Stunning 2000 Year Old, Ancient Celt, Pagan, Status Jewel. An Original Celtic Silver Coiled Serpent Bracelet Armilla From the Time of King Prasutagus & Used By Nobility Of The Era of Queen Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni,, The Ancient Briton Ruler

Representing Cernunnos, the ram horned serpent A Celtic pagan deity, sometimes depicted with horns, and as a serpent, Cernunnos represents the earth, fertility, and the cycles of nature. A Cernunnos high status ‘serpent’ form armilla of a round spiral coil body in worked silver, punch engraved with zig-zag scales, with a flattened head with punched decoration for its eyes and curved flat horns. The ram-horned serpent (as depicted with its flattened head) was a cult image found in north-west Europe before and during the Roman period. It appears three times on the incredible Celtic historical artefact the Gundestrup cauldron, similarly decorated with punch engraving, and in ancient Romano-Celtic culture was closely associated with the horned or antlered god Cernunnos, in whose company it is regularly depicted, being held in his left hand. This pairing is found as early as the fourth century BC in Northern Italy, where a huge antlered figure with torcs and a serpent was carved on the rocks in Val Camonica.

Queen Boudicea of the Iceni {also known as Queen Boudicca} was the very first recorded warrior queen of Briton and one of the most famous rulers of all early British history before 1066. Famously depicted by a larger than life bronze statue in London driving into combat, her chariot into the imagined Roman legions This stunning and iconic piece of Celtic silver pagan status jewellery, the armilla, was made from, circa, early to mid 1st century. The Latin name for a bracelet in Antiquity, an armilla, applied to the Greek, Celt and Roman peoples. Boudicca is frequently depicted in art adorned with at least one coiled status serpent form armilla on an arm, often clasping her spear.

The Iceni, whose name might have come from Iken, the original name of the River Ouse, where the tribe are said to have come from, had settlements across Norfolk, in north Suffolk and east Cambridgeshire. One of them was at Brettenham on the Peddars Way, east of Thetford, which was built by Romans to quickly transport troops up to The Wash and Brancaster, where they had a fort protecting north Norfolk.

Queen Boudicca waged war against the Romans in Britain from 60 AD after the Romans decided to rule the Iceni directly and confiscated the Norfolk property of the leading tribesmen. The uprising was motivated by the Romans' failure to honour an agreement they had made with Boudica's husband, Prasutagus, regarding the succession of his kingdom upon his death, and by the brutal mistreatment of Boudica and her daughters by the occupying Romans.
Boudicca's warriors successfully defeated the Roman Ninth Legion and destroyed the capital of Roman Britain, then at Colchester. They went on to destroy London and Verulamium (St Albans).
Thousands were killed. Finally, Boudicca was defeated by a Roman army led by Paulinus. Many Britons were killed and Boudicca is thought to have poisoned herself to avoid capture.
The site of the battle, and of Boudicca's death, are unknown.
Iceni warriors may have laid waste to Silchester
Professor Fulford said that in excavations at Silchester they had found evidence of a major military occupation at Calleva (now called Silchester) in 40 AD, then destruction between 60 and 80 AD, including wells that were filled in at this time and burned buildings.
"The settlement is completely wiped out somewhere between 60 AD and 80 AD.

Not only an incredibly beautiful ancient work of art, it is a unique artefact of ancient Celtic history, and a fabulous statement piece for any fine collection. It could look amazing frame mounted.

Queen Boudicea was also spelt Boudicca, or Boudica In the time of the Ancient Briton Celts revolt against the might of Rome. A wonderful original There is so few opportunities to own a wonderful piece from the time of Boudicca Queen of the Iceni of ancient Briton. There are no known surviving artefacts of hers, but to own a significant piece of potentially one of her nobles is wonderful. About the time of Claudius' triumph in AD 43 (a century after Caesar's expeditions), Pomponius Mela, the first Roman geographer, says of the Britons that

"they fight not only on horseback and on foot, but also in wagons and chariots bigis et curribus, and are armed after the manner of the Gauls. They call those chariots covines which are set with scythes round about the naves falcatis axibus" (De Chorographia, III.43; first translated by Arthur Golding in 1585 and modernized here). In AD 60 or 61, when the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus was campaigning on the island of Mona (modern Anglesey) on the northwest coast of Wales, Boudica led the Iceni, the Trinovantes, and others in revolt. They destroyed Camulodunum (modern Colchester), earlier the capital of the Trinovantes but at that time a colonia, a settlement for discharged Roman soldiers and site of a temple to the former Emperor Claudius. Upon hearing of the revolt, Suetonius hurried to Londinium (modern London), the 20-year-old commercial settlement that was the rebels' next target. He lacked sufficient numbers to defend the settlement, and he evacuated and abandoned Londinium. Boudicca led a very large army of Iceni, Trinovantes, and others against a detachment of Legio IX Hispana, defeating them, and burning Londinium and Verulamium.

An estimated 70,000-80,000 Romans and British were then killed in the three cities by those following Boudicca, many by torture. Suetonius, meanwhile, regrouped his forces, possibly in the West Midlands; despite being heavily outnumbered, he decisively defeated the Britons. The crisis caused Nero to consider withdrawing all Roman forces from Britain, but Suetonius's victory over Boudicca confirmed Roman control of the province. Boudicca then either killed herself to avoid capture (according to Tacitus), or died of illness (according to Cassius Dio) Beginning around the 3rd century BC, Celts of the regions around the Marne and the Moselle Rivers began burying their chieftains in light, two-wheeled chariots with their sword, shield, spears, and drinking vessels. Similar chariot graves from this era are also found in the British coastal regions of Yorkshire. The evidence for the use of these vehicles is clear. A Roman coin from 110 BC dramatically depicts the naked Gallic warrior-king Bituitus of the Averni casting spears from his chariot. And documentary evidence of the chariot in combat on the European continent is left to us by the Roman poet Propertius. In describing the fighting between the forces of Republican Rome and 30,000 howling Celtic warriors in 222 BC, Propertius depicts the chieftain Viridomar ‘clothed in striped trousers’ hurling javelins from his chariot with deadly accuracy. In fact, many of the Latin words for chariot-carpentium, carrus, essendum have Gaulish roots.

The use of chariots in combat in Gaul apparently died out before Caesar’s campaign of the 50s BC, because Caesar makes no mention of them, though he did of Gallic cavalry, in his Gallic Wars. But chariots certainly remained in Britain, though few have been found there into the Caesarian era and beyond, because they are included in the writings of Caesar, Tacitus, and in the old Irish epic the ‘Tain Bo Cuailnge’ (The Cattle Raid of Cooley) composed in part around the 2nd century AD. Evidence of early Celtic chariot use is gleaned primarily from the excavation of graves of noble warriors.The first Roman expedition to Britain was a reconnoiter of the island by Julius Caesar in 55 BC, purportedly to suppress the reinforcements being given the native tribes in Gaul. There, chariots no longer were being used, and the ambush of a legion caught in the open and but surrounded by the cavalry and chariots of the Britons provides an excursus by Caesar on their tactics, so unfamiliar to the Romans.

"In chariot fighting the Britons begin by driving all over the field hurling javelins, and generally the terror inspired by the horses and the noise of the wheels are sufficient to throw their opponents' ranks into disorder. Then, after making their way between the squadrons of their own cavalry, they jump down from the chariot and engage on foot. In the meantime their charioteers retire a short distance from the battle and place the chariots in such a position that their masters, if hard pressed by numbers, have an easy means of retreat to their own lines. Thus they combine the mobility of cavalry with the staying power of infantry; and by daily training and practice they attain such proficiency that even on a steep incline they are able to control the horses at full gallop, and to check and turn them in a moment. They can run along the chariot pole, stand on the yoke, and get back into the chariot as quick as lightning" (Gallic War, IV.33). An example from Ingolstadt, Germany, in Megaw, R.& V. Celtic Art. From its Beginnings to the Book of Kells,
London, 1989. For example a denarius coin was minted by the moneyer Lucius Hostilius Saserna in 48 BC, following Caesar's campaign in Gaul. The reverse depicts a naked Celtic warrior holding a spear and small shield, while a crouched figure drives the horses with a whip.

The armilla is 8 cm wide overall weighing approx two ounces

for reference;
Cf. Megaw, R.& V., Celtic Art. From its Beginnings to the Book of Kells, London,
The Megaws investigate the antecedents of Celtic art, the styles and motifs employed, the relationship of the Celts and their art to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, and the magnificent maturity of Celtic art in Britain and Ireland. They include major discoveries that have been made as the result of highway and rail construction and the results of detailed surveys of known sites, such as the recovery of the remarkable stone sculpture from the Glauberg northwest of Frankfurt. Continuing work at old sites such as the saltmining complex of the Durrnberg just south of Salzburg has produced new treasures, and important finds in Central and Eastern Europe and in the British Isles have necessitated a change in emphasis with regard to questions of origin and development. Vincent Megaw is currently Professor of Visual Arts and Archaeology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh; he is also Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow.

The Armilla, a bracelet or armlet, was worn by both men and Celtic women of status in ancient times. In Roman it could be of such high status it was awarded to a Roman legionary as regard for great feats of combat.

See; the Celt cauldron Gundestrup boiler, inside Description Gundestrup boiler, inner plates, Y.FRJ, Rævemosen, Ålborg County, in the gallery with the depiction of the flattened horn headed deity serpent held in Cernunnos‘s hand.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery.

https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/licensing-considerations/compatible-licenses/. https://natmus.dk/museer-og-slotte/nationalmuseet/  read more

Code: 25797

A Most Rare, Original, Romanov, Russian Cossack Solid Silver Shashka & Silver Cossack Whip With Concealed Dagger, 'The Imperial Russian Honour Sword & Nagaika Awards of Gallantry' Awarded by The Czar The Russian Version of the British Victoria Cross

Awarded by Czar Alexander Romanov IIIrd in 1883, and it is dated 1883. The superbly deluxe etched presentation blade bears the personal crest cypher of the Czar. A crowned A III, and the crest of the Romanovs.. See photo 9 in the gallery.
In 50 years we have never seen a matching pair of honour sword and dagger complete and together, they may not even have an ioriginal pair in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. One of the greatest museum collections in the world.
A Most Rare 19th Century Romanov era, Russian Shashka, 'Sword of Chivalry' complete with its matching, rare, and fabulous silver Niello presentation Romanov Cossack's nagaika Cossack whip with hidden dagger. Both were awarded for gallantry and heroism in combat during the Romanov era of Czarist Russia, in the reign of Czar Alexander IIIrd, father of Czar Nicolas IInd the last Czar, who was executed with his wife and children by firing squad in Yekaterinburg, by the Russian Bolshevik revolutionaries in July 1918 .

The sword and whip combination are the Imperial Russian equivalent to the Victoria Cross {or the American Medal of Honour}.

For such a great honour, as well as the silver and enamel 'Badge of Honour of St Anne' the recipient may also be awarded a presentation silver sashqua sabre, engraved with the award presentation and emblazened with a silver enamel badge of the Order of St. Anne.
A Cossack could also be awarded, as a very special extra honour, a silver Niello nagaika Cossack whip with a concealed thrusting dagger which also has a matching silver and enamel St Anne award for gallantry badge mounted on the body of the whip. The dagger was for use against attacking wolves or for close combat battle use. We show in the gallery a picture of a Cossack lieutenant with his awarded silver Cossack sashqua of gallantry, and also with his matching presentation nagaika. Also we show a cossack charge with sabres and the nagaika on the cossack's wrists. The picture is a standing lieutenant, of the 2nd Volgski Regiment, Terek Host.

The epitome of the Caucasian Cossack officer; the highly decorated weapons and kaftan are typical of these units throughout the war. The cartridge pockets on each breast, gaziri, were functional as well as decorative. The undershirt, beshmet, was often privately made and did not always conform to regulations. During the war supply problems led to khaki replacing the grey kaftans. The rank of this sotnik or first lieutenant is identified by the three stars and single stripe on his shoulder boards, which also bear the regimental number '2 and the Cyrillic initial of the Terek Cossacks, which resembles 'Br. Light blue was the traditional distinguishing color of the Terek Host. He wears the Order of Vladimir 4th Class with Swords, the Order of St. Anne 4th Class with Swords, a Terek Cossack badge and that of the Novocherkask Cossack School. His handsome weapon is a St. Anne's Sword 'for Bravery' - note the rosette in the pommel. He carries the matching silver Cossack nagaika whip with badge. A most rare desirable and collectable sword of the Imperial, Russian, Romanov period. A sword of gallantry and honour awarded to an officer who displayed the finest valour serving his Czar, the equivalent at the time to the Victoria Cross medal in England or the US Medal of Honour in America. The hilt is silver surrounding a central carved ribbed grip of bone and it is engraved on the pommel in Russian to represent gallantry and there's the red enamel badge of Saint Anna of Russia the blade is simply superb decorated in fine scrolls and imperial scenes of cavalry, stands of arms and flags, and the crest of Czar Alexander of Russia, the father of Czar Nicholas II, the executed last Czar of all the Russias. The spine of the blade bears a cyrillic Russian inscription by the maker Zlatoust, and date 1883. The silver pommel is engraved in Russian, the closest translation in English is 'for Bravery'. The blade is superbly etched with panels of charging cossack cavalry, the crest of the Romanov Czar, Alexander III, the Cross of St Anna, and numerous scrolls and geometric designs, plus traces of original blue and gilt in the fullers. Swords of this nature are some of the most desirable Russian swords ever made and collected from the old Imperial Romanov Russia, and this one is certainly one of the finest we have ever seen. The Order of Saint Anna ("Order of Saint Ann" or "Order of Saint Anne") was established as a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia. The motto of the Order is "Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem" ("To those who love justice, piety, and fidelity"). Its festival day is 3 February (New Style, 16 February). Originally, the Order of Saint Anna was a dynastic order of knighthood; but between 1797 and 1917 it had dual status as a dynastic order and as a state order. The Head of the Imperial House of Russia always is Master of the imperial Order of Saint Anna. The Order of St. Anna continued to be awarded after the revolution by Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, and Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna.

Membership of the Order was awarded for a distinguished valour and distinguished service in the military. The Order of Saint Anna entitled recipients of the first class to hereditary nobility, and recipients of lower classes to personal nobility. For military recipients, it was awarded with swords such as this wonderful superior rank example. The blade makers marks of Zlatoust. The House of Romanov was the second dynasty to rule Russia, after the House of Rurik, reigning from 1613 until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on 15 March 1917, as a result of the February Revolution.

The Romanovs achieved prominence as boyars of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, later the Tsardom of Russia. In 1613, following years of interregnum (Time of Troubles), the zemsky sobor offered the Russian crown to Mikhail Romanov. He acceded to the throne as Michael I, becoming the first Tsar of Russia from the House of Romanov. His grandson Peter I established the Russian Empire and transformed the country into a continental power through a series of wars and reforms.

The direct male line of the Romanovs came to an end when Elizabeth of Russia died in 1762. After an era of dynastic crisis, the House of Holstein-Gottorp, a cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg that reigned in Denmark, ascended the throne in 1762 with Peter III, a grandson of Peter I. All rulers from the middle of the 18th century to the revolution of 1917 were descended from that branch. Though officially known as the House of Romanov, these descendants of the Romanov and Oldenburg dynasties are sometimes referred to as Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov.

In early 1917 the Romanov dynasty had 65 members, 18 of whom were killed by the Bolsheviks. The remaining 47 members went into exile abroad. In 1924, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, the senior, surviving male-line descendant of Alexander II of Russia by primogeniture, claimed the headship of the defunct Imperial House of Russia. Since 1991, the succession to the former Russian throne has been in dispute, largely due to disagreements over the validity of dynasts' marriages, especially between the lines of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and Prince Nicholas Romanovich Romanov, succeeded by Prince Andrew Romanov. The sword has no scabbard.


Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading  read more

Code: 23150

A Very Good Original, WW2, Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery Combat Badge Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie By Friedrich Linden of Lüdenscheid. From One Of Ian Fleming’s Naval Intelligence Section’s So Called ‘Red Indians’ 30 Commando Special Engineer

An original Kriegsmarine Coastal artillery badge by by FLL 43 – Friedrich Linden of Lüdenscheid constructed in zinc with nice gilt finish. . A zinc produced piece with a great amount of gold finish remaining. The Kriegsmarine maintained a large ground force, organized along the same lines as the German Army, which was known as the Marine-Infanterie . Kriegsmarine naval artillery and anti-aircraft crews were considered as shore personnel. Artillery units were organized into either regiments or sections while flak units were maintained in brigades and regiments. Both types of units were assigned to various ports and harbors and thus were under the direct operational authority of both the port commanders as well as the commander harbour security forces. During actual invasion of coastal regions by enemy forces, these units became part of the sea defense zones.
The Naval Artillery War Badge or War Badge for the Coastal Artillery (German: Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to the crews of Kriegsmarine land-based marine artillery and anti-aircraft units. It was presented to personnel of coastal defense units, and anti-aircraft units. The award was instituted on 24 June 1941 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder to reward the actions of both individuals and crew members. It was also awarded to those killed in action in said units.
Originally taken by a commando of 30 commando X troop while on clandestine missions as part of 30 Commando reconnaissance and sabotage.

From a former special engineering unit {Ian Fleming’s so called ‘Red Indians} in wartime Europe were a vital part of clandestine warfare, and all parts of the units combat service were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, bomb disposal, and combined with recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment for intelligence gathering. Reporting all elements of their findings back to CoCO, and by them to the Admiralty. Fleming referred to such brave men as his ‘Red Indians’. see Casino Royale for reference.

There were seven active Marinekustenten-Bataillons or MKBs consisting of two to six companies each, prior to the invasion of Norway. These battalions were charged initially with protecting the coasts and harbors of Germany. With the fall of Norway, France, and the Low Countries, these units were expanded to include four large-caliber naval batteries between Calais and Boulogne. These were to be used during the planned invasion of Britain to provide the initial shore bombardment of the Dover Area and prevent the Royal Navy from interfering with the invasion fleet.

When the invasion was scrubbed in late 1940 in favor of starving Britain into submission, additionally Navy Artillery and Flak companies were formed to protect the many U-Boot bases being built along the Atlantic Coast. In mid-1941, battalions were formed to fortify the Channel Islands and the coast of Norway.

Artillerie of HKB was responsible for “Filling-In” the coastal areas between these points by covering possible landing sites. The Navy Artillery units were normally situated directly on the coast and used as direct fire control procedure similar to that used on ships, with the Army positioned further inland, which protected them from Allied “Air” and “Naval” attack, but limited their ability to track and engage enemy ships and landing craft. Navy artillery battalions were separate from the Heer, under the Navy.

Battery organization generally depended on the weapon system to which Fuhrer Directive 40, March 1942, provided detailed instructions for the construction and defense of what became known as the Atlantic Wall. This meant a massive expansion of the Naval Artillery, with some 100 Battalions* created by the end of the war.

Navy (Kriegsmarine) units were primarily deployed to defend, important ports, or harbors, rivers, estuaries, and other points critical to naval operations.
The brain child of naval commander Ian Fleming & Lord Louis Mountbatten, 30 Commando, this wartime unit was a secret well kept for over 50 years after the war by the Official Secrets Act, some remains classified. At the time, officially, they didn’t exist. The members of this unit were forbidden to discuss or document their activities, a pledge that many of the men kept even many years after the war was over, or even for their entire lives!
Due to the fact these men operated in very small groups on ‘need-to-know’ basis it is very difficult to get clear picture of everything they were doing.
Fleming’s/NID30AU secretary Miss Margaret Priestley (a history professor from Leeds University) played a vital role in the running and administration of 30AU and became his inspiration for Miss Petty Pettaval - the original character name that became Miss Moneypenny.
As revealed here for the first time! (see Beau Bête)

Miss Preistley transferred over to NID30AU during the winter of 1943-44 from DNR - (Department of Naval Research) where she worked as a civilian, although there were obvious links between DNR and NID30AU as intelligence on enemy targets was collected for Fleming’s ‘Black List’.

Also Known as: Fleming's 'Red Indians'
Fleming himself referred to the men of the unit as behaving like 'Red Indians'. (A reference he also used when referring to his character, James Bond, four times in his first novel Casino Royale. Which effectively makes this unit the ‘literary James Bond’s wartime unit’.)
Formerly:- (NID30 Command Office at Admiralty),
Special Engineering Unit.
'RED' Marines.
Latterly:- 30 Assault Unit,
 30 Advanced Unit, 30AU
 and incorrectly as 30th Assault Unit.
The number '30' was used for no better reason than it was NID/Miss Priestley’s Office Door number at the Admiralty. (Fleming’s Office was No. 39, see photo in the gallery of Fleming in room 39 of the Admiralty) 'Assault Unit' was 'overt' cover for the fact that they were intelligence gathering.
Date Founded: 30 September 1942
Date Disbanded: 26 March 1946
Date Reformed: February 2010 - 30 Cdo IXG
Mission When Founded:
The collection of technical intelligence and personnel from enemy headquarters and installations. Ahead of allied advances and before enemy could destroy it, to ‘Attain by Surprise’.

30 Commando consisted of Royal Marine, Army and Royal Navy elements that were organised into three Sections: No. 33, No. 34 and No.36 respectively. Initially code-named the Special Engineering Unit, the unit reported to the Chief of Combined Operations, though the Admiralty retained ultimate control of No.36 Section. No.35 Section was left vacant for the RAF to utilise but they never raised a troop to participate in 30 Cdo. Although they did supply intelligence officers and specific targets to pursue after D-Day for ‘Operation Crossbow’.
Unit members were given general commando skills and weapons training, and were then trained in recognising enemy mines, booby traps, handling of explosives, demolitions, counter-demolitions, recognition of enemy uniforms and equipment. Parachute training, small boat handling, recognition of enemy documents, search techniques including lock picking and safecracking, prisoner handling, photography and escape techniques were also taught.
A significant number of the initial recruits were formerly policemen. Although at least one ‘expert’ was recruited straight from prison, thought by the police to be the best safe-breaker in England at the time.
30 Cdo’s operational tactic was to move ahead of advancing Allied forces, or to undertake covert missions into enemy territory by land, sea or air, to capture intelligence, in the form of equipment, documents, codes or enemy personnel. 30 Cdo often worked closely with the Intelligence Corps' Field Security sections. More often than not each team consisted of two special operations Jeeps (As used by the SAS and 30AU) manned by one Naval Commander in possession of a ‘Black Book’ which listed targets from Ian Fleming’s famous ‘Black List’. The Naval Commander was the only man in each team who knew where and what the targets actually were. This Naval Commander was usually accompanied by at least one weapons expert or scientist who he relied on to evaluate the information or equipment they encountered. There were also usually at least six Royal Marines and one RM Officer whose main job was to do any fighting required and to keep the Naval Commander and any experts alive and out of trouble. (For details Reading section.)
The individual Sections served in all the Mediterranean and NW European operational theatres, usually operating independently, gathering information from captured facilities. The unit served in North Africa, the Greek Islands, Norway, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, and Corsica, 1942-1943 as 30 Commando.

As the Allies broke through 30AU split into many ‘Field Teams’ and these were responsible for capturing many and varied targets throughout Germany.
Team 2 under Curtis captured Prof. Helmut Walter, designer of the Me163 Rocket Plane and Midget Submarines at Kiel. (Kept by the British!).
Team 5 under USN Lambie captured Prof. Herbert Wagner (Handed to US Agents) designer of the guided flying bomb Hs293, already used to sink HMS Egret and to kill over 1000 troops on HMT Rohna. He went on to work for the US Navy. He did not surrender in Bavaria with Dornberger and the von Braun brothers as the Allied military would have us believe..
The capture of Prof. Magnus von Braun (Martin) V2 fuel chemist. (Handed to US Agents). He did not surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe.
The capture of the designer of the Nazi V2 (who went on to the NASA Saturn V), Prof. von Braun and his brother. (Some men were convinced they were some of the scientists they caught!) Did they surrender in Bavaria as the Allied military want us to believe or was that staged afterwards? (see Beau Bête for details and FREE preview PDF, in Reading)
Team 55 under Glanville captured the entire Nazi Naval records collection at ‘Tambach Castle’.
Team 4 under Job(e) captured the Bremen dockyards with type 21; 25 submarines and destroyers. Then took the surrender of Bremerhaven and captured Naval HQ SS Europa and Z29 Destroyer. (All handed over to US Agents).
Team 2 Postlethwaite captures the Torpedo testing facility at Ekenförde.
Another team captured Admiral Dönitz (as Führer).
And many other things yet to be revealed by the government!
Ref; https://www.30au.co.uk
An amazing historic collection of information, including. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beau-B%C3%A9te-assigned-Flemings-intelligence/dp/B08R7XYHXW

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading  read more

Code: 25712

A Most Fabulous, Large, Ancient Bronze Coiled Serpent Armilla or Armlet Arm Ring, From The 2nd Millenium B.C., From the Eras of the Pharoahs Ahmenhotep To Tutankhamun

One of two we acquired from an ancient antiquity collection, not quite a pair but very similar from the same period and country of origin, and we are offering them separately, but they were in fact often worn with one on each arm and may indeed came from the same tomb etc. 200 years or so ago. This example has a small pattern of indents at both ends, to appear like serpent's heads.

Over 3,300 to 3500 Years Old, 18th dynasty ancient Egyptian period, that includes Pharoah Ahmenhotep, Queen Nefertari, the most venerated Queen in Egyptian history, Pharoah Thutmose III, who became known as the greatest military pharaoh ever, and the most famous Pharoah in history, Tutankhamun.

A bronze serpent armilla arm ring that could be worn at the top of the arm or on the forearm, as it was adjustable in its day, expanding to the size required.

Worn by ancient Egyptian men or women of status, and we show pictures of original tomb art depicting figures of Egyptian dieties such as Osiris, almost all wearing armillae, but in their case likely made of gold, but the bronze type such as this would be polished bright and appear as gold as well.
Arm decoration and ornamentation was a very important sign of status and position in Ancient Egyptian society, and as it did in all the empires that followed over the next two thousand years. An intricate gold armlet from the artifacts of Nubian Queen Amanishakheto is displayed in the State Museum of Egyptian Art, in Munich, Germany. The armlet features a gold winged goddess. Another beautiful gold armlet is exhibited in Cairo Museum bearing the name of the pharaoh, Ahmose I, founder of the 18th Dynasty. The ancient Greeks and Romans also wore armlets, which were usually made from bronze or gold, and some of which were in the shape of serpents, winding plants, or embellished with images of gods and goddesses. Large, heavy armlets had hoops on the backs that attached to garments to help support their weight.

The Ancient Egyptian Dynasty XVIII was founded by Pharoah Ahmose I, the brother or son of Kamose, the last ruler of the 17th Dynasty. Ahmose finished the campaign to expel the Hyksos rulers. His reign is seen as the end of the Second Intermediate Period and the start of the New Kingdom. Ahmose's consort, Queen Ahmose-Nefertari was "arguably the most venerated woman in Egyptian history, and the grandmother of the 18th Dynasty." She was deified after she died. Ahmose was succeeded by his son, Amenhotep I, whose reign was relatively uneventful.

Amenhotep I probably left no male heir and the next pharaoh, Thutmose I, seems to have been related to the royal family through marriage. During his reign, the borders of Egypt's empire reached their greatest expanse, extending in the north to Carchemish on the Euphrates and in the south up to Kurgus beyond the fourth cataract of the Nile. Thutmose I was succeeded by Thutmose II and his queen, Hatshepsut, who was the daughter of Thutmose I. After her husband's death and a period of regency for her minor stepson (who would later become pharaoh as Thutmose III) Hatshepsut became pharaoh in her own right and ruled for over twenty years.

Thutmose III, who became known as the greatest military pharaoh ever, also had a lengthy reign after becoming pharaoh. He had a second co-regency in his old age with his son Amenhotep II. Amenhotep II was succeeded by Thutmose IV, who in his turn was followed by his son Amenhotep III, whose reign is seen as a high point in this dynasty.

Amenhotep III's reign was a period of unprecedented prosperity, artistic splendour, and international power, as attested by over 250 statues (more than any other pharaoh) and 200 large stone scarabs discovered from Syria to Nubia, Amenhotep III undertook large scale building programmes, the extent of which can only be compared with those of the much longer reign of Ramesses II during Dynasty XIX. Amenhotep III's consort was the Great Royal Wife Tiye, for whom he built an artificial lake, as described on eleven scarabs.

Akhenaten, the Amarna Period, and Tutankhamun

Akhenaten and his family adoring the Aten. Second from the left is Meritaten, daughter of Akhenaten.
Amenhotep III may have shared the throne for up to twelve years with his son Amenhotep IV. There is much debate about this proposed co-regency, with different experts considering that there was a lengthy co-regency, a short one, or none at all.

In the fifth year of his reign, Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten and moved his capital to Amarna, which he named Akhetaten. During the reign of Akhenaten, the Aten became, first, the most prominent deity, and eventually came to be considered the only god. Whether this amounted to true monotheism continues to be the subject of debate within the academic community. Some state that Akhenaten created a monotheism, while others point out that he merely suppressed a dominant solar cult by the assertion of another, while he never completely abandoned several other traditional deities.

Later Egyptians considered this "Amarna Period" an unfortunate aberration. After his death, Akhenaten was succeeded by two short-lived pharaohs, Smenkhkare and Neferneferuaten, of which little is known. In 1334 Akhenaten's son, Tutankhaten, ascended to the throne: shortly after, he restored Egyptian polytheist cult and subsequently changed his name in Tutankhamun, in honour to the Egyptian god Amun. His infant daughters, represent the final genetically related generation of the Eighteenth Dynasty

Ancient Egyptian art shows both men and women wearing pairs of armlets.

The 10th Duke of Hamilton had a strong interest in Ancient Egyptian mummies, and was so impressed with the work of mummy expert Thomas Pettigrew that he arranged for Pettigrew to mummify him after his death. He died on 18 August 1852 at age 84 at 12 Portman Square, London, England and was buried on 4 September 1852 at Hamilton Palace, Hamilton, Scotland. In accordance with his wishes, Hamilton's body was mummified after his death and placed in a sarcophagus of the Ptolemaic period that he had originally acquired in Paris in 1836 ostensibly for the British Museum. We have been acquiring similar such items from Duke's descendants from the family's 'Grand Tour' collection for the past 30 years or more.

82mm across at its widest point.  read more

Code: 24880

3rd Century Roman Axe-Adze 'Dolabra' Roman Empire to Byzantine Period For The Construction of Military Forts & Bridges, To The Making of Seige Weapons, Such as Catapulta and Ballista In Times Of Combat Used From the 3rd to 14th Century. A Tool & Weapon

In complete condition, without repair and restoration, The form used by Rome for over a 1000 years. Just arrived after two weeks of hand conservation in our workshop.
Ancient Roman utility axe used from the construction of military forts and bridges, to the making of seige weapons in time of combat, and it doubled as an incredibly effective combat weapon. Almost identical to another iron dolabra recovered recently from the Harzhorn event, from the time of Emperor Maximinus Thrax 235 to 236 ad .{see photo in the gallery.}
The Roman Battle of Harzhorn ;
The battle between Roman legionaries and auxiliary troops and Germanic tribes around 235 AD on the western edge of the Harz Mountain.

The axe was a fundamental weapon of the Roman to Byzantine soldiers - both on foot and on horseback. Aside from combat, one of the main utility tools of the Roman army was the axe. The adze axe was useful in splitting wood and a fundamental tool needed to do everything from constructing military forts, to building large siege weapons such as catapulta and ballista. In times of war, these axes doubled as highly effective weapons, able to defeat armour, breaking bones and crushing skulls with a single blow. This specific adze axe 'dolabra' was found on an ancient battlefield with a large number of other iron weapons, over a century ago, indicating its final use was in combat. It has now been professionally cleaned and conserved by us recently..

This item was used by the Imperial Roman army and its type by the Byzantine Roman armies defending the Empire's northern border along the Danube River in the present day East Balkans. This region was the northern-most boundary of the Roman Empire for most of its duration and evolution into Byzantium right up until 1336 AD when the area fell under Ottoman rule. In the Balkans, Roman camps and fortresses along the Danube were constantly being challenged by opposing tribes and armies. The river served as a natural barrier against attacks from the north. Collected from a region that was once occupied by the Byzantine Roman military as they fought against the challengers of the Christian Roman Empire, they were utilized by Roman soldiers in one of the many violent and frequent battles that took place in defense of Byzantium.

The dolabra is a versatile axe, of two main types, used by the people of Italy since ancient times. The more curved and longer dolabra could serve as a pickaxe, used by miners and excavators, a priest's implement for ritual religious slaughtering of animals and as an entrenching tool (mattock) and further used in Roman infantry tactics. The shorter less curved regular dolabra (like this one) was used for both construction and combat In the 1st century CE, at the Siege of Augustodunum Haeduorum, where famously, armoured Gallic gladiators were defeated by legionaries wielding such dolabrae. See depictions carved into Trajans column in the gallery for their use in combat.
The Siege of Augustodunum Haeduorum (modern Autun, France) took place between 269 and 270 AD, during the reign of the Gallic Emperor Victorinus. The city, which had declared allegiance to Claudius Gothicus, was besieged by Victorinus' troops for seven months before being captured and plundered.

Early Roman Dolabra.
General Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo famously once said, "you defeat the enemy with a pickaxe"

We show in the gallery a recently excavated near pair to our dolabra found in the famous Harzhorn Event. Not only is it a near identical pair to ours, it was in the identical condition state as ours before both were conserved. See the photo of theirs and ours side by side in the gallery before and after conservation. Note the state of corruption of our iron dolabra {before connservation} is absolutely identical to the state of iron corruption of the Battle of Harzhorn recovered dolabra, before conservation, that had remained buried for around 1800 years, just as was ours.

The term Harzhorn event refers to several connected battles that took place between several thousand Roman legionaries and their auxiliary troops and an unknown number of Germanic tribes around the year 235/236 on the western edge of the Harz Mountains on the Harzhorn hill and represent a comparatively late example of the military presence of the Romans in Germania .

The archaeological sites are located near the Kalefeld district of Wiershausen on the northern edge of the Northeim district of Lower Saxony and initially covered an area of ​​2.0 × 0.5 kilometers (as of April 2009). At the end of 2010, another extensive site was discovered approximately three kilometers away. Both sites are considered by the scientists commissioned to investigate them to be spectacular discoveries of extraordinary scientific importance: Along with the Kalkriese region, they are the best-preserved ancient battlefield in Europe. This offers a unique opportunity to examine the archaeological remains of a Roman army engaged in combat.

To date, around 1,700 artifacts from the fighting have been found (as of summer 2013). Along with the Roman camp at Hedemünden , the Bentumersiel site , the Roman marching camp at Wilkenburg, and the Kalkriese region, the sites around the Harzhorn are one of the largest sites of Roman militaria in northern Germany. This find is also significant because of its context in the historical events at the beginning of the so-called Imperial Crisis of the 3rd century . Previously, historical research had considered such wide-ranging military operations by the Romans to be impossible at this time and in this area. According to current evidence, it is almost certain that the battle belongs in the context of the Germanic Wars of Emperor Maximinus Thrax in 235 and 236.

Dolabrae are mentioned several times in ancient literature, are depicted on the reliefs of Trajan's Column and appear in the finds of imperial military camps, but also in battlefield finds such as in Kalkriese.

11 inches long 2.1 pounds in weight.  read more

Code: 25810

A Most Attractive, Serpent, Bronze Age Power Bracelet, Armilla, & Arm Ring. A Fabulous 1000 B.C. Arm Adornment, With Most Beautiful Natural Aged Patination Colour of Rich Emerald Green, In Superb Condition With Substantial Heft & Gravitas

Ancient Bronze Age, in D section form, around 3000 years old.

Armillae , bracelets worn by the Ancient Romans, in both the early republic era and the later imperial age, from Augustus, the 1st Emperor, thereafter. They were always a sign of status and power, alongside the status ring, and often, when the shape of a serpent, they were to represent renewal and immortality.

The serpent was associated with the goddess Salus protector of health and well-being, making these bracelets highly sought after in ancient civilizations. In the pre-Roman era they often had a connection to Cernunnos, the ram horned serpent. A Celtic pagan deity, sometimes depicted with horns, and, as a serpent, Cernunnos represents the earth, fertility, and the cycles of nature.

In recovered ancient art and statuary one can see great warriors and nobles adorned with such serpent based arm rings, especially in Ancient Egypt representing the Sacred Serpent Goddess Wadjet

Snake jewelry was not limited to Egypt in the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, and, in fact, was not a traditional Egyptian sort of jewelry adornment before the Ptolemaic Period although it was very popular as an art form. Bracelets with animals, including snakes, appeared in Western Asia from about the eighth century BC, and spread to Greece in the fifth century BC, and came to Egypt mainly with the Ptolemaic Dynasty. In Greek culture there were certainly healing associations with snakes, but there may have been other associations, too.

Pictures in the gallery are of Ancient Egyptian wall art from tombs, depicting figures adorned with Wadget snake Goddess bracelets, arm rings, and crowns. Detail, from the second gilded shrine of King Tutankhamen, 13th century BCE

(Left) detail paintings of “The Roses of Heliogabalus,” Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1888 | (Right) and “Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci,” Piero di Cosima, 1480

Gold Snake Rings, Roman Period, 1st century AD, the Metropolitan Museum of Art

2.6 inches across, just under 3 ounces in weight, maximum thickness 0.4 inch  read more

Code: 25804

A Delightful & Most Beautiful Edo Period, Japanese Kaiken {Or Kwaiken} Tanto, with Beautifull Hamon Wonderful Polish and Horimono Mei Signature "Made by Tama of the Ichimonji School, Unrivaled Under Heaven."

天下無双一文字珠作
Tenka Musō, a famous Japanese idiom meaning "Peerless in the world" or "Unparalleled under heaven."

A kaiken is a small tanto carried by both samurai men and women for close-quarters or indoor self-defense where longer swords like the katana were impractical.

In the case of women's protection, for traditional samurai wives and daughters, they kept the taiken dagger tucked in their sash for personal safety or as a wedding gift symbolizing family honour

Potentially used historically to swiftly cut the carotid artery to preserve honour in moments of extreme crisis, as a form of ritual suicide (Jigai).

The traditionally made smith made blade is incredibly similar to the type of kaiken seppuku tanto that was presented to the Zero pilots, the 'kamikaze' in WW2, and worn around their neck.

The type as were presented to the WW2 Zero pilots before their Kamikaze suicide missions and also given to or purchased by Kaiten pilots, the Japanese navy's one man human suicide torpedoes. Photo in the gallery shows a WW2 'Kamikaze' pilot being issued his suicide Seppuku tanto in the Kaiten ceremony. Originally they could have had an exterior brown leather cover and neck strap. The pilot had the choice whether to commit suicide, or not. It was not an order, nor directive and if the pilot missed the ship he had the option of killing himself to ask forgiveness of the honourable ancestors for his failure, as many of the planes had only enough fuel for a one way trip. Because the Zero pilot was belted into a very narrow seat and wearing many layers of his cold atmospheric pilot's flying suit with the addition of his life vest; it would be impossible for the aeronautical pilot to commit traditional ritual seppuku. It is said the procedure was to pull the knife out from it's neck sheath and thrust it straight into the throat much like the ladies form of seppuku.

In recognition of the unfavourable progress of the war, towards the end of 1943 the Japanese high command considered suggestions for various suicide craft. These suggestions were initially rejected, but later deemed necessary. Various suicide craft were developed in the Japanese Special Attack Units.

For the Navy, this meant Kamikaze planes, Ohka piloted bombs, Shinyo suicide boats, Kaiten submarines, and Fukuryu suicide divers or human mines. The Kamikazes were somewhat successful, and the second most successful were the Kaitens.

Research on the first Kaiten began in February 1944, followed on 25 July of the same year by the first prototype. By 1 August, an order for 100 units had been placed.

The island of Ōzushima, in the Inland Sea, was used as a training site. The island was equipped with cranes, torpedo testing pits, and launch ramps, and had a large shallow bay for test running and firing. The Kaiten Memorial Museum is now situated there.

Kaiten pilots were all men aged between 17 and 28. Initial training consisted of sailing fast surface boats by periscope and instrument readings alone. When a pilot had advanced past this basic training, he would begin training on Kaitens. Training craft were fitted with a dummy warhead that contained telemetry equipment and an emergency blowing tank that could return the craft to the surface should the trainee dive to a dangerous depth. Kaiten training started with basic circular runs to and from a fixed landmark at a reduced speed; the training advanced to faster and more hazardous runs around rocks and through channels in deeper waters. The more difficult runs required the pilot to surface and check the periscope repeatedly, and required conscientious adjusting of trim tank levels because of the reducing weight as oxygen was used up. When the instructors were confident about a pilot's abilities, they would advance the pilot to open water training against target ships. Training at this level was often done at full attack speed, and either at night or in twilight. The final phase of training would be a submarine launch and more open water attack runs on target ships.

Training was dangerous, and 15 men died in accidents, most commonly collisions with the target vessels. Although the warheads were only dummies, the impact at ramming speed was enough to both cripple the Kaiten and severely injure the pilot.

In action, the Kaiten was always operated by one man, but the larger training models (Types 2, 4, and 5) could carry two or even four.

Kaiten pilots who were leaving for their final missions would leave testaments and messages behind for their loved ones

blade length approx 5 inches long, overall in saya 8.25 inches long  read more

Code: 26379

Royal Gurkha Rifles, Pouch Belt Badge & Plate - Silver Plate "Come and fight a Gurkha!" Gurkha Lachhiman Gurung VC Who Single Handedly Fought Off & Beat 200 Japanese With One Hand Blown Off & Blinded in 1 Eye By Grenade

Large post 1953 pattern Gurhka Regt. silver plated cross-belt plate, with backing mount plate, in excellent condition.

Considered to be one of the greatest and bravest regiments in the world. The very finest men to fight alongside, and the very, very worst to fight against.

"Ayo Gorkali" the battle cry of the Gurkhas, "The Gurkhas Are Coming", has been known to instill terror in any confronted enemy of the Gurkhas. Many battle hardened Japanese infantrymen in WW2, and Argentinian soldiers in The Falklands were known to have run and fled or surrendered immediately upon that battle cry being heard.

The Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) is a rifle regiment of the British Army, forming part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Unlike other regiments in the British Army, RGR soldiers are recruited from Nepal, which is neither a dependent territory of the United Kingdom nor a member of the Commonwealth.

Just one example of Gurkha heroism is Corporal Dip Prasad Pun of the 1st battalion (1 RGR) was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for an act of bravery during the War in Afghanistan in 2010. He alone defended his outpost against a force of up to 12 Taliban fighters. He fired more than 400 rounds, 17 grenades, and one mine. He resorted to fighting with his machine gun tripod after his ammunition had run out

The battle honours of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are as follows:29

Amboor, Carnatic, Mysore 1792, Assaye 1803, Ava 1852, Burma 1885–87, Bhurtpore, Aliwal, Sobraon, Delhi 1857, Kabul 1879, Afghanistan 1878–80, Kandahar 1880, Tirah, Punjab Frontier, Afghanistan 1919
First World War: La Bassée 1914, Festubert 1914–15, Givenchy 1914, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers, Loos, France and Flanders 1914–15, Egypt 1915, Tigris 1916, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1916–18, Persia 1918, Baluchistan 1918, Helles, Krithia, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Suez Canal, Egypt 1915–16, Khan Baghdadi, Mesopotamia 1916–18, Persia 1916–1918, North West Frontier India 1915–17, Egypt 1915, Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1918, Shaiba, Kut al Amara 1915–17, Ctesiphon, Defence of Kut al Amara, Baghdad, Sharqat, Mesopotamia 1915–18
The Second World War: Tobruk 1942, El Alamein, Akarit, Tunis, Cassino 1, Poggio Del Grillo, Gothic Line, Tavoleto, Coriano, Santacangelo, Monte Chicco, Bologna, Medicina, Italy 1944-45, Jitra, Slim River, Sittang 1942, 1945, Kyaukse 1942, 1945, North Arakan, Imphal, Tuitum, Bishenpur, Tengnoupal, Shwebo, Kyaukmyaung Bridgehead, Mandalay, Myinmu Bridgehead, Fort Dufferin, Meiktila, Irrawaddy, Rangoon Road, Chindits 1943,44 & 45, Tamandu, Maymyo
Falklands War.

Picture 8 in the gallery is of Jemadar Jangia Bullets Thapa, 5th Gurkha Regiment, 1890

One of Major-General Frederick Roberts's orderlies during the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), Jemadar Jangia Thapa was nicknamed 'Bullets' because regimental tradition had it that he had once been hit on the forehead by a bullet which had been completely flattened without causing him the least discomfort. Thapa was admitted to the Second Class of the Order of British India in April 1897 and was selected as one of the representatives for India at the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth in January 1901.

One of the most famous Gurkhas in the British Army

Lachhiman Gurung VC ( 30 December 1917 – 12 December 2010) was a Nepalese–British Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is best known as the "Gurkha who took on 200 soldiers with only one hand" because of his actions in World War II.

On 12/13 May 1945 at Taungdaw, Burma now Myanmar, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy. He hurled back two hand grenades which had fallen on his trench, but the third exploded in his right hand after he attempted to throw it back, blowing off his fingers, shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face, body and right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman, now alone and disregarding his wounds, loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for four hours (all while he screamed "Come and fight a Gurkha!"), calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point blank range.

His citation in the London Gazette ends with...

...Of the 87 enemy dead counted in the immediate vicinity of the Company locality, 31 lay in front of this Rifleman's section, the key to the whole position. Had the enemy succeeded in over-running and occupying Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung's trench, the whole of the reverse slope position would have been completely dominated and turned.

This Rifleman, by his magnificent example, so inspired his comrades to resist the enemy to the last, that, although surrounded and cut off for three days and two nights, they held and smashed every attack.

His outstanding gallantry and extreme devotion to duty, in the face of almost overwhelming odds, were the main factors in the defeat of the enemy.1

He received his Victoria Cross from the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Lord Wavell at the Red Fort in Delhi on 19 December 1945

Four threaded mounting screw posts, with two affixing rounded nuts present.
93mm x 75mm  read more

Code: 24442

A Most Rare Victorian, Anglo Indian, British Raj, Silver 105th (Madras Light Infantry) Officer Glengarry Badge

From the British Raj, one of the most desirable eras of collectable militaria of Anglo Indian history. Pre 1881 Silver coiled bugle horn couched within crowned sprays of laurel and palm, the horn with central floreate numerals 105, on the curl of the horn Madras Light Infty.. A scroll on the junction of the leaf sprays Cede Nullis. Sealed in 1876. Became the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1881 The 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry) was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment).

The regiment was originally raised by the Honourable East India Company in 1839 as the 2nd Madras (European) Regiment, redesignated the 2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry in 1842, and served in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown in 1858, and formally moved into the British Army in 1862, ranked as the 105th Foot.

As part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, the regiment was amalgamated with the 51st (the 2nd Yorkshire West Riding) or King's Own Light Infantry Regiment to form The King's Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment).  read more

Code: 19050

A WW2 German, Third Reich Period, Police Ordnungspolizei Helmet Complete with Original Liner and Chinstrap

The pattern of helmet designed for service in the German Police. Complete with its original leather liner and its chinstrap present and spring clip-buckle. Interior skull stamped Din 1494 with maker monogram logo stamp used for traceability on industrial hardware components in WW2.

Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler was named Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern (Chief of German Police in the Interior Ministry) on 17 June 1936 after Hitler announced a decree which was to "unify the control of police duties in the Reich". Traditionally, law enforcement in Germany had been a state and local matter. In this role, Himmler was nominally subordinate to Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick. However, the decree effectively subordinated the police to the SS, making it virtually independent of Frick's control. Himmler gained authority as all of Germany's uniformed law enforcement agencies were amalgamated into the new Ordnungspolizei, whose main office became populated by officers of the SS.

The police were divided into the Ordnungspolizei (Orpo or regular police) and the Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo or security police), which had been established in June 1936. The Orpo assumed duties of regular uniformed law enforcement while the SiPo consisted of the secret state police (Geheime Staatspolizei or Gestapo) and criminal investigation police (Kriminalpolizei or Kripo). The Kriminalpolizei was a corps of professional detectives involved in fighting crime and the task of the Gestapo was combating espionage and political dissent. On 27 September 1939, the SS security service, the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) and the SiPo were folded into the Reich Main Security Office (Reichssicherheitshauptamt or RSHA). The RSHA symbolized the close connection between the SS (a party organization) and the police (a state organization). Police Battalions (SS-Polizei-Bataillone), for various auxiliary duties outside of Germany, including anti-partisan operations, construction of defense works (i.e. Atlantic Wall), and support of combat troops. Specific duties varied widely from unit to unit from one year to another. Generally, the SS Polizei units were not directly involved in combat. Some Police Battalions were primarily focused on traditional security roles of an occupying force while others were directly involved in the Holocaust. This latter role was obscured in the immediate aftermath of World War II, both by accident and by deliberate obfuscation, when most of the focus was on the better-known Einsatzgruppen ("Operational groups") who reported to the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA Reich Main Security Office) under Reinhard Heydrich.  read more

Code: 26377