Museum Rooms War, Revolution & Militaria

Bosnia Herzegovina. Purchased from a silversmiths and a very good one at that (we have a solid silver sugar bowl by the same artist) - Sarajevo . Etched copper and brass and made from sheet metal and machined parts, the main body is from a 12.7 mm round which according to the Head stamp ST was manufactured in the UK - (Royal Ordnance Streeton). The wing pods are two 5.56 size cal rounds, Head-Stamp Czech SB 10 - 4 dots factory. The model probably represents a USA F16 Fighting Falcon, which the local people no doubt would have seen overhead.

Vietnam Zippo 111 1968-69 date with newer insert. Hand etched Vietnam- 2-47 Mech Bastards part of 9th Infantry Division -Dak To was 1967 battle fought near Saigon (Vietnam). The lighter date ties in with the battle date, but many blank zippos were left behind. Enterprising Vietnamese would go around the camps with books so G.I.’s - USA troops could select what they wanted. On the reverse it says “There is nothing so sweet as the smell of death in the morning” which is in different type face so may have been added later. The Vehicle is probably a stylised M113 APC contemporary with the period.

This group of three objects represents 3 different wars - The 1981’s Cold War between Nato and The Soviet Union. The Balkans / Yugoslavian separation War 1991 and the Albania Civil War of 1997. The link clip is from a 7.62mm GPMG of the British Army, and the 12.7mm 1980 Shell Casing carved with flower decorations from Bosnian Conflict SARAJEVO (Bosnia) originated from the Igman Factory at Konjic Yugoslavia (now Bosnia) Headstamp NK (IK) located near Titos Bunker. The Shell casing (89) 7.62 short probably from a Kalashnikov - possibly part of the civil war in Albania - from the accursed Mountains Valbona (Albania).

Modern - toy / tourist-ware made from tonic water cans (Evervess) - probably made using old photo’s it resembles an F5 Freedom Fighter which would have been contemporary at the time of the Vietnam war. Details such as the tube on tube body shape, pointed nose and wing pods are are stylistic clues, but it could equally be a Mirage 111? . They are superbly made and represent a sad period of history of that part of South East Asia. Acquired on the Ho Chi Min trail - more accurate representation were seized by customs - but this one survived to tell the tale of war. The excellent War Remnants Museum is well worth a visit and tells the other side of the Vietnam war, and the disturbing consequences of the use by the USA of Agent Orange.