docks (LPD):
HMS Fearless & Intrepid.
Type 82 Destroyer:
HMS Bristol.
Type 42 Destroyers:
HMS Sheffield, Glasgow, Coventry, Cardiff, Exeter.
County Class Destroyers:
HMS Glamorgan & Antrim.
Type 22 Frigates:
HMS Brilliant & Broadsword.
Type 21 Frigates:
HMS Acive, Alacrity, Ambuscade, Antelope, Ardent, Arrow & Avenger.
Leander Class Frigates:
HMS Argonaut, Penelope, Minerva & Andromeda.
Rothesay Class Frigates:
HMS Yarmouth & Plymouth.
Landing Ship Logistics:
RFA Sir Bedivere, Sir Galahad, Sir Geraint, Sir Percivale, Sir Tristram & Sir Lancelot.
The blade however has areas of old pitting throughout its length, thus it is priced accordingly. read more
495.00 GBP
A Most Rare Airship Parseval Tag 8 Postcard Booklet Set, Chemnitz, Dated 2nd October 1910. a Wonderful Piece of early Airship Aeronautica & Postal Service Ephemera
Parseval day 2nd October 1910, 8 postcard booklet erinnerung an den parseval-tag. Chemnitz
The Parsevals were 22 airships built between 1909 and 1919 by the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft (LFG) following the design of August von Parseval. In the 1920s and 1930s, three more airships were built following the Parseval-Naatz (PN) design.
As with the rival Zeppelins, the airships were, in both English and German, referred to by the name of the inventor. (In German, the nouns were masculine, that is, "der Parseval", "der Zeppelin".)
In contrast to the Zeppelins, the Parsevals were non-rigid or semi-rigid airships, with little or no stiffening structure inside the fabric envelope. The Zeppelins had a rigid internal framework made of duralumin. Both types relied on hydrogen gas to provide lift.
Original early Parseval airship postcards are very collectable indeed, and can fetch from £30 to £40 each, but a near complete book of 8 unused cards is really rare to find and a great aeronautical gem, plus with early air post connections read more
145.00 GBP
A Near Mint Regimental Officer's 1897 Pattern British Army Wilkinson Sword of the Royal Tank Regiment. Perfect For Current Service in The British Army, For A Future or Veteran Officer of The Royal Tank Regiment
Overall in superb condition after its return from hand cleaning and conservation in the artisan workshop. This finest sword was commissioned from Wilkinson Sword Co. in circa 1964. It features a straight stainless-steel blade etched with the regimental crest
The guard is a nickel-plated three-quarter basket hilt is pierced and etched with a scroll pattern
The grip is in black fish-skin bound with silver-plated copper wire. Can be carried in a Sam Browne with its black leather scabbard.
Wilkinson sword has always been regarded as Britains best bespoke swordmakers since the 19th century, and it certainly was in the 20th and 21st century until they closed down the bespoke sword workshop in September 2005. Without question a true, vintage, Wilkinson sword today is considered the best that money can buy.
The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world, being formed by the British Army in 1916 during the First World War. Today, it is an armoured regiment equipped with Challenger 2 main battle tanks and structured under 12th Armoured Brigade. Formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps, it is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.
The formation of the Royal Tank Regiment followed the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War. They were at first considered artillery, and crews received artillery pay. At that time the six tank companies were grouped as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions (still identified by the letters A to H) and designated the Heavy Branch MGC; another seven battalions, I to O, were formed by January 1918, when all the battalions were changed to numbered units. On 28 July 1917, the Heavy Branch was separated from the rest of the Corps by Royal Warrant and given official status as the Tank Corps. The formation of new battalions continued and, by December 1918, 26 had been created though only 25 battalions were equipped with tanks, as the 17th had converted to armoured cars in April 1918. The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles. The Corps saw much action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917
The service period of this sword; In September 1964 the Regiment replaced the QRIH as the Far East Recce Regiment. 4 RTR (-) was at Paroi Camp, Seremban in Malaya, B Sqn had a half Sqn in Singapore and a half Sqn in Brunei, A and C Sqns rotated every six months between Seremban and Sarawak.
It was the time known as “Confrontation” in which Indonesia sought to annex Eastern Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah) and Brunei from Kalimantan, and disrupt the Malaysian mainland by infiltration across the Straits of Malacca.
Initially
The Seremban Sqn was under command 28 Commonwealth Brigade based at Terendak. Tps were involved in coast patrols and follow-up operations when insurgents came ashore as for example sixty did at Molimau close to the Malacca/Jahore Border.
The Singapore Sqn worked for both Singapore District and 48 Gurkha Bde in Brunei.
The Sarawak Sqn was under command 99 Gurkha Bde (West Bde) based at Kuching with Tps at Sungei Tennang, Bau, Serian and in sp of 1/10 Gurkhas on border operations.
In 1965, the Cyclops squadron became an essential component of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup. Throughout the Cold War, it was frequently deployed on operations, including missions in Radfan, north of Aden in 1966, Cyprus in 1974, and multiple tours in Northern Ireland. read more
745.00 GBP
A Large Original Recovered Piece of a WW2 German Crashed Bomber's Alloy Wing Top Panel
Taken from a crashed German bomber, with original wing-top paint. Numerous rivet holes and rivet heads present. Typical german wing-top paint for a bomber aircraft. There is a partial printed word on the underside and with dilligent research it should be traceable to a specific bomber type.
Over the years we have had some amazing aeronautical archeological finds, and most have been identified by their approved, and gov. registered recoverers, yet this fine piece was placed in storage, and it’s plane I’d was mislaid, so the research for it has to start again if it is needed, but the price reflects that, and it may well reveal wonderful results.
14.75 inches x 22.0 inches. Just over 3.5 pounds weight. read more
395.00 GBP
Original German WWII 15cm Nebelwerfer 41 Inert Rocket. Original, WW2 German Third Reich 'Nebelwerfer 41' Un-Fired or Failed Detonation Rocket. D-Day 'Operation Overlord' Vintage
The German designation Nebelwerfer, (Smoke Launcher), was actually a camouflage term used to hide the development of rocket launchers which had been banned as a result of the Treaty of Versailles following the end of WWI. Under the camouflage term German armament firms continued development of rocket launchers which fired smoke or high explosive shells in direct violation of the Treaty. In 1941 the 15cm Nebelwerfer 41 was introduced and it would be come the standard weapon utilized by the Nebeltruppen. The Nebelwerfer 41 consisted of six firing tubes mounted on a two wheeled split trail carriage. The 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 (15 cm NbW 41) was a German multiple rocket launcher used in the Second World War. It served with units of the Nebeltruppen, German Chemical Corps units that had the responsibility for poison gas and smoke weapons that were also used to deliver high-explosives during the war. The name Nebelwerfer is best translated as "smoke mortar". Allied troops nicknamed it Screaming Mimi and Moaning Minnie due to its distinctive sound.
Rocket development had begun during the 1920s and reached fruition in the late thirties. This offered the opportunity for the Nebeltruppen to deliver large quantities of poison gas or smoke simultaneously. The first weapon to be delivered to the troops was the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 in 1940, after the Battle of France, a purpose-designed rocket with gas, smoke and high-explosive warheads. It, like virtually all German rocket designs, was spin-stabilized to increase accuracy. One very unusual feature was that the rocket motor was in the front, the exhaust venturi being about two-thirds down the body from the nose, with the intent to optimize the blast effect of the rocket as the warhead would still be above the ground when it detonated. This proved to greatly complicate manufacture for not much extra effect and it was not copied on later rocket designs. It was fired from a six-tube launcher mounted on a towed carriage adapted from that used by the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and had a range of 6,900 meters (7,500 yd). Almost five and a half million 15 cm rockets and 6,000 launchers were manufactured over the course of the war.
Inert rocket example is dated 1944 and bears the manufacturer code emh. Round is approximately 37" tall constructed in steel with three main sections which can be taken apart with its inner workings present and waffenamt stamped. Overall condition is excellent with areas of minor pitting.
The Nebelwerfer 41, is unlimbered and placed in position by its crew of four men. As soon as the protective coverings have been removed, the projector is ready to be aimed and loaded. The ammunition is attached to the right and to the left of the projector, within easy reach, and the shells are introduced two at a time, beginning with the lower barrels and continuing upward. Meanwhile, foxholes deep enough to conceal a man in standing position have been dug about 10 to 15 yards to the side and rear of the projector. The gunners remain in these foxholes while the weapon is being fired by electrical ignition. Within 10 seconds a battery can fire 36 projectiles. These make a droning pipe-organ sound as they leave the barrels, and, while in flight, leave a trail of smoke. After a salvo has been fired, the crew quickly returns to its projectors and reloads them. Only its original empty steel shell casing and parts, no propellant, no ingnition system, thus completely safe in all regards.
No restrictions to ownership or personal display, but only for sale to over 18's. Generic photos from our stock
Not suitable to Export. UK mainland delivery only. 38 inches long approx.
Copy and paste for original film of Nebelwefer in use on youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSTMYGEyaM
A similar example can be found at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as seen at this link; Rocket, Surface-to-Surface, Nebelwerfer 15cm Wgr. 41 Spr. read more
895.00 GBP
A Superb & Early Kriegsmarine High Seas Fleet Badge by Adolf Bock Ausf Schwerin, Berlin {Flottenkriegsabzeichen} From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit
From an Interesting historical Collection Of Original German Third Reich Luftwaffe & Kriegsmarine Combat Badges & Awards & An SS & Army Buckle, Collected During WW2 By A 30 Commando British Bomb Disposal Officer. Untouched Since 1945, & Stored As Is For 80 Years. These ‘Red Indians’ commandos were mentioned twice in Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, as an ‘honourable mention’ to Fleming’s secret service in Naval Intelligence in WW2.
Bomb disposal sections of special engineering units {Fleming’s so called ‘Red Indians} in wartime Europe were a vital part of clandestine warfare, and all parts of the units combat service were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, bomb disposal, and combined with recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment for intelligence gathering. Reporting all elements of their findings back to CoCO, and by them to the Admiralty. Fleming referred to such brave men as his ‘Red Indians’. see Casino Royale for reference.
KRIEGSMARINE HIGH SEAS FLEET BADGE BY ADOLF BOCK AUSF SCHWERIN BERLIN
A nice early Kriegsmarine High Seas Fleet Badge by Adolf Bock Ausf Schwerin, Berlin (Flottenkriegsabzeichen) constructed in tombac. The obverse of the badge has a nice gilt finish and patina with sharp detail. The reverse of the decoration has t
The maker’s mark “FEC. ADOLF BOCK AUSF. SCHWERIN BERLIN” complete with a vertical block hinge and flat wire catch. The badge has no damage or repairs in very good condition by desirable maker.
The design was created by the well known artist Adolf Bock of Berlin and the design was approved and adopted in 1941 by the then Grand Admiral Raeder, Commander in Chief of the German Navy. Although the award was instituted in 1941, awards could be rendered in retrospect of service from the beginning of World War II.
The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time! (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.
Also Known as: Fleming's 'Red Indians'
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39, see photo in the gallery of Fleming in room 39 of the Admiralty) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.
30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
As the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe..
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe.
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’.
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21; 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde.
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW
Photos in the gallery of;
Fleming in his wartime office, Room 39 of the Admiralty, Whitehall.
Admiral Otto Ciliax
Generaladmiral Oskar Kummetz
Fregattenkapitän Ernst Dominik
All the above Kriegsmarine officers are wearing the High Seas Fleet Badge. read more
995.00 GBP
WW2 Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge The Destroyer Badge (German: Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen)From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit
Badge By Friedrich Orth, It was a World War II German military decoration awarded to officers and crew for service on Kriegsmarine destroyers. It was instituted on 4 June 1940 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder following the battle of Narvik. It was also awarded to the crews of torpedo boats and fast attack craft until the institution of the Fast Attack Craft War Badge.
The medal, designed by Paul Carsberg of Berlin, consists of an outer oakleaf laurel wreath of oak leaves with the national emblem of eagle clutching a swastika at its apex. The central area features a side-view of a destroyer cutting through a wave
A highly desirable original collectors item, uncleaned unpolished, kept just as is, untouched and unmolested for the past 80 years
Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.
The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 {30AU} Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified, see Reading. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time!(6) (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.
Also Known as:
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.
30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
s the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (10) (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe. (2) (see Reading section).
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe. (see Reading for details)
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’. (1)
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21 & 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (1)(All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde. (1)
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW read more
420.00 GBP
WW2 Luftwaffe Combat Bomber Clasp (Frontflugspange für Kampf- und Sturzkampfflieger in Gold)From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineering Unit. Collected During A Clandestine Recon Mission
(Frontflugspange für Kampf- und Sturzkampfflieger in Gold). Constructed of gilded zinc, for 110 missions, the obverse consisting of a central circular laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a swastika, surrounding a central winged bomb executed in silvered tombak, flanked on each side by nine oak leaves, the reverse with a single visible rivet securing the bomb in position, with a crimped barrel hinge and tapering horizontal pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from a crimped base, maker marked with the maker mark and address of Richard Simm & Söhne, Gablonz,
The Front Flying Clasp was instituted on January 30, 1941, by Hermann Göring.
It was awarded to recognize the bravery and service of Luftwaffe aircrew, heavy, or medium fighters and dive bombers, during World War II.
The Bomber Clasp specifically recognized the achievements of pilots and crew flying bomber aircraft.
The Front Flight Clasp was awarded in bronze for 20 front-line flights, in silver for 60 front-line flights, and in gold for 110 front-line flights . Upon awarding a higher rank, the previously worn clasp had to be removed. The award was worn on the left breast pocket, directly above the medal bar .
A highly desirable original collectors item, uncleaned unpolished, kept just as is, untouched and unmolested for the past 80 years
Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.
The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 {30AU} Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified, see Reading. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time!(6) (see Beau Bête)
Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.
Also Known as:
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.
30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.
s the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (10) (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe. (2) (see Reading section).
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe. (see Reading for details)
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’. (1)
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21 & 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (1)(All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde. (1)
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Every single item from The Lanes Armoury, Britain's most famous, favourite, and oldest original Armoury Antique store, is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, and thus, it is a lifetime guarantee.
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW read more
650.00 GBP










