British Army Dump - WW2 Relic Retrieval and Preservation Group

[ww2digger]

Hi All

I thought I'd share with you the recent work of the WW2 Relic Retrieval and Preservation Group (RRPG). We formed some 6 months ago and are made up of serving and ex servicemen, Amateur historians and keen enthusiasts, with close links with EOD personnel. We formed the group to ensure that relics are preserved for future generations. All too often important historical relics from WW2 are dug up by people just out to make a fast buck, with no regard for the context in which the items were found, nor any intention to record where items have been recovered from. The WW2 RRPG is dedicated to recording, preserving and protecting the relics from this important era in our history, especially as many items are fast rusting away to nothingness.

Our most recent challenge has been the searching of an old British Army dump here in the UK. After a number of months research and tracking down the relevant land owners, 7 members of the RRPG visited the site, along with 2 guys who had been protecting the site for a great many years. It is with thanks to them that we have been able to recover some very important relics from this site.

As a taster of the type of items we found, here are some items of particular note;

All kinds of trigger gauges and bits of kit (Kerr Sling pieces shown here).....

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303 Inspection rounds, drill rounds, along with 30cal drill rounds.

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Mark 1 Sten stock and flash hider

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The most amazing find of all so far........German 20mm Flak 38 magazines, in incredible condition and clearly Waffenampt marked.

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We discovered that the people who dumped the items here were ensuring nothing could be re-used. Lee-Enfield rifles were chopped into three and set alight in great piles. Sten guns were disassembled into their component parts and scattered, then set alight. Hundreds and hundreds of Besa 7.92mm, 15mm and standard 30cal ammunition cans were just dumped in a hole and covered over. Pull throughs, spare parts, butt plates, L-E ID discs......you name it, it was dumped here.

Working closely with the land owner we have been able to recover and preserve many relics. We had EOD on stand-by should we need advice on anything, or their attendance. Thankfully, the combined knowledge of the group meant they weren't disturbed as we found nothing that could be deemed dangerous, explosive or in contravention of the gun laws. As a professional group, all such items, if found, would have been disposed of correctly, and with EOD involvement should it be necessary.

To show all the relics here would take a great many posts, so it is easier if you just watch the official video of the dig, to be found here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSTcewcL6qs

We hope you enjoy the video.

Regards

ww2digger

(Steve T on WRF, Chairman, WW2 RRPG)

[ww2digger]

I would value your assistance in identifying some objects found at the dump that we can't ID ourselves.

Pictures are below.

They all appear to be part of a weapon firing mechanism but we cannot determine what weapon(s).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

ww2digger (Steve T)

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A large number of these were found. Initially we thought the bend was damage, but they were all bent in the same way. What are they ?

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[adammack]

I think the circular piece in the first phote is a part of a gas regulator from a Bren gun.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Hello Digger,
After reading your mission statement about preserving artifacts that are usually destroyed by 'relic hunters' I would have thought that a little electrolyisis could have also saved the shipping and storage box containing the two German magazines.
Just an observation, not critisism.

Best Regards,
John

[highlandotter]

Thumb #4, second from the top, makes me think of part of a Martini-Henry. Just a vague feeling, it's been 50 years since I handled one.

[pointblank0]

I think the circular piece in the first phote is a part of a gas regulator from a Bren gun.

I agree with the gas regulator bit, but I don't reckon from a Bren. The Bren one had an indented circle of different sizes in each corner. The two bits on the right of the first picture look like the remains of cocking handles from an automatic weapon.

[spotter]

Thumb #4, second from the top, makes me think of part of a Martini-Henry. Just a vague feeling, it's been 50 years since I handled one.

well spotted Highlandotter certainly looks like the breech block from a martini henry

[ww2digger]

Excellent. Many thanks all, that's another item Id'd.

As for the packing crate and its possible preservation, I had to make a decision regarding it and how this would affect the preservation of the magazines themselves. You cannot see the packing crate very well in the video but, and you're going to have to trust me on this, it was beyond recovery. The metal was rusted through to the core, full of holes of various sizes and had both the lid and a large part of the base missing. No electrolysis or soaking in oxalic acid or any other rust remover/killer was going to save the crate AND the magazines. I took no joy in destroying what was left of the crate, taking solace in the fact that I could at least preserve the magazines far more than if they stayed in the crate.

ww2digger

[ww2digger]

I believe I have identified a couple of other bits. The two items on the right had side of the picture appear to belong to a BESA mg, although I am not sure what you would call the item I have two examples of shown in the pics above.

One source refers to it has the barrel carrying and locking handle assembly.

Can anyone ID it properly for me please ?

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[Richard Fisher]

Top left item in the first photo could be a Vickers MG Peg block for positioning the Vickers at night.

I have a drawing somewhere if needed.

Regards

Richard