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WWII original photograph - Women's Land Army

The British Women's Land Army was originally created in 1917 by the Board of Agriculture to take on the role of farm workers, replacing the men who had enlisted in the miitary. Disbanded in 1919, it was re-formed in June 1939 as Britain once more prepared for war.

A good size (6in x 8in) unit photo, possibly a farewell gathering before being disbanded, taken outside ‘Gardens Bar’ (exact location not known, but may be significant). There are a number of interesting points of reference eg: Many WLA armbands are visible, each with numerous triangular ('half-pip') badges sewn on. These were issued for every 6 months of service and were sewn back to back to create a complete diamond shape. Also a number of 'star' shaped proficiency badges are visible, so obviously these women have served for some time. Perhaps wishful thinking, but the lady seated front row far right looks a little like Lady Denman who was the Director of the WLA during WWII.

The photo is bowed with a number of soft creases and indentations / stress marks. One small tear lower right hand edge. Reverse is blank.

H:15.5 x W:20.3cm £12.00 + £1.55 P&P UK

NB. WWII Women's Land Army milking stool and badge in Home Front section.

WWII original photograph - Women's Land Army

A good size original photograph showing a group of 'Land Girls' all with splendid hairstyles and neatly attired in their green jerseys, tan breeches and sturdy brown shoes - possibly new recruits.

Over 200,000 women and girls aged between 19 and 40 were employed between 1939 up to 1950 and replaced male farm workers who had gone to war. Their role was critical in increasing the country’s food production. Despite having little to no agricultural experience, they ploughed fields, grew produce, milked cows, caught rats, drove tractors - and much more

An interesting period photo (location unknown), and perfect reference for anyone with a particular interest in the subject matter. Although not flat, it is in reasonably good condition, with sharp edges and is very clean. Small stress indent bottom left corner and a 'soft crease' running along the bottom edge and two smaller ones at the top. Reverse is blank.

H:13.7 x W:17.5cm £12.00 + £1.55 P&P UK

NB. WWII Women's Land Army milking stool and badge in Home Front section.

WWII photographs - Heer (German Army) interest

Two related photos - one with a young NCO lying on the grass with his pet dachshund (one man and his dog), holding the lead in his left hand - the second photo this time with his girlfriend? who is holding the dog. Both are slightly bowed but in good clean condition. Printed on the reverse of both is the Agfa Lupex logo of the German photographic company that became known as Agfa post-war.

The third unassociated photo, again a (wounded and recovering) NCO who seems to be in very high spirits, no doubt encouraged by his female companion. Also in good condition with the words Junker H857 Koblenz printed on the reverse.

Two photos at: 9 x 6cm. One at 6 x 6cm.

£9.00 + £0.85 P&P UK

WWII photograph - Kriegsmarine (German Navy) interest

'A thorn between two roses' - a quite charming snap showing a relaxed and perhaps bashful German seaman (his eyes are shut) no doubt on leave. On the reverse is a pencil 'scribble' and the word LEONAR faintly printed. Leonar was the brand name for cameras and photographic paper made by Leonar-Werke Arndt & Löwengard in Wandsbek, near Hamburg. Overall condition is a little 'tired' with slight grubbyness to the reverse and light creasing across two corners.

H:6 x W:9cm £4.00 + £0.85 P&P UK

WWII Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross) framed photo of a nurse together with related paperwork

Interesting grouping to a young woman called Hanna Weber who was born on 14/02/1923 in Sarstedt, a small town situated 20 km south of Hannover. She applied to the German Red Cross at Marienburg for training as a nurse, was accepted on the course and completed her basic training which took place between 14/02/1944 - 25/02/1944 in Gehrden, Hannover. She successfully achieved the standards required and her performance in various categories such as discipline, teamwork, professionalism etc. was duly noted. This is a concise overview of Hanna's details which is primarily covered in the three larger documents. However, an interesting little twist emerged when studying the smaller documents as a different name is mentioned (on the page with the most text). Apparently, another person (name of Lichtenstein) applied to the Red Cross at the same time as Hanna Weber, but with aspirations to study medicine and get work experience in a hospital to become a doctor. This was welcomed by the Red Cross and resulted in Hanna's original request to start the course being declined to allow Lichtenstein to start training before her, the assumption being that a doctor's skills would be considered of greater value. Consequently, Hanna was given a new date to start her course a short time later.

This is all original paperwork from Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, including headed paper with official ink stamps. Some pages are a little distressed along the edges but overall good condition considering the flimsiness and age of the paper. The photograph is mounted onto textured card in a typical frame of the period which has a pseudo stylised wood-effect facing with ebonised edges. Great overall condition with just one minor edge knock with associated loss of black finish to lower left edge.

Photo frame: H:31.5 x W:26.3cm

£48.00 + £5.99 P&P UK

WWII German stamped envelope with hand written letter and photograph

Four page letter addressed to Frau Clara Engel in Rodener Strasse, Wiesbaden, written on 11.4.43 and posted a day later in Dresden utilising a 12-PfennIg stamp with the head of Hitler.

Translation as follows.

Dear Clara and Rudi, I have arrived safely in Dresden Thursday morning at 8 o' clock. I departed by train Wednesday night at 11.30pm. Hope you arrived safely at home. I am comfortable here. I cannot talk to Inge, she is not right in her head.

I am not bothered about her any more. Everyday I see mother. I have already seen my sisters-in-law, they were very happy. It is very peaceful here and I can forget everything. People can sleep here in peace, it seems Dresden isn’t as easy to find. (Allied bombers?). The weather is not so nice, as I left home everything was flowering and here it is cold. Hope you are feeling better again. I have trouble with my heart. Next week Tuesday I return home. Hope the weather improves. My older sister-in-law Frieda is here with her young son. He cries like a young bird. The child is already so old but not yet christened. I don't know what is wrong with the youth today. Your mother has no interest in the child and gives it to strangers to look after it. In 3 weeks he will be at his grandmother. The mother can't be bothered. Now all the best and greetings to Rudi and to you. Your sister, Greetings from Frieda and Inge

An interesting insight into everyday life in Germany during the height of the war. Wiesbaden suffered its first air raid in May, 1941 and was subsequently bombed hundreds of times by both British and American planes. Dresden escaped the attention of the Allies until February 1945 when multiple air raids resulted in the infamous firestorm and destruction of the city.

The photograph (9 x 6cm) was with the letter inside the envelope - no doubt a farewell snap. (No mention of this in the letter so possibly unassociated?)

All in good condition.

£16.00 P&P UK £2.10

WWII Alexander Club, Rome - folder and postcards

The Club (named after General Alexander) was created in a commandeered department store, with six floors centred around a roofed open space. Published by NAAFI / EFI, this is the complete set of 16 cards, with original paper folder, depicting the full range of facilities available to servicemen. The reverse of each card is captioned accordingly. The folder has suffered badly from light staining which contrasts vividly with the natural colour. The postcards have yellowed around the edges but this is far less noticeable, one in particular has yellowed on the reverse mimicking the stain on the folder. All cards are in sound condition, corners remaining quite sharp and no tears or creases. None have been written on.

The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) provided recreational establishments and sold goods to servicemen (and their families). The EFI (Expeditionary Force Institutes) provided NAAFI facilities in war zones.

H:10.5 x W:15.5cm £10.00 + £2.50 P&P UK

WWII theatre programme for Lot's Wife, by Peter Blackmore - Alexandria, January 1945

Presented by The ServiS Players for the benefit of service personnel. An interesting item of ephemera from wartime Egypt, comprising 20 pages in total with some background about the ServiS Players and a wide variety of advertisements which are themselves very interesting - particularly the one for Four Square cigarettes. "Everything ends in smoke" says the NFS girl, "but it might as well be good smoke”.

Inscription in ink on centre spread. Probably very few of these programmes have survived so assumed scarce. In reasonable condition with rust bleed from staples. Centre section detached.

H:20 x W:14cm £7.00 + £2.10 P&P UK

WWI era Merchant Navy paperwork - William Onslow Fearby

Interesting grouping comprising: British Mercantile Marine Identity and Service Certificate No. 200637 William Onslow Fearby - Wireless Operator DOB 15 October 1899, Cardiff, Wales and other personal details and photograph. Valid protection from recruitment by the Armed Forces, signed/dated 26 October 1918. Ink stamp inside back page Central Record Office of Shipping & Seamen, 12 January 1920.

Seaman's Landing Permit - Military Port Office 18, Marina, Valletta, Malta made out for W O Fearby to land and return to SS Bylands, dated 17 June 1918. SS Bylands was captured and sunk by the German submarine U-139 on 1st October 1918.

United States of America - Alien Seaman's Identification Card Port of New York made out for William Onslow Fearby. Handwritten personal details, photograph and thumb print. "Vessel" - Baymano, dated December 10, 1918.

Seaman's Landing Permit, Port de Nantes, France - for W Fearby to temporarily land on shore from ship name Baymano, dated 9 January 1919. Baymano was built as Cayo Romano for E. Bigland & Co., London, and in 1916 sold to Bay SS Co., London and renamed Baymano. Renamed three more times, she was sunk in 1943 off Morocco, by a mine laid by U-455.

Two photographs and a photographic postcard (unused) entitled Wallaroo Shipping (small port in Australia). Overall used vintage condition - the cards are in very good order, photos are faded, the landing permits are fragile with tears on folds etc.

£40.00 + £3.05 P&P UK

WWII era songs sheet music

Great titles from the 40s - a reminder that music and entertainment were important morale boosters. Evocative cover designs epitomise the style and mood of the war years. The Handsome Territorial has illustrated dance steps. Oh! What a surprise… owner’s name handwritten in ink - Eleanor Shaw 14/2/41.

All in well-used condition, with creases and the odd torn corner.

£12.50 + £3.50 P&P UK

WWII British S & A Class submarines engineering drawing - 40BHP motor for compressors

Printed on cloth - Makers drawing No. 1081/43L dated 07/10/43. Produced by Laurence Scott & Electromotors Ltd. Norwich. The S Class submarines of the Royal Navy were designed and built during the modernisation of the submarine force in the early 1930s and were improved between 1940 - 1945. The A Class (Amphion) were designed to be used in the Pacific where speed, the ability to dive deep and effective air conditioning were vital requirements for operating in that theatre. Good condition, with fold creases.

W:113 x H:80cm Folded: W:28 x H:19cm

£25.00 + £4.45 P&P UK

Die Deutsche Arbeitsfront Mitgliedsbuch, WWII DAF membership book to Hermann Schmidt - bricklayer

Interesting group of associated items comprising membership book with stamps to confirm dues paid (August 1935 to December 1944), a solicitor's letter confirming the signing of a house purchase contract and a Feldpost letter with a tantilising admission "I was with Ingrid alone in the cinema". The last two documents associated with a Paul Stolze.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the free trade unions were dissolved and their members were absorbed into the newly created DAF - Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor front). The aims were to create a national community of professional and manual labourers, and to educate them in National Socialist principles. Membership benefits included entertainment, sport, and travel opportunities provided by the attached KdF - "Kraft durch Freude" (Strength through Joy), welfare organization.

£25.00 + £2.45 P&P UK

Original WWI era aviation photographs

Includes three large images of a captured Halberstadt CLII. Each is ink stamped on the reverse: 'No. 3 Advanced Section, Army Printing and Stationery Services'. Plus two small photographs with handwritten captions on the reverse: ‘This is the new bus for passengers. Note the 2 windows’. ‘This is the passenger bus front view. Balfour flew in this one to Peace Conference’. All photos curled slightly but good vintage condition.

Aeronautical booklet - Supplement to the Hotspur - ‘The Deathless Squadron’s Greatest Flights’. Minor discolouration, creasing, and foxing but no rips or tears. 

Photos: 21 x 16cm & 6.4 x 4.4cm

£20.00 + £3.55 P&P UK

Original WWI aviation photographs

Interesting collection of damaged aircraft sections. Eight prints which include a 'Tailplane of Gotha brought down by the French' x 3 off. Friedrichshafen twin-engine machine damaged section x 1 off. Junker (armoured) two-seater x 4 off.

All photos curled slightly but in good vintage condition. One or two slightly grubby, one with creases top right

Varying sizes. Largest: 21.5 x 16cm Smallest: 17.5 x 12.5cm

£14.00 + £3.55 P&P UK