Mark Finneran
Well-Known Member
:tinysmile_grin_t:
British Ordnance Collectors Network
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
A REAL collector of small arms 'stuff'
- Thread starter Mark Finneran
- Start date
I forget his name but this chap was an Australian soldier who served on the Somme. The photo shows him with some of his souvenirs. There is information available about him at the caf in Pozieres. He had to have been a dedicated collector to have carted all that extra stuff around with him.
25thapril
Well-Known Member
The picture in question is titled "wild eye the souvenir king" the man is John { Barney } Hines and he served in the Australian army's 47th Battalion the picture is at polygon woods after the third battle of Ypres Sept 1917 At Messines June 1917 he crawled onto a pillbox and captured its garrison of 60 Germans by throwing Mills bombs
into it. His lack of discipline out of the line negated his bravery in it and he was never formerly decorated . He never really fitted back into society on his return from the war and for nearly 40 years he lived in a bag humpy on the outskirts of Sydney just one of many thousands who served their country but in the end their country failed them. He
passed away in Jan 1958 aged 85. In 1971 the Mt Druitt { Area of Sydney } Returned Services League took up a collection to erect a headstone over his grave.
The details I have supplied are from a article published in the Australian war memorials magazine "Wartime "issue 13 autumn 2001
into it. His lack of discipline out of the line negated his bravery in it and he was never formerly decorated . He never really fitted back into society on his return from the war and for nearly 40 years he lived in a bag humpy on the outskirts of Sydney just one of many thousands who served their country but in the end their country failed them. He
passed away in Jan 1958 aged 85. In 1971 the Mt Druitt { Area of Sydney } Returned Services League took up a collection to erect a headstone over his grave.
The details I have supplied are from a article published in the Australian war memorials magazine "Wartime "issue 13 autumn 2001
More on him here not what i would call australian as he only arrived in there in 1914 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hines_(Australian_soldier)
Andy
Andy
Mark Finneran
Well-Known Member
Collector's Dream
British and German MG collectors heaven!
If you live in a house looking like this please let me know!
British and German MG collectors heaven!
If you live in a house looking like this please let me know!