Chap15 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 I helped put together a staff ride to El Alamein for ARCENT/Third Army just after 9-11. I found a British/Australian helmet in the El Alamein train station. The station was abandoned. The ceiling had fallen. This helemt was up in the attic. I found this on the 59th anniversary of when the battle started. A JAG officer tried to charged me for a war trophy violation. I won, he lost. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
king802 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 That's a great find. I want to pay my respects at the El Alamein cemetary. It's one of the trips that are a must for me. Rich Collector of Fixed bail M1 Helmets https://m.facebook.com/M1Helmet/ "The dreams of Empire lure the hearts of Kings - and so men die" Burma, 1944 Link to post Share on other sites
Bugme Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Awesome Bob,I remember you mentioning this one to me before. Love it! "There is no such thing as an expert, only students with different levels of education." Link to post Share on other sites
walt323 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Nice find. Did they still have the little museum with all the destroyed armor sitting around outside? Link to post Share on other sites
Nic Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Very cool! "Sometimes the bravest meet death with their deeds known only to heaven." --S.L.A. Marshall Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 A remarkable find! Was it complete with its liner and chinstraps? "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
kammo-man Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Fantastic find !!! thanks for showing ....... owen Link to post Share on other sites
Chap15 Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 The British War cemetary was well kept. The museum on the other hand was not worth it. Almost all of the German stuff was fake and half of the El Alamein museum dealt with the Yom Kippur/Ramadan War and the "great" Egyptian victory. The helmet still had the liner but was in very poor condition. The helmet though still "pings" when you tap it. I hear they tore down the train station. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
kammo-man Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 You should have got the sign ! Link to post Share on other sites
KurtA Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 You should have got the sign ! I was thinking the same thing! Link to post Share on other sites
Chap15 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 I was thinking the same thing! It was tempting. There was a famous picture from the war of the sign and a soldier wrote "heaven" under it. I tried to find that too. Here is a stand I made for the helmet. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
Martygraw Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 War trophy violation? Obviously, lawyers have nothing better to do in a war zone. Link to post Share on other sites
dan Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 A super find, I'm glad you got it. You are preserving a great piece of history. Unfortunately today we have too many lawyers on the battlefield and not enough fighting soldiers. Dan OEF 06-07. Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Speaking as a British member, thank you for so carefully preserving and displaying the helmet. The poppy is a very nice touch as is the crucifix. "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
Chap15 Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 I did get an apology from the lawyer. The handcuffs were extreme. The display, the piece shrapnel is from the battle of Losheimergraben and Peiper's initial bombardment. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
KurtA Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 I did get an apology from the lawyer. The handcuffs were extreme. Cuffing a chaplain?!?!?! Well, if he wasn't already going to Hell just for being a lawyer, he certainly is now! Link to post Share on other sites
Patriot12 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Great Brit helmet. I have a very low opinion of attorneys period. Link to post Share on other sites
Chap15 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 The lawyers were bad...but the pat down by the MPs was worse. When the SPC came to pick me up at the MPs she thought it was cool. I think I gained some creditability with the troops. About the lawyers. James Oglethorpe, an early leader of Georgia and the city of Savannah, outlawed two things, liquor and lawyers. Had a Lawyer over yonder who had some crazy ROE for the troops. The Commander put him with a rifle platoon for two weeks. That cured him. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
KurtA Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 If a rusty old helmet caused all of that, perhaps, afterall, it was good you didn't grab the train station sign. Link to post Share on other sites
Bugme Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 If a rusty old helmet caused all of that, perhaps, afterall, it was good you didn't grab the train station sign. He'd probably still be in Fort Leavenworth for that kind of heinous crime. "There is no such thing as an expert, only students with different levels of education." Link to post Share on other sites
AustYank Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Great find Mate, It is indeed an Australian MkII helmet (no rim on the edge) There should be a date on the chin strap lugs. Very nice touch having the poppy displayed with the lid. Cheers Mick Link to post Share on other sites
Chap15 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Great find Mate, It is indeed an Australian MkII helmet (no rim on the edge) There should be a date on the chin strap lugs. Very nice touch having the poppy displayed with the lid. Cheers Mick Mick, I will have to look and see what the date is. But it will be a while, I am currently assigned a place where my collection was not allowed. Wanted Chaplain Items My Chaplain Collection http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8174-chaplain-collection/ Link to post Share on other sites
AustYank Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 No worries Look after yourself Link to post Share on other sites
Brandon Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Glad to see other military members keeping their eyes out for historical items. The military gets a little crazy about bringing stuff back!! No matter what the item might be. Brandon Link to post Share on other sites
USCapturephotos Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 I missed this thread the first time around but am absolutely loving it. A good buddy of mine is also a chaplain. He served for several tours attached to the 1st Cav in Iraq. He has become frustrated with the rules that the military is also placing on chaplains keeping him from completing his religious duties because of things like political correctness run amok. Anyway, thank you for your service and for sharing this great relic with us! Paul Link to post Share on other sites
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