MILITARY ISSUE SCREWDRIVER, 1952

Made in 1952 by Sheffield Toolmaker J.T.Y.Zack & Son. Screwdrivers of this pattern had been made for over a 100 years. In the film Zulu Dawn of 1979 about the battle of Isandlwana in 1879, a problem is rein-acted with the opening of the ammunition boxes using one such screwdriver, history reports that there were not enough screwdrivers to open the boxes quick enough and the screws were rusty, whether this helped the Zulus victory in one of the British Armies worst disasters is debatable, as many other factors were responsible for the British defeat. This tool is a good example of the type of tool used by the British Army at the time. It is of Military issue and is marked as such.

A1695

WW11 STEREOSCOPE AND PHOTOS, 1944

This 'D' type Stereoscope and prints have been donated by the Medmanham collection.

The prints show the Bridge at Arnhem as taken by a Spitfire Reconnaissance sortie on the 6th September 1944 ( Sortie 106G 1676 ).
On the 17th September 1944 during Operation Market Garden, 600 men of the 2nd Parachute Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost launched an assault on this bridge which was to be subsequently known as the ' Bridge to Far '.

The Museum of Technology was invited to an Annual dinner at Combined Operations, Northwood where we displayed a selection of WW1 & WW2 equipment.

The Stereoscope and Ephemera were donated as a result.

A1078

WWII LUCAS LAMP ELECTRIC No1, 1941

Looking like a cycle lamp but with a belt clip on the rear, marked Lamps Electric No1 Joseph Lucas Birmingham England 1941.It has a hood to prevent the light spreading and causing unwanted attention, and the small knob in the centre of the lens allows a neutral density filter to be selected over the remaining half of the glass

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1229

SWEETHEART PIN CUSHION 9TH NORFOLK REGIMENT

A sweetheart pin cushion from The Royal Norfolk Regiment. Pin cushions, were a very common memento sent home by the troops to their loved ones during WW1. As with this one, they often incorporate the name of the soldier's unit - here the insignia, of Britannia and the regiment's colours can be seen.
The Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The Norfolk Regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as the county regiment of Norfolk. It was formed from the 9th (the East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot (formerly the 9th Regiment of Foot) and covered the local militia and rifle volunteers. It became the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 3 June 1935.

The 8th Battalion as part of the 18th (Eastern) Division was present on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. They got beyond their initial target and had by 5.00pm reached the German trenches known as "Montauban Alley". Over one hundred men and three officers had been killed.
During the war Lt-Col Jack Sherwood Kelly, a Norfolk regiment officer, won a Victoria Cross leading a trench assault by Irish troops during the battle of Cambrai in 1917.
They inherited the regimental nickname of the "Holy Boys" from the 9th Regiment of Foot. The story of the nickname is that it was gained it from a misidentification of their cap badge of Britannia by a Spanish soldier for the Virgin Mary.

A1448

WOMENS PEACE PETITION, 1939

Petition forms for gathering signatures against the coming of World War Two.
The date on the Petition is 15th July 1939

Nortel Collection

A1356

WILLIAM CECIL LAY

Collection by the late veteran donated to the Museum. He joined the Northamptonshire Regiment and was discharged on 18 June 1919.

Donated by his son John Lay

A1007

WW1 GRAVE MARKER

In the late 1950's 678 German War Cemeteries were abandoned and all human remains were put in one of 5 mass graves. The ground of the former cemeteries was reclaimed by local farmers and the grave markers ended up mainly as construction material or firewood. Buhnen Bernard's remains were transferred to the Langemark Studenten Friedhof and he now rests with 24,916 others. His marker survived.

A0359

PEDAL GENERATOR, 12 VOLTS 5 AMPS, ADMIRALTY PATTERN 323A

Used in Naval Vessels as an emergency source of power in the event of generator failure. This unit could provide enough power to run a small transmitter or charge other batteries.

A0087

WW1 TRENCH ART, 1916

2 X Schneider 75mm Shell Cases decorated and formed into an art known as Trench Art.

Men in captivity, during the Great War, found comfort from making items out of empty shell cases, bullets, tins in fact anything that came to hand.

Trench Art can be found today in many antique shops.

A0998

WW1 BULLET LIGHTER

A form of Trench Art, items like this lighter found their way out of the trenches or more likely prisoner of war camps during WW1.
Made by men, who during a quiet period needed to occupy their time.
This object however may have been made long after the War.

A0460

WW1 PRINCESS MARY GIFT TIN, 1914

In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the national press inviting monetary contributions to a 'Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund' which had been created by Princess Mary, the seventeen year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The purpose was to provide everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914 with a 'gift from the nation'.

The response was truly overwhelming, and it was decided to spend the money on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsey. The contents varied considerably, officers and men on active service afloat or at the front received a box containing a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead. Indian troops often got sweets and spices, and nurses were treated to chocolate.
Many of these items were despatched separately from the tins themselves, as once the standard issue of tobacco and cigarettes was placed in the tin there was little room for much else apart from the greeting card.

A0462

BOER WAR GIFT TIN, 1899

These tins, made by the confectioners Rowntree, contained chocolate and were sent out to the British and Colonial Servicemen fighting in the South African Republic against President Kruger in the year 1900. The tins were a gift from Queen Victoria and on the lid was printed in the Queen's own handwriting, "I wish you a Happy New Year".

A0459

WWII AIR MINISTRY STOP CLOCK

Stop Clock used by the Air Ministry. Possibly used in Air Ministry Photo Labs.


Pulling the short cord resets the hands, pulling the long cord winds up the clock and starts the timing sequence.

A0747

GERMAN INFLATION MONEY AND ONE MILLION MARK NOTE, 1920's

Between the Wars inflation was at its peak for Germany in November 1923.
Hyperinflation did not directly bring about the Nazi takeover of Germany, the inflation ended with the introduction of the Rentenmark and the Weimar Republic continued for a decade afterwards.
The inflation did, however, raise doubts about the competence of liberal institutions, especially amongst a middle class who had held cash savings and bonds.
It also produced resentment of Germany's bankers and speculators, many of them Jewish, whom the government and press blamed for the inflation.

A0465

WW1 SMALL TOP FLAG FROM 'PRINZ EUGEN' BATTLESHIP, 1912

The following text is attached to the back of the frame.

The Flag was presented to a my father in 1935 by Mathias Eder, son of the Wagenbauer. He had served on the ''Prinz Eugen'' during the First World War.
The Eder family came originally from Bohemia and later settled in Bautzen, near my fathers house. Mathias Eder had actually served in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. His father kept the flag and passed it on to me for safe keeping whilst he was in the navy during the Second World War. In his opinion such a souvenir was better in my possession.

Details from the Navy Year Book 1977.''Prinz Eugen'' Launched 1912. Displacement 20,000 tonnes. Speed 20.5 k.p.h. Crew 1046 Armament 12 X 305mm, 12 X 150mm 18 X 75mm 2 X 47mm 4 X torpedo There were three other 'Ships of the Line' of this type; ''SZENT OSTVAN', ''TEGERHOFF' and 'VIRIBUS UNITIS'

The researcher of the Austro-Hungarian Navy said that the Szent Istvan was sunk by the Italian Navy but there was no concrete evidence as to the fate of the Prinz Eugen. One source said that it had been abandoned in the Turkish harbour/port, whilst another said that it was given to Italy under the 'Treaty of Versailles'. Initialled K.D.G. Text translated from the German.

A0364

WW1 COMMEMORATIVE SILK

Sewn by a French soldier whilst captive in Germany during WW1.

There is an empty space where we believe a picture would have been.

A0517

WW1 SILK HANKIE FROM FRANCE

An example of one of the many items sent home to loved ones during WW1.

A0455

WW1 SILK POST CARDS

Cards sent home by the troops during WW1.

All of these cards have messages written on them.

A0464

WW1 SILK SCARF

Made with permission from the publisher of the song, "Till The Boys Come Home"

Many Thousands of these were made by manufacturers both large and small, and sold to raise funds for the War effort.

A0992

WWII MOORING MAGNETS

Mooring Magnets as the title suggests are a very strong magnet for mooring small craft to the hull of a large ship.
On the base is a plate to prevent loss of magnetism, this must be removed before use.

We have seen these types of Mooring Magnets used in films such as
"Cockle Shell Heroes"

A0813

WWII AIR MINISTRY 3 INCH KNIFE SWITCH

Two pole lever switch with Hysteresis extensions to stop arcing when the contacts are released.

A0758

WWII GERMAN FLARE PARACHUTE

Dropped from aircraft or fired from a gun with a flare attached to illuminate the ground below, used during World War Two.
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion.
Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications.

John Ambrose collection

A0840

WWII US ARMY PARACHUTE LAMP

Lamp fixed to Parachute equipment to aid location in water.

A1297

WWII BAMBOO TUBE WITH AIRGRAPH

The Bamboo Case was hand made by Mr William Ambrose the Father of John Ambrose, who donated it to the museum.

The letter inside was written to his Mother by William and sent from the hospital in which he was recovering from an illness just after the Second World War.

John Ambrose collection

A0839

WW1 TANK CORPS CIGARETTE CASE

Regimental souvenir cigarette case with the Tank Corps emblem on the front.

A0897

WW1 ALEXANDRA CHINA 'Mk 5 TANK', 1918

Another example of the china produced to help raise funds during WW1

A0902

WWI CARLTON CHINA 'TOMMY IN TRENCH', 1918

China Models of Tanks, Guns, and scenes from WW1 were made during the conflict as fund raisers.

Many manufacturers of china ware produced these items to raise money for the war effort between 1914 and 1918.

A0867

WWII RATION TIN TYPE 'C'

Tin containing a ration of sweets, fruit bar, sweet biscuits, oatmeal munch & chewing gum.

A visitor to the museum told how he and his regiment eat tins of WW1 rations during the Second World War.

The contents of the tin shown would probably still be OK to eat.

A1095

WWII FAR EAST BLOOD CHIT

A printed cloth or 'redemption coupon' Inspired by British specimens issued to RAF pilots in India.
Blood Chits originated during WW2 with the 'Flying Tigers' and were later issued to other aircrews flying over occupied Axis territory.

A1125

WW1 GERMAN POST CARD, 1918

Written on the back in German :- ''To the gang at anna Bruns, Wittingen, near Wurzburg'', and reads ''Today I received your valued postcard, for which my best thanks. I am feeling better again. Yesterday ? paid Munich, too, another visit. greetings from your? Waffert?'' Dated 20 Feb 18

A0441

WWII GLASS BOTTLE MADE IN DRESDEN

During WW2 Dresden was being used extensively for making war material, although the factories were mainly in the suburbs, the whole area was bombed by the British and Americans in three waves of aircraft on the same night, the bombers carried explosive and incendiary bombs with the intention of creating a 'Firestorm'.
The first wave devastated the city centre, the second wave devastated the suburbs where most of the survivors had fled.
A 'Fire-storm" was created and thousands died from falling masonry or were suffocated in the shelters, almost all of the factories were destroyed.
A third wave was not needed but it was too late to stop the carnage that followed, where any remaining refugees were hit including the hospital.
It remains to this day a matter of controversy whether it was necessary.
This bottle must have been made before this fateful night.

The museum's trustees found the bottle at "The War & Peace Show" in 2009 and the word "Dresden" on the china stopper was a good enough reason for its purchase.

• Detailed view of cap
  

A1296

WWII FRAMED ITEMS RELATING TO THE SOE

Special Operations Executive S.O.E. a selection of items items such as Time pencils,button compasses and trip wire.
Time pencils were fuzes timed by acid corroding a thin wire , when the wire broke a spring forced a pin onto a percussion cap exploding a small charge. Timing could be erratic in different temperatures, a colour code denoted the time period of each fuze. Used mainly by resistance movements in various Countries.
The items shown are colour time code Green.
Also shown are, Trip wire Detonators and Trip Wire and a small compass Nicknamed 'Button' because of its size, but not actually a button as in Item A1121.
A Safety Fuse, and a Rail Detonator for positioning on a train line.
Rail Detonators are still used today for warning purposes.

A0810