. Father and Son 'Then and Now ' fifty years apart.   In 1976 the MVCG group took two hundred privately owned WWII military vehicles on a trip through Normandy to Paris.  Bill Millin joined us on that trip he was the famous bagpipe player who landed on D-Day and played the pipes leading Lord Lovat's Commandos from the beach to Pegasus bridge to relieve the Ox & Bucks glider troops that captured the bridge.  1976 was one of the hottest summers on record, we spent several hours parked in the centre of Paris, our vehicles already hot from the drive became hotter with several hours of sunshine on them.   When the convoy was ready to move several of the vehicles had starting problems mine included, the starter motor engaged the fly-wheel but became stuck on the flywheel, whilst I tried to fix it, our friend Bill Millin circled around the Jeep playing a lament for the ' dead ' Jeep.    Today in Carentan at the Longest Yarn exhibition I had the opportunity to re-construct that scene with John Millin the son of Bill Millin.       Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 04 June  2O26.   ..

Great stuff. That German camo in the garrison cap is killer.

Sent you a PM.

His CIB Orders, Co D 346th IR, dated 21 May 45: Source: NARA   Dan

Thanks all!    In the time since, I’ve also located another Ike jacket, his m41, an HBT cap, a BG license plate, a lighter, some coveralls, a duffel bag, one of his small general flags, his musette bag, and misc insignias/photos with another collector out in CA. We’ve discussed letting these go, but I’ve not heard back in awhile.   I believe I now know where his medals are, but have not made contact with the collector yet.   Other pieces I know that are out there are his modified tanker jacket, helmet, some field gear, dog tags, field binoculars, and others I am still probably not aware of! It was a very large group sadly split over the years. There’s some potential given the above leads, but it’s generally pretty sporadic!

I don't have any maternity items. That has to be a narrow collecting field. We were putting hay in the barn last night. I will drag more mannequins out tonight.

It appears to be a cavalry saber from the War of 1812 era, based upon the type of handguard. None of the Rev War cavalry sabers in my 2 reference books have a similar guard. Not saying that is definitely the case here, but it wouldn't be the first time that something was handed down in a family with an incorrect or embellished history, especially with an item over 200 years old.

Aloha Dennis,     Not certain about other AFS service stuff but I had been listing insignia spanning from 1898-1939 and I had listed medical related Type I collar discs, collar brass, Distinctive and probably a few Shoulder Insignia.  So, yup that would be me.     This will be some stuff I'll eventually be listing.   A Hui Hou,   John  

My gut says it's repro based on the bright tin remaining.  It shows some wear, but believe me, it doesn't take long for a reproduction canteen to look like this!  I don't think I've ever seen an original that had any significant amount of tin left.  Reproduction canteens are made by the thousands for reenactors and some of them are near-exact replicas, so it can be difficult to tell.   Is the spout cast pewter?  If so, that's another sign it's a repro.  Many Federal canteens had cast pewter spouts but most Confederate canteens used a tin spout.   Where did you find it?  That may give some hints as to originality.

Here is a list of my earlier USN CGM's, some in groups, most singletons now...comment + assistance welcome   13109 Grimes...3 bars only 19456 Justice, Jan 21 1910 44371 Herfuth, Oct 1 1920 45271 Dungan, Aug 22 1919 47786 Johnson, Sep 6 1919 54939 Cardell, Apr 9 1919 58503 Ham, Jan 29 1922 64767 Krause, Oct 2 1927 73014 Defew, Feb 26 1927 74221 Lockwood, May 21 1923   Earlier US medals are hard to find in the UK but I keep trying none the less. I miss FJP and shipping charges aren't getting any less!