Description
This is a stunning large grouping of an American Great War (WWI) veteran of the 2ND Division -> named to Privat Ernest J Minks, part of the 23rd Ambulance Company.
The grouping is amazingly large and complete with lots of items related to the Second Division of the American Expedtionary Forces (AEF).
It’s almost too much to list every seperate item, but there are among items the following which stand out:
- A large framed color portrait of Ernest J. Minks in his WWI 2nd ID uniform (approximately 63 centimeters in height)
- Minks M17 “Doughboy” Helmet with painted 2nd ID logo to the front, still complete with liner and chin strap
- A large wood wall shield with “Indian Head” 2nd ID design. As any shield collector can tell, any large wood wall shields are rare to find. This one is well over 100 years old and for it’s age and large design in very good condition.
- A large wood/glass frame with Minks’ horse boot spurs and two photo’s (approximately 55 centimeters)
- Three Second Divsion brochures (very hard to find!), with interesting notes written down inside
- Mink’s 2nd ID ring (damaged but very rare!)
- An arrowhead. I suspect this to be an original ancient one, dating to old times
- Mink’s Victory medal with 5 clasps on it ( Aisna, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Defensive sector), named on the front (!)
- Mink’s dogtags on a keychain with a few keys
- A leather letter map, with Indian Head desgin in the leather and wtih still the original pencil inside also marked with Mink’s number #16825 AEF (American Expeditionary Force)
- Several photo’s, letters, and newspaper clippings
- Mink’s leather holster and Sam Brown belt with leather shoulder strap
- A WWI captured german trench knive (maker Clemen & Jung) in which Minks inscribed his name and thhe date “”1918”, it is in very good condition
- a trench made trench knive, made from a bayonet, possibly made from a russian mosin nagant bayonet
- A Honorable Discharge map with Honorable Discharge letters inside
- Mink’s Victory medal ribbonbar (as can also be seen worn in the large color portrait!)
- Three german (postwar?) color souvenir postcard maps (from 1919-ish period?)
- A notebook with written content (some pages shown here)
- A Field Hospital regulars booklet (rare!)
This group is a stunning timecapsule that deserves to be further researched.
Please note: due to the many and large items, pickup in the Netherlands or at most European militaria shows possible and prefered. Shipment is possible too, but i need to pak it in several packages. As such i may need to contact the buyer afterwards for additional shipment fees.
