Well day 7 is looking a bit grim. Got to be honest its a rainy and grey day today. Don't feel like going outside, So I'm gonna do an indoor post today.
Not sure where the hell to post it, but I got a brain , that's all the rules ask for so Ill try the POB this time.
As I keep mentioning my day job is I'm an Antiques dealer, at least that's what puts the food on the table. So I figured time to offer some proof.
Now, hold on, I know what your thinking, he's gonna show me some ebay listings and go from there.
Nope.
Maybe you Might be asking these questions-
Is this a spiel for the giveaway you keep banging on about at the end of each post? Have I been roped in?
Nah nothing like It.
Today Imma talk about the Great War. You know 14-18, World War 1.
Its a topic I'm personally very interested in, and I have a fascination with the time period, military conditions and the social aspects surrounding the event.
Now I got into collecting artefacts from WW1 because I had a buddy who was a collector. Stupid reason yes, but infinitely helpful as I became a collector because I had someone to give me advice.
Today I'm going to do a small tour of that collection. Im only getting one of the boxes out, but even so, I gotta lot to get through. So I will try to keep descriptions shortish.
These are some of the Medals and Dog Tags I've accumulated over time. A small selection including some of the more common medals, Most of which I have duplicates of.
Now onto the Great propaganda machine!
Some French Bulletins and a Requisition Order.
Would you prefer some American propoganda?
No? Then how about British?
I have letters and documents, post cards, Posters and various diaries. Lots of Paper that sadly if arent kept safe would just end up as dust.
Heres whats in this box in the way of Trench art, and a few select oddities. Egg cups, A Tobacco jar, Vases, Lighters.
All things made by the soldiers to ease the days upon days of Boredom and tension in the trenches. Usually fabricated with bullet and shell casings, shrapnel and various things that they could find.
Here's a nice selection of badges and medals from Various Regiments, Fundraisers and Civil services as well as medals for the Emprunt Nationales in France, Can you believe they sold badges and medals to finance a National Loan To keep the war going?
How cool is that, wish we got fancy medals when the Tax men bend us over. Might take the sting out.
These 4 are some of my favourite kind of Trench Craft, Highly personal items made and sent back home to loved ones, Usually made from aluminum and etched by hand with a message or initials to a loved one back home. They are always tiny, and always have a unique feel.
That picture here is another of my favourites, Its my wife's great Grandmother at the Childrens peace Carnival in Oakdale Road London. Just a few days after the war was declared over.
Interestingly these Extravagant parties funded by the government sparked the Luton Riots in 1919, When poor Servicemen who couldn't feed their familys or get work struck out in violent protest. I think I agree with em, that those public funds would have better served looking after the men who made it happen.
For instance I got the only known complete French battlefield cross. It was planted where this poor guy fell.
So No while I don't generally collect grave markers I actually got this on accident. I was at a local brocante and this was completely black, You couldn't see anything aside from that it was a cross.
A dog peed on it at the base and I felt that it was disrespectful, While I don't have much religion I do respect other peoples beliefs. So I bought it, took it home and left it in the garden. A few days later it rained and look at what appears.
So I carefully cleaned it up, did my research, offered it to the community that he was from, etc. Strangely no one wanted it and the museums I contacted said it would not be displayed but locked up in a vault.
Get this, with paid entry.
So I said Fuck you and kept it.
Died of Infection and flu before he could get home.
That above is the poor lads death certificate, 19 years old. as usual there's a discrepancy between the dates marked on the cross and his paperwork. At the time they were recorded by handwritten dispatches so lots of errors were made.
8s became 4s, Even whole names changed and soldiers were declared dead that had clearly survived.
So yeah, that's a quick tour of a collection I have, and a passion that I believe I will have until my dying day.
Someday I want to open a freely accessible Museum of my own, and digitize some of the diaries and images for posterity.
Those soldiers and their lives are now History, The last Surviving servicemen and women died nearly 10 years ago. The war itself is well and truly history.
But History cannot be forgotten.
So here's raising a glass to those that fell and those that carried on to tell the tale.
Lest they be Forgotten.
All photos taken on my chinesium Xiaomi Mi 11 lite except the death certificate, its cut and paste from national records.
That's day 7 now, 1 week down 3 to go.
I decided I'm going to have a bit of fun on this 30 posts in 30 days. I'm going to do a post 31, and a giveaway on the 31st post, cause some months have 31 days or so I've been told.
In spite of my rough and ready appearance I'm an Antique dealer I know I already said it.
So it'll probably be old shit in your mailbox.
Stay tuned and engage down below . For every post from day 1 if you comment on it you will get one entry and a chance to win.
Then at the end of the 30 posts, on day 31 There will be a random raffle you will get a chance to win....
Really cool old shit.