Hi Everyone, I am attempting to date some cutlery - or confirm what I have been told . There is a picture at http://static.flickr.com/50/143363743_662002794c_o.jpg and I am told at the small museum where I am cataloguing them, that they are part of the donor's father's mess kit from the 1939-1945 war. They just look too modern to me. There is an Australian Army insignia stamped on the handles of the forks and the blade of the knife, but little else to help. Would anyone be able to comment???? Thanks! Linda

Well to start with who ever he was he must have been an Officer. Nothing so flash for the troops. Secondly I doubt that it was personal issue. Looks to me more like Officers Mess 'fighting irons". However all of the above is a GUESS. Cheers, Ted Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Barraclough" <kapana@netspace.net.au> To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:30 PM Subject: Dating some cutlery > Hi Everyone, > > I am attempting to date some cutlery - or confirm what I have been told . > > There is a picture at http://static.flickr.com/50/143363743_662002794c_o.jpg > > and I am told at the small museum where I am cataloguing them, that > they are part of the donor's father's mess kit from the 1939-1945 > war. They just look too modern to me. > > There is an Australian Army insignia stamped on the handles of the > forks and the blade of the knife, but little else to help. > > Would anyone be able to comment???? > > Thanks! > > Linda > > ______________________________

Hello Linda The rising sun reminds me of some post war cutlery that I have which looks identical to the photo in your link. Fork and spoon stamped in handle and knife etched in the blade. The writing in the scroll will help date it. WW1 and WW2 rising sun scrolls read "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" if its post WW2 it will read "Australian Military Forces", with current ones reading "The Australian Army" I agree with Ted that they are from an Officers mess, possibly "borrowed" if the donor had no rank. WW2 issue cutlery from "Other Ranks" in my collection is marked simply "D^D" and in some samples Sgts. Mess. Regards Davin Evans >From: "Ted HARRIS" <tedharris@ozemail.com.au> >Reply-To: "Ted HARRIS" <tedharris@ozemail.com.au> >To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [AUS-MIL] Re: Dating some cutlery >Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 16:18:48 +1000 > >Well to start with who ever he was he must have been an Officer. > >Nothing so flash for the troops. > >Secondly I doubt that it was personal issue. Looks to me more like Officers >Mess 'fighting irons". > >However all of the above is a GUESS. > >Cheers, >Ted Harris >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Linda Barraclough" <kapana@netspace.net.au> >To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:30 PM >Subject: Dating some cutlery > > > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I am attempting to date some cutlery - or confirm what I have been told >. > > > > There is a picture at >http://static.flickr.com/50/143363743_662002794c_o.jpg > > > > and I am told at the small museum where I am cataloguing them, that > > they are part of the donor's father's mess kit from the 1939-1945 > > war. They just look too modern to me. > > > > There is an Australian Army insignia stamped on the handles of the > > forks and the blade of the knife, but little else to help. > > > > Would anyone be able to comment???? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Linda > > > > ______________________________ > > >==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== >AUS-MILITARY is set so that, by default, replies go to the list. Please >check your replies before sending, to make sure that is what you know is >happening. > _________________________________________________________________ New year, new job – there's more than 100,00 jobs at SEEK http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fninemsn%2Eseek%2Ecom%2Eau&_t=752315885&_r=Jan05_tagline&_m=EXT