King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

Crucifix and bullets from the First World War

Crucifix made from First World War 8mm Lebel and 7.92 mm German Mauser bullets, made in First World War and features a disc ‘Reims Martyre’ and showing the cathedral in ruins.

“The chap it belonged to, Bill Smith, was a pre-war soldier, I am pretty sure he had served out in India before 1939, was at Dunkirk (where he said that the Bolton artillery had helped their retreat) came back to England with a bullet through his knee, patched up and served in North Africa, can’t remember if he went to Italy or not. Got back home to Bolton were he was presented with a six month old son after being away for two years. He got divorced, and went to Normandy after D Day and ended up in Northern Germany, lost the tip of one of his fingers to a mortar bomb. Was a Sergeant through all of it. Ran the Dunkirk Veterans in Bolton for many years.” Ex-King's Own Royal Regiment. On the retreat to Dunkirk Bill Smith found the crucifix on the road, no doubt dropped by a French refugee, he picked it up and brought it home with him.
 

Crucifix made from First World War 8mm Lebel and 7.92 mm German Mauser bullets, made in First World War and features a disc ‘Reims Martyre’ and showing the cathedral in ruins.
Accession Number: KO2606/01

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.