An old Canadian Militaria Collection
- Thread starter Doug B
- Start date
Zebedeus
Well-known member
Dear Doug, your collection is a gold mine.
I really appreciated your vast collection of Canadian militaria. I was particularly struck by the World War I section. The total head gas mask is exceptional.
I must point out, however, that the photos already reveal a slight contamination with Imperial German objects.
Thanks for sharing.
Zeb
I really appreciated your vast collection of Canadian militaria. I was particularly struck by the World War I section. The total head gas mask is exceptional.
I must point out, however, that the photos already reveal a slight contamination with Imperial German objects.
Thanks for sharing.
Zeb
Peter B
Well-known member
Yet again amazing. I absolutely love the Airborne stuff. Right down to a Glider Pilot and the 1st Special Service Force uniform.
I served in the Airborne and my wife has a Second Cousin 3 x Removed who was in the OX and Bucks in Glider Number One in the assault on Pegasus Bridge. Unfortunately he was killed on June 10th.
You are definitely a master collector and have a great knack for displaying your stuff.
I served in the Airborne and my wife has a Second Cousin 3 x Removed who was in the OX and Bucks in Glider Number One in the assault on Pegasus Bridge. Unfortunately he was killed on June 10th.
You are definitely a master collector and have a great knack for displaying your stuff.
coert65
Well-known member
That Gas hood, is one of the first ones, they are extremely rare, apart from Doug's example, I only saw one other, in a bookshop in Ypres, it was in a frame, under glass. Like a painting, if you get what I mean. The first ones were extremely difficult, breathing throug that small tube.
Regards, Coert.
Doug B
Well-known member
Thanks Doug for taking the time to post your Canadian collection which was absolutely amazing.
Were you not tempted to keep some of the ultra rare items, like the “E9” badge or the tanker’s mask, hidden in a drawer somewhere?
Regards,
Lars
Your welcome Lars, I am glad you enjoyed it and it was a nice trip down memory lane for me as well!
The tankers mask was a gift to Tony and for the badges it would seem out of place to keep just one badge no matter how rare, so I thought the best place for it was to donate it to the Regimental Museum here in town. My daughter kept some personal items of soldiers like lockets which she really liked.
I did keep one piece, a framed set of medals to a Canadian soldier who was killed on Nov 11, 1918. I have visited his grave numerous times in France and have a haunting story to tell of the first time I visited his final resting place. When we moved last year, and I was now back into Imperial German, it just had no place and I did not want it sitting in a closet as I felt that was disrespectful, so it went to a fellow collector here in town who really wanted it.
Doug B
Well-known member
Thanks Zeb and indeed you have a keen eye!
Doug B
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words Peter, yeah the Airborne was fantastic and was fortunate to have several FSSF uniforms, all attributed with photos of the men wearing them. Sgt Mann was especially a fantastic piece. I do like the aesthetic element to the hobby almost as much as the items themselves and am always thinking of the next "display" I can make!
That is quite something to have a relative who landed at Pegasus! Sad he did not survive the war.
Doug B
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words, that display setup of the many battledress with their corresponding berets or officer soft caps was a lot of fun to put together. The hat stand is from a retail supply company here in town, each level moved individually of the rest so you could turn each level to see each helmet. I think it held a dozen helmets in total. Retail supply companies have a lot of amazing shelving and stands I have used over the years.
Doug B
Well-known member
Yes that gas hood is incredibly rare and was a tough negotiation to get that out of Vic's prized collection. The ensemble was meant to be staring at you as you entered into the room and was quite haunting! I know the bookstore you are referring to in Ypres, been to Ypres many many times over the years on various guided and self guided battlefield tours.