Norman D. Landing

[General Apathy]

From the Shoebox,  it's been a while . . . . . . . . . 

 

Individual Dressing Packet U.S. Army WW1 . . . . . . . . . . .

 

These are my earliest non-metallic bandage packets, The ten-pack carton is dated July 26 1917, the individual bandage is wrapped in rubberised cotton and dated Aug 27th 1918.

 

If anyone has further information on these styles or patterns please add it to the thread, thanks.

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 02  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[General Apathy]

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Saturday evening at the Carentan wartime cafe' . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Last night a crowd of us went to the wartime style cafe' in Carentan for the evening, we arrived at opening time as it is generally a crush to get in, it's run by a collector and his wife and only open one evening a month. There is available if ordered a wartime style meal of sausage, boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes, or it is possible to just sit and order drinks which we did. I took these three shots to show the surroundings before it became too crowded to see the displays.

 

There is a display of American uniform, equipment and mannequins in a half loft at one end of the building.  

 

 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[General Apathy]

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Sunday morning visit to the Overlord museum at Omaha beach . . . . . . .

 

as we have had quite bad storms and winds for the last few days it wouldn't be much fun driving out in the Jeeps for our usual Sunday morning coffee so I suggested to Mike that we visit the Overlord museum, which we did. This is the museum that Johan mentioned last week with his image of a wartime canvas top for a Jeep, it continually adds new items and displays so I thought it would be good to see what had been done since the last visit. 

 

I'm sorry I didn't have time to record all the details of the displays so it is a photographic display in this and the following two posts. However I will add that the first photo is a recovered ' chimney ' surf vent off the rear of a Sherman tank

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[General Apathy]

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More photo's from the Overlord museum . . . . .

 

I found some of the floodlights unnaturally too bright and would possibly look a little better with more diffused lighting . . . . . . . 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[General Apathy]

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The last of today's Overlord museum photographs . . . . . . . . . . 

 

hope everyone enjoyed the last three posts . . . . . what I have shown doesn't even scratch the surface of the wealth of uniforms, equipment, mannequins, displays, diorama's to be seen.

 

 If you get to Normandy it's a museum well worth visiting, the Overlord Museum. 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[General Apathy]

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Friday 1st of October was the funeral of my longterm friend and forum member Ian Phillips ( Sabrejet )

 

just a couple of weeks before Ian died he visited the Spitfire experience at the wartime Biggin Hill aerodrome  These are the last photos I received from Ian, I miss our daily emails and discussions. 

 

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When we arrive that becomes the sunrise of our lives,
when we depart that is the sunset of our lives,
but it’s the love and happy memories shared between
that linger forever . . . . . . . . . Thanks Ian
 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[mikie]

2 hours ago, General Apathy said:

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The last of today's Overlord museum photographs . . . . . . . . . . 

 

hope everyone enjoyed the last three posts . . . . . what I have shown doesn't even scratch the surface of the wealth of uniforms, equipment, mannequins, displays, diorama's to be seen.

 

 If you get to Normandy it's a museum well worth visiting, the Overlord Museum. 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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The silver lining of the storm clouds there is that we get to see pictures of your visit. It's pretty overwhelming just looking at your photos. I don't know if I could process it all in one go. Do they have an aid station to treat visitors suffering from OD overdose?I

MIKIE

[cutiger83]

23 hours ago, General Apathy said:

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Saturday evening at the Carentan wartime cafe' . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Last night a crowd of us went to the wartime style cafe' in Carentan for the evening, we arrived at opening time as it is generally a crush to get in, it's run by a collector and his wife and only open one evening a month. There is available if ordered a wartime style meal of sausage, boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes, or it is possible to just sit and order drinks which we did. I took these three shots to show the surroundings before it became too crowded to see the displays.

 

There is a display of American uniform, equipment and mannequins in a half loft at one end of the building.  

 

 

 

. 

 

.

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

Ken,

 

This looks like a great place to have a drink with friends. Is there a reason why they are only open on me day a month?  That seems very unusual.

 

...Kat

[cutiger83]

22 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

The last of today's Overlord museum photographs . . . . . . . . . . 

 

hope everyone enjoyed the last three posts . . . . . what I have shown doesn't even scratch the surface of the wealth of uniforms, equipment, mannequins, displays, diorama's to be seen.

 

 If you get to Normandy it's a museum well worth visiting, the Overlord Museum. 

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

Ken,

 

I agree with Mikie! There is so much to see. I am going to have to digest these pictures over a few days. So much to see. One thing that popped out at me was the truck filled with gas cans.  I could see you doing something like that with yours.

 

...Kat

[cutiger83]

22 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

Friday 1st of October was the funeral of my longterm friend and forum member Ian Phillips ( Sabrejet )

 

just a couple of weeks before Ian died he visited the Spitfire experience at the wartime Biggin Hill aerodrome  These are the last photos I received from Ian, I miss our daily emails and discussions. 

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

 

When we arrive that becomes the sunrise of our lives,
when we depart that is the sunset of our lives,
but it’s the love and happy memories shared between
that linger forever . . . . . . . . . Thanks Ian
 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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Ken,

 

I am sure you do miss your daily chats. So sorry for the loss of a great friend.

 

...Kat

[General Apathy]

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A pretty strange Then & Now comparison for 1942 - 2021 . . . . . . . . . .

 

In the supermarket the other day I spotted several cartons of BBQ starter liquid with this symbol on the side of the cartons, it’s almost a rip-off of the 36th SS unit insignia of WWII, strange to see on supermarket cartons in 2021...................... perhaps I should get out more !!!!!!!!!

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 05  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

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[manayunkman]

It’s a sign of the times.

 

Like everyone wearing skulls.

 

My father used to say the last time he saw so many skulls on clothing the Nazis were in town.

[BEAST]

On 10/3/2021 at 11:14 AM, General Apathy said:

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Friday 1st of October was the funeral of my longterm friend and forum member Ian Phillips ( Sabrejet )

 

just a couple of weeks before Ian died he visited the Spitfire experience at the wartime Biggin Hill aerodrome  These are the last photos I received from Ian, I miss our daily emails and discussions. 

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

 

When we arrive that becomes the sunrise of our lives,
when we depart that is the sunset of our lives,
but it’s the love and happy memories shared between
that linger forever . . . . . . . . . Thanks Ian
 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

Nice tribute Ken.  The passing of Sabrejet really stinks as he was such engaging fellow. 

[earlymb]

On 10/3/2021 at 4:46 PM, General Apathy said:

The last of today's Overlord museum photographs . . . . . . . . . . 

 

hope everyone enjoyed the last three posts . . . . . what I have shown doesn't even scratch the surface of the wealth of uniforms, equipment, mannequins, displays, diorama's to be seen.

 

 If you get to Normandy it's a museum well worth visiting, the Overlord Museum.

 

I first visited this museum when it was still at that old cheese factory in Falaise, a dilapidated old building with broken windows, paint peeling etc but what a collection inside... The man who collected it all since the late 1940's (now deceased) was there too.

 

Btw Ken, did you notice the wooden guns painted black that are used on mannequins in the background of some diorama's? :)

[General Apathy]

On 10/4/2021 at 3:42 PM, cutiger83 said:

Ken,

 

I am sure you do miss your daily chats. So sorry for the loss of a great friend.

 

...Kat

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Hi Kat,

 

thanks, yesterday I sat and watched the on-line video of Ian's funeral service and eulogy, here's a couple of images I screen captured, it was a very emotional service and well attended. Today is a month to the day that Ian passed away. 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

 

[General Apathy]

21 hours ago, manayunkman said:

It’s a sign of the times.

 

Like everyone wearing skulls.

 

My father used to say the last time he saw so many skulls on clothing the Nazis were in town.

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Hi Piet,

 

It amazes me how many pretty young women have scull tattoo's on their bodies, especially highly visible on their chests. 

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

 

[General Apathy]

20 hours ago, BEAST said:

Nice tribute Ken.  The passing of Sabrejet really stinks as he was such engaging fellow. 

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Hi Erick,

 

As I said a few posts above I sat yesterday and watched the emotional video of Ian's funeral, Ian's wife Sian paid me a great compliment that my memories of Ian were included in the Eulogy spoken by her son Tom, at the end of the eulogy my simple poem was read out.

 

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.

 

When we arrive that becomes the sunrise of our lives,
when we depart that is the sunset of our lives,
but it’s the love and happy memories shared between
that linger forever . . . . . . . . . Thanks Ian
 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

[General Apathy]

1 hour ago, earlymb said:

 

I first visited this museum when it was still at that old cheese factory in Falaise, a dilapidated old building with broken windows, paint peeling etc but what a collection inside... The man who collected it all since the late 1940's (now deceased) was there too.

 

Btw Ken, did you notice the wooden guns painted black that are used on mannequins in the background of some diorama's? :)

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Hi earlymb,

 

yes it originated in the Falaise Cheese factory from a private collection of uniforms, equipment, vehicles gathered together locally in the years after the Falaise gap battle, sadly few tourists make visits to the Falaise area compared to the beaches.  

 

I did notice the wooden guns used in the small diorama of resistance fighters, but I overlooked that and looked at the overall quality of the equipment and displays . . . . . . . I know for a fact that the museum purchased more artefacts at an auction last week to add to the museum displays. 

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

[General Apathy]

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Then & Now comparison of Normandy, Vire, Poste Office . . . . . . 

 

About four years ago I found a slab of granite in a granite yard near Vire that the owner said his father had recovered after the bombing of Vire and as a stonemason being involved in the restoration of the town centre.  The granite slab came from the ' Telegrams - Postes - Telephones ' building in Vire, and since then I have been trying to locate an image of the building and the signage. This image I received today may well be the very building that the granite slab came from after it's destruction, possibly seen on the upper frontage towards the roof, sadly the angle of the photograph doesn't allow the actual wording to be read. 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

[mikie]

On 10/3/2021 at 7:21 AM, General Apathy said:

.

Saturday evening at the Carentan wartime cafe' . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Last night a crowd of us went to the wartime style cafe' in Carentan for the evening, we arrived at opening time as it is generally a crush to get in, it's run by a collector and his wife and only open one evening a month. There is available if ordered a wartime style meal of sausage, boiled cabbage and boiled potatoes, or it is possible to just sit and order drinks which we did. I took these three shots to show the surroundings before it became too crowded to see the displays.

 

There is a display of American uniform, equipment and mannequins in a half loft at one end of the building.  

 

 

 

. 

 

.

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 03  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

Looks like a great place.  Have you tried the wartime meal? Hopefully the sausage isn't actual wartime vintage.  I'm sure it's fine for the experience, to try but probably not something to have all the time.

 

Mikie  

[mikie]

8 hours ago, General Apathy said:

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Then & Now comparison of Normandy, Vire, Poste Office . . . . . . 

 

About four years ago I found a slab of granite in a granite yard near Vire that the owner said his father had recovered after the bombing of Vire and as a stonemason being involved in the restoration of the town centre.  The granite slab came from the ' Telegrams - Postes - Telephones ' building in Vire, and since then I have been trying to locate an image of the building and the signage. This image I received today may well be the very building that the granite slab came from after it's destruction, possibly seen on the upper frontage towards the roof, sadly the angle of the photograph doesn't allow the actual wording to be read. 

 

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Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

Hope you locate a better vintage picture.  That would be awesome.  

Mikie

[mikie]

8 hours ago, General Apathy said:

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Hi Erick,

 

As I said a few posts above I sat yesterday and watched the emotional video of Ian's funeral, Ian's wife Sian paid me a great compliment that my memories of Ian were included in the Eulogy spoken by her son Tom, at the end of the eulogy my simple poem was read out.

 

.

 

.

 

When we arrive that becomes the sunrise of our lives,
when we depart that is the sunset of our lives,
but it’s the love and happy memories shared between
that linger forever . . . . . . . . . Thanks Ian
 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 06  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

Love, happy memories, and a smiling face, that is what life is really all about.  Looks like Ian nailed it.  Just wish it was for a longer time.  

 

Mikie

[mikie]

Running out of space and putting a kid through college without getting a loan, I made my criteria for buying anything new for the collections that it needs to be small, cheap and be of some kind of use.   I couldn't resist this 1905 RIA mess knife..  It's small and wasn't expensive.  A while back we had some fun here about Brussel sprouts.  So it's fitting that the first use I made of the knife was trimming some of the buggers.

 

Mikie

[General Apathy]

On 10/6/2021 at 9:56 PM, mikie said:

Looks like a great place.  Have you tried the wartime meal? Hopefully the sausage isn't actual wartime vintage.  I'm sure it's fine for the experience, to try but probably not something to have all the time.

 

Mikie  

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Hi Mikie,

 

Boiled sausage is not something I steer towards, it all looks enjoyable though for the people I see it served up to. 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 10  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.

 

[General Apathy]

On 10/6/2021 at 9:57 PM, mikie said:

Hope you locate a better vintage picture.  That would be awesome.  

Mikie

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Hi Mikie,

 

yes I certainly hope that I find better images of the post office,  I have asked a local friend who lives in Vire to ensure that the granite slab from the pre-war post office is donated to the town museum should I slip off the cracker before he does . . . . . . . . . .

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, October 10  2021.

 

" Life's too short for reproductions "

 

"  Life is like a tank of gas, the closer you get to a quarter tank, the faster it goes "

 

.