Do Vet Bring Backs Exist?
- Thread starter stencollector
- Start date
My contributions to urban myth:
Heard of some PMQ renovators finding firearm parts in the attics, Edmonton and Calgary. Seemed to be (unofficial) bringbacks from Korea that were reported to the MPs.
I also recall hearing that the barrack boxes coming back from Yugo in the early 90's were being x-rayed and some folks were in ####e for what were in the boxes.
Heard of some PMQ renovators finding firearm parts in the attics, Edmonton and Calgary. Seemed to be (unofficial) bringbacks from Korea that were reported to the MPs.
I also recall hearing that the barrack boxes coming back from Yugo in the early 90's were being x-rayed and some folks were in ####e for what were in the boxes.
Booty
I had 3 great-uncles (brothers) who were in the Cdn Army in WWII, France/Holland, and I heard their story several times.
When they were lined up on the docks to load on to the ships returning to Canada, an officer walked down the line announcing that personal kit would be inspected before boarding. Anyone found with "souverier" weapons would be detained and miss the ship (most had been overseas 3+ yrs). Within minutes a pile of pistols, SMGs, swords and daggers over 5 feet high was formed, as nobody was going to risk missing that boat. As it turned out, there was never any search and guys were mad for years after for missing out on their hard-won booty.
There was later a rumour that a few officers picked up some choice items from the pile!
I had 3 great-uncles (brothers) who were in the Cdn Army in WWII, France/Holland, and I heard their story several times.
When they were lined up on the docks to load on to the ships returning to Canada, an officer walked down the line announcing that personal kit would be inspected before boarding. Anyone found with "souverier" weapons would be detained and miss the ship (most had been overseas 3+ yrs). Within minutes a pile of pistols, SMGs, swords and daggers over 5 feet high was formed, as nobody was going to risk missing that boat. As it turned out, there was never any search and guys were mad for years after for missing out on their hard-won booty.
There was later a rumour that a few officers picked up some choice items from the pile!
My Grandfather was telling me a story recently.
His friend, who went overseas in the army during WWII brought back a Luger he aquired from a German Officer. When the time came when he owed my Grandfather some money, and didn't have it, he gave him the Luger instead.
When my Grandpa got the pistol, he shot it a few times and became scared at what might happen if he got caught with it (being unregistered), so he gave it to a friend and lost track of it.
His friend, who went overseas in the army during WWII brought back a Luger he aquired from a German Officer. When the time came when he owed my Grandfather some money, and didn't have it, he gave him the Luger instead.
When my Grandpa got the pistol, he shot it a few times and became scared at what might happen if he got caught with it (being unregistered), so he gave it to a friend and lost track of it.
This is the honest truth, my great uncle was with the Southa African army in Italy in ww2 as an aircraft engeneer on the spitfires so some of his buddy's dared him to steal a spitfire, he said he worked on them all the time and figured that it can't be to hard to fly well he got her up in the air and made a pass over the air field, crash-landed and spent most of the war in Detention.
Do vet bring-backs exist?
Almost one in the form of a spitfire! lol
Do vet bring-backs exist?
Almost one in the form of a spitfire! lol
I worked with a guy who served overseas in WWII. He didn't mention getting threatened with inspection prior to boarding the ship, but prior to disembarkation in halifax.
He says they were threatened with a cancellation of their military discharge if caught with contraband weapons and all night long you could hear "plunk, plunk, splash" as pistols and submachine guns disappeared into Halifax harbour.
But there were at least two Lugers and a Webley 455 in the little town I grew up in.
He says they were threatened with a cancellation of their military discharge if caught with contraband weapons and all night long you could hear "plunk, plunk, splash" as pistols and submachine guns disappeared into Halifax harbour.
But there were at least two Lugers and a Webley 455 in the little town I grew up in.
A former co-worker's father was a merchant seaman in the Second World War. He brought back an 8mm Lebel revolver that he acquired in South Africa. Too bad he brought back a gun that used obsolete ammunition.
I think chances were slim that a soldier would have been able to bring back their own Enfield rifle. After the First World War, soldiers passed through a Discharge Depot. They turned in their rifle and equipment before receiving their cheque and Discharge Certificate. They were allowed to keep their clothing, small kit and trench helmet. I suppose they had a similar procedure during the Second World War.
I think chances were slim that a soldier would have been able to bring back their own Enfield rifle. After the First World War, soldiers passed through a Discharge Depot. They turned in their rifle and equipment before receiving their cheque and Discharge Certificate. They were allowed to keep their clothing, small kit and trench helmet. I suppose they had a similar procedure during the Second World War.
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My own dad was over there (ya I am older than most who post here). He said they were told that their kit would be inspected upon arrival in Halifax. So he was VERY annoyed to see that they were only stopping the odd soldier (every tenth or so) to search their kit bag.MD said:
Typically, Canadians believe EVERYTHING they are told by authority figures. Was no different back then.
my great aunt had a Luger with holster that her late husband lifted of a dead SS officer in The Scheldt, think it might be a 6 inch navy model, been a few years since i seen it. had nice wood grips and the bluing seemed to be very high quality, could it have been a privately purchased piece by the dead Major?
Nobody got to keep their service weapon after WWII or Korea. However sympathetic RQ's could (and often did) "write off" items that went "missing in action" ... numerous fighting patrols were conducted (some on paper) near the cessation of hostilities to ensure that some of the items could be "legitimately" written off.
In many cases this wasn't just to cover up a theft by it's owner but to cover some poor bugger who's Thompson smg or binoculars had been stolen by another souvenir seeker, leaving the guy who had it on his issue card with a 3 month pay deduction to cover the loss - and a possible court martial (at least summary trial)
For some others - Lugers etc (particularly those thousands and thousands turned in to Canadian Forces in Holland) became a small source of much needed and easy cash when they came home.
A very close relative of mine had an escape and evasion kit in his possession at the end of the War. The gold sovereigns it contained were all "lost" and split (in Holland) amongst the original, surviving, members of the platoon who had landed in Sicily in '43.
US issued kit BAR's, Colt 1911, and revolvers (the latter were apparently highly prized because one could get off two quick shots in the air as you ran for cover - no one who actually saw significant action really considered a pistol a serious weapon) which had been "liberated" from Americans probably also found their way back to Canada.
At least one Canadian Brigadier was quietly court martialled in 1945 for attempting to send a captured German staff car (unfortunately still loaded with the previous owners war booty - Dutch paintings etc) back to his parents farm in (I believe) Saskatchewan. I believe they were labelled "personal effects"... AP
In many cases this wasn't just to cover up a theft by it's owner but to cover some poor bugger who's Thompson smg or binoculars had been stolen by another souvenir seeker, leaving the guy who had it on his issue card with a 3 month pay deduction to cover the loss - and a possible court martial (at least summary trial)
For some others - Lugers etc (particularly those thousands and thousands turned in to Canadian Forces in Holland) became a small source of much needed and easy cash when they came home.
A very close relative of mine had an escape and evasion kit in his possession at the end of the War. The gold sovereigns it contained were all "lost" and split (in Holland) amongst the original, surviving, members of the platoon who had landed in Sicily in '43.
US issued kit BAR's, Colt 1911, and revolvers (the latter were apparently highly prized because one could get off two quick shots in the air as you ran for cover - no one who actually saw significant action really considered a pistol a serious weapon) which had been "liberated" from Americans probably also found their way back to Canada.
At least one Canadian Brigadier was quietly court martialled in 1945 for attempting to send a captured German staff car (unfortunately still loaded with the previous owners war booty - Dutch paintings etc) back to his parents farm in (I believe) Saskatchewan. I believe they were labelled "personal effects"... AP
Some things haven't changed.
I visited my Cousin who was a Sr. NCO in The Household Cavalry shortly after the Falklands scrap. Outside the Mess they had a Panhard Armoured car which was captured from the Argies. Apparently, there were strict orders that no war booty was to be brought back to Britain, so they had just lined it up amongst their vehicles and driven it aboard ship. No-one thought to check the breech until they reached England. When they opened the breech they found a live 90mmAP shell.
I visited my Cousin who was a Sr. NCO in The Household Cavalry shortly after the Falklands scrap. Outside the Mess they had a Panhard Armoured car which was captured from the Argies. Apparently, there were strict orders that no war booty was to be brought back to Britain, so they had just lined it up amongst their vehicles and driven it aboard ship. No-one thought to check the breech until they reached England. When they opened the breech they found a live 90mmAP shell.
Here ya go Recce.
Here's a pic I took of the Panhard when I was at Combermere in 1983.
At the time my cousin was the Sr. NCO in command of the Mounted Troop at Windsor Castle and I got the grand tour of the place.
The fellow in the pic is my late Uncle who served with the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards from 1937-1946. He had to swim off the beaches of Dunkirk in 1941, but got to command a Sherman with the Guards Armoured Divisionwhen they returned.
Here's a pic I took of the Panhard when I was at Combermere in 1983.
At the time my cousin was the Sr. NCO in command of the Mounted Troop at Windsor Castle and I got the grand tour of the place.
The fellow in the pic is my late Uncle who served with the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards from 1937-1946. He had to swim off the beaches of Dunkirk in 1941, but got to command a Sherman with the Guards Armoured Divisionwhen they returned.
I have a lithgow enfield that saw service in ww2, is a definate bring back as it came to canada with my grandfather at the end of ww2 but was not his service rifle. It has carried the name "Betsy" since before my gramps got it, lightly carved into the right side butt stock with what appears to be a platoon or regiment # carved beside it. It also carries numerous small slashes along the comb indicating possible kill count. It has been registered in the family for as long as i can remember. I own it now and she is one fine, very accurate .303, with all matching numbered parts and magazine.
