Militaria fairs act like magnets to attract collectors, all eager to find some unusual badge, button or some other item. Collectors can be quite serious about their hobbies of choice and some take it a stage further to a point which crosses over and leads to another hobby. A case in point are re-enactors — groups of people who dress as authentically as possible to recreate periods of history and top off the effect with displays of actual weapons and other items of kit.
Reenactment, like militaria collecting, has an international following and spans many centuries of history. In the United Kingdom, this includes Roman Empire, Vikings and Napoleonic Wars such as Waterloo. Both world wars are among the most popular periods because there is so much material available to collect — from ammunition to medals and uniforms to weapons. Reenactors often put items from their collection on display at special events which, in effect, become mobile, open-air museums.
The more unusual the subject the more interest it attracts, such as the depiction of the U.S. 17th Airborne Division by a reenactment group I met a couple of years ago at a historic military vehicle show. I had read about the unit, how it was raised in April 1943 and arrived in England too late to take part in D-Day, and now I was looking at a display of items connected with the unit. Not as well recognized as either the 82nd or 101st AB, the 17th would later go on to become engaged in some of the fiercest fighting around Bastogne, at locations such as “Dead Man’s Ridge” during the Battle of the Bulge.
On the sleeves of their jackets, members of the re-enactment group wore the unit’s distinctive badge showing an outstretched eagle’s talon in yellow set against a circular black background, leading to its nickname of the “Golden Talons”. The motto of the 17th AB Division was “Thunder from Heaven” and by the end of the war the division has sustained 6,745 casualties, winning four Medals of Honor, and numerous other awards, including 179 Silver Stars. Finally, on June 19, 1949, the 17th Airborne Division was disbanded, to be consigned to the pages of history. That is until this reenactment group in the UK decided to recreate it for posterity.
The unit had a history lasting only six years, but the reenactment group had done their research well and collected badges and insignia together to recreate the one of the lesser known units of WWII and preserve its history. They had also collected the uniform, helmets and other equipment and weapons, which did include some replica items, to show how the men of the 17th looked. One of the weapons they had obtained was an original M18 RCL, which in itself presented much interest to collectors. In fact, it was fitting they should have this weapon because the 17th AB was one of the first units to receive it and use it in combat during Operation Varsity in March 1945. The incident took place in Germany during the fighting to capture the strategic town of Wesel along with Essen and Munster.
The reenactors had added a couple of inert M18 rounds of ammunition to their collection to show the unusual design of shell cases. These had perforations to allow the propelling gases to vent through the venturi and eliminate recoil forces. The ammunition was of the type known as ‘fixed’ and included high explosive HE projectiles and special anti-tank projectiles called HEAT rounds of 57mm caliber, weighing 2.75 lbs. and 2.69 lbs., respectively. Accuracy and effectiveness was good out to ranges of around 500 yards and although the shells had a maximum range of 4,300 yards, at that distance accuracy fell off very markedly. Other types of ammunition were developed for use with the M18, including White Phosphorous for smoke and Canister for anti-personnel role at close range, making them perfect to add to a collection.
As the war progressed with more M18s becoming available, they were sent to the Pacific Theater, where they proved useful against well-entrenched positions and what few tanks the Japanese had left. The weapon remained in service after the war and would be used by overseas armies including France, Brazil, Italy, Greece and Turkey. The U.S. Army also continued to use it during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Although demonstrated being fired from the shoulder the M18, in other displays it could be shown mounted on a vehicle, such as a Jeep, and even mounted on a tripod to show it in alternative positions. The reenactment group showed a range of items which members had collected and together put on a successful display which attracted a lot of attention from visitors.
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