Cwnavy1 Posted May 16, 2020 Share #1 Posted May 16, 2020 One area where I need help results from an inheritance I received back in the early '70s. I received a pile of World War I navy material from the skipper of a mine sweeper in the Great War who received the Navy Cross for his work. I have all his decorations, some of his uniforms items, some of his later WWII items (mostly documents) and an incredible photo album from the first war with annotated photos not only of his service at sea, but documenting his time ashore which included expeditions to battlefields where he photographed destroyed tanks etc. I need to dispose of this collection before my children have to. I have offered it to the Naval Historical Center twice and been rejected both tines. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted May 16, 2020 Share #2 Posted May 16, 2020 A fine looking group - A great addition to my collection!! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted May 16, 2020 Share #3 Posted May 16, 2020 I’m sure there would be plenty of guys who would jump at the opportunity to own a fantastic group like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T1gertank519 Posted May 16, 2020 Share #4 Posted May 16, 2020 Now that’s quite the interesting group! Very cool. Best of luck.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 16, 2020 Share #5 Posted May 16, 2020 Wow - superb looking group! I'm certain there are many on here who would love to give it a good home. Add some post in some threads and offer the group(s) in our active for sale forum - I'd love to see them! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted May 17, 2020 I've receeived lots of input about trhis group with folks wanting to see more. I'll attach another image or two. Don't know how to post more than that. First is a closeup of his WWI decorations. Second is a great image from his album of a naval warehouse in France with USN trucks in front (Yes they have navy markings) full of seabags and hammocks. He has plenty of imags of his shipboard service along with his tours of various battlefields. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted May 18, 2020 Here is another item from the Capt. X.M. Smith grouping. One is a souvenir of his time laying mines and then sweeping them up. i've never seen another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 18, 2020 Share #8 Posted May 18, 2020 2 minutes ago, Cwnavy1 said: Here is another item from the Capt. X.M. Smith grouping. One is a souvenir of his time laying mines and then sweeping them up. i've never seen another. Now THAT is exceptionally cool!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted May 18, 2020 Share #9 Posted May 18, 2020 Very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted May 18, 2020 Share #10 Posted May 18, 2020 Are you looking to donate or sell? If donating . . . have you looked at the WWI Museum in Kansas City? This is such a different group from normal group topics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted May 18, 2020 Share #11 Posted May 18, 2020 Just noticed in the first picture . .. what is the little Anchor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted May 18, 2020 Imprinted on it is” made from material from the US Frigate USS Constitution. Cool little item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkite93 Posted May 18, 2020 Share #13 Posted May 18, 2020 Very interesting grouping I'm sure it will gather a lot of interest. Welcome to the forum from a fellow Floridian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 18, 2020 Share #14 Posted May 18, 2020 spectacular group! Here is the citation: SMITH, MARTIN X. Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces) Commanding Officer, U.S.S. C-206 Date Of Action: World War I Citation: The Navy Cross is awarded to Ensign Martin X. Smith, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces), for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service while in command of the U.S.S. C-206, engaged in the important and hazardous work of clearing the North Sea of mines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted May 19, 2020 More pics from this grouping. Capt Smith was involved in laying the North Sea Mine Barrage. then in sweeping it after the armistice. His album is full of photos of daily life of sailors both on ship and ashore. Evidently a large part of mine duty had to do with assembling them on shore first. Thats what these pics show. There are others that show railroad freight cars loaded teo the top with mines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 19, 2020 Share #16 Posted May 19, 2020 Do you know if he engraved his name on the backs of the Naval Shooting medals on the bar? It was common prior to WWII to have it done. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share #17 Posted May 20, 2020 I have been asked when I will piost this group for sale. The rules of the forum indicate that I cannot list anything for sale until I have made 30 posts. I figure I should be at that level this weekend. When I do make that post in the For Sale forum,, it will go to the first PM I receive who is willing to meet the listed price. I just don't know how to make it more fair than that. Below 9is another greap photo from hjis WWI album which has hundreds of images. Thius is of a Navy truck hauling sailors and seabags somewhere in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share #18 Posted May 20, 2020 In answer to many questioins which have come up about this grouping and its sale, I will list it in the For Sale section as soon as I have met the requirement of having made 30 posts. I have no idea how long that will take, but I can keep putting up images of more of the group daily until I have made it. Just FYI, this post makes 7. the photo attached below is of two drawings done by Capt Smith as a child, both of warships. For one, he won a prize in the local Norfolk, VA newspaper. It was then framed with a small image of XMS as a youngster, interestingly, in a sort of sailor suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted May 20, 2020 Share #19 Posted May 20, 2020 Really nice group! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted May 20, 2020 Share #20 Posted May 20, 2020 Good luck with the sale and its a wonderful group. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted May 21, 2020 Share #21 Posted May 21, 2020 Rare and Expensive group... Ebay may be the route to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share #22 Posted May 21, 2020 Herre is today's first image from the XMS group. This was evidently his watchm cap, but I'm not sure what period its from. I suspect its from the Great War since thaat was all North Atlantic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cwnavy1 Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share #23 Posted May 21, 2020 Here's a grouping from his huge album of misc hardware. On top is a fire engine, then some guys shjooting over the rail. The close sailor looks like he's shooting an old Colt M`1895 machine gun, behind him is a guy with an '03 Spfld. Last is a hard hat diver coming onto a boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 21, 2020 Share #24 Posted May 21, 2020 15 hours ago, doyler said: Rare and Expensive group... Ebay may be the route to go. I tend to agree. This may be one of the nicest and most complete WW1 Navy Cross groups I've seen and there are some parts of it that are probably worth more than one would think...a WW2 vintage watch cap like that brings crazy money...no idea if a WW1 vintage one would bring the same, but it might be surprising (a shame to split it out, I know, I know...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted May 21, 2020 Share #25 Posted May 21, 2020 eBay might be a good place to try! There must be someone who would be willing to invest in the whole thing, and not have to split it up. It would be such a cool thing to get it to someone as the grouping. It is amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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