Posted 8 years ago
tracey1972
(1 item)
I hope you don't mind me asking but I have recently found a belt belonging to my late uncle who fought in WW2 and I have been trying to find out more about it, before deciding what to do with it. After searching through google I found this site and wondered if anyone could help.
The belt is I think made from leather and looks like he engraved all the countries he fought in on to the belt, even though because of the age it is now hard to see a couple of the countries clearly, some are still very clear. The countries include Africa, Algiers November 8th 1942, Cava, Naples,River Volturno, Sessa, Egypt and more. There are around 18 countries engraved.
I am not sure what my uncle did in the war as he never spoke about it but I have also found a 'sweatheart brouch' that has an eagle and a crown on it which I seem to think was to do with the RAF.
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Algiers November 8, 1942. The beginning of 'Operation Torch'. Keep the belt. Look ujp all the locations. There are very good records of what happened where. You can also contact the War Records department and get your Uncle's records.
"On 8th November 1942 the first U.S. troops entered hostilities in North Africa with the invasion of French Morocco and Algeria. These were French colonies that remained loyal to the French Vichy regime, which had reached an accommodation with the Nazis. It was hoped that this loyalty could be overcome and that there would be sufficient French officers who would not wish to fight the United States. British forces took a less prominent part in the operation, partly in a move to avoid antagonising French sensibilities following the sinking of the French Fleet at Oran in July 1940..
In the event the operation did encounter some significant French opposition but the resistance was quickly overcome. The Allies now had a position in the rear of Rommel’s forces in Libya which were currently falling back from El Alamein."
- See more at: http://ww2today.com/8th-november-1942-operation-torch-u-s-forces-land-in-north-africa#sthash.CYurEqyw.dpuf
It is a souvenir belt.
It was common for soldiers during both WW1 and WW2 to create souvenirs from equipment with the locations of service. Collectors call this type of item a "diary ___" in this case a diary belt.
Here is a diary mess kit from WW1:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/21950-ww1-trench-art-diary-mess-kit-and-dog
Another example with a trench art shell showing notations of service:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/23349-ww2-trench-art-jeweler-engraved-pitcher
Finally a more modern example of a map/ diary helmet:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/17175-trench-art-painted-iraqi-fedayeen-helmet
I do not know any specifics on the belt itself as I don't know UK equipment very well.
scott
Wow thank you now i'm interested in finding out what uncle actually did in the war. They had no children and because aunty is also not with us anymore there is no one I can ask.
I did try looking up the countries to see if I could make a connection somewhere but had no luck.
You can also contact the War Records department and get your Uncle's records.