Very early and very rare World War I era shoulder patch for the 31st “Dixie” Division consisting of a triangle bisected with red and blue denoting a machine gun battalion with two “D”s back-to-back. This patch was very quickly changed to a white disk on which is a red circle within which are two red “D”s back-to-back. The 31st infantry Division was a unit of the Army National Guard originally established in early 1917 as the 10th Division with Alabama, Florida and Georgia national guardsmen. Later that same year, the 10th became the 31st. Trained at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the Division arrived in France in September 1918 and was designated as a replacement Division. The Division returned to the U.S. in July 1919 where the men were mustered out of service. The 31st Division was mobilized in 1940 with National Guard Divisions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Russian Medallion

A Russian, large, bronze-clad metal table medallion commemorating Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyarev (1880-1949). The obverse has a raised relief image of Degtyarev with the inscription, in Russian, “In Honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyarev 1880-1980.” The reverse inscription reads, “Russian Gunsmiths USSR,” with a central image of a DP-28 light machine gun that Degtyarev created and which was the main light machine gun of the Russian army in World War II. The medallion measures 75 mm in diameter and also has the original red plastic box/stand.

WWI Brodie Helmet

U.S. World War I Brodie helmet for a machine gun company of the 27th Infantry Regiment of the American Expeditionary Force Siberia (A.E.F. Siberia). Painted in white winter camouflage with the A.E.F. Siberia insignia painted on the front of an “S” (for Siberia) superimposed upon a standing bear within an artillery shell. On the right side of the helmet is painted “27th” over “MG.” The machine gun companies were issued Browning Model of 1917 water-cooled machine guns and Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) Model of 1918. Nearly 8,000 men, mostly from the 27th and then the 31st Infantry Regiments, were sent to Russia during World War I after the October Revolution from 1918 to 1920 and suffered severely from the brutal Siberian winter.

They were sent to Russia to help rescue the 40,000 men of the Czechoslovak Legions being held up by Bolshevik forces as they attempted to make their way along the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Vladivostok and, hopefully, to the Western Front. Additionally, they were sent to protect the large quantities of military supplies and railroad rolling stock that the U.S. had sent to Russia in support of the war effort against Germany before the Bolshevik Revolution. They failed in their mission.

Cap and Collar Badge

South Waziristan Scouts officer’s cap and collar badge circa 1920s. The cap badge has the British king’s crown over crossed Vickers with “South Waziristan Scouts” banner below with four lugs to the rear. The collar badge has the king’s crown over a mountain goat head and two lugs to the rear. South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan. The region was an independent tribal territory from 1893, remaining outside of the British-ruled Empire and Afghanistan. Tribal raiding into British-ruled territory was a constant problem for the British, requiring frequent punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945. The region became part of Pakistan in 1947.

Sweetheart Pin

A sweetheart pin for the 3rd Machine Gun Company, 1st Canadian Division has red, white and blue enamel on a brass badge, with the king’s crown to the top and a Vickers machine gun on tripod to the center. The top banner reads, “3rd M.G. Co.” and below is “1st Canadian Division.” Pin back.

Swedish Machine Gunner Badge

A Swedish 1950s-era army machine gunner’s silver metal shooting breast badge that has three Swedish crowns to the top with two crossed M45 submachine guns to the center. Pin back.

British George V sterling silver interwar Lewis Gun shooting trophy in the form of a goblet. The front of the goblet is engraved, “44th (H.C.) Divnl. R.A.S.C. (T.A.) Rifle Meeting 1936 Winners Inter-Unit Lewis Gun Competition.” (44th (Home Counties) Divisional Royal Army Service Corps (Territorial Army)). The obverse is engraved with the names of the winning team: Sgt. M.J.A. Campbell, L/Cpl S.E.J. Needham, OR (Other Ranks): W.A.K. Sinden and OR: A.G. Downs. Goblet made by Phillips of Aldershot and is sterling silver hallmarked London 1936 by H. Phillips. Goblet stands 4½ inches high with a cup diameter of 2¼ inches.

World War I era Japanese woodblock print fan. Image is hand colored in vibrant colors of a machine gun unit circa 1915. Measuring approximately 13 inches when opened, it features a Hotchkiss machine gun team firing their weapon. Included in the imagery is a biplane, armored car, national flag and horse-mounted officer. Kanji (Japanese lettering) on the right says, “Kore wa rikugun kikanju tai desu. Isamashiki kikanju.” Approximate translation is: This is our wonderful machine gun unit.

Australian World War I veteran’s pin-back lapel badge of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. Crossed Vickers machine guns to the top with central image of the formation patch of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion of a yellow circle within a black circle with “4.M.G.B.” below. Maker marked on back, “A W Patrick Rae St Nth Fitzroy V.” 31mm diameter.

Brass shoulder title for a machine gun company of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps. (“MG” over “HKVDC”). The HKVDC fought courageously against the Japanese in the weeks prior to the fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941. They had a total fighting strength of 2,200. All ranks in 7 infantry companies, 5 artillery batteries, 5 machine gun companies equipped with Vickers machine guns and an armored car platoon. Two mounting lugs to the rear.

Interwar German veteran’s commemorative 10 /20 liter glass stein. Center image of a machine gunner with Maxim MG 08 on sled mount. On the left side in raised lettering is “4. (M.G.) Komp.” over “19. (Bayr) Inf. Rgt.” (4th Machine Gun Company, 19th Bavarian Infantry Regiment.) To the right in raised lettering is “Weihnachten” over “1933” (Christmas 1933). Pewter lid.

Canadian homefront World War II souvenir silk pillow cover. Image of brown lion holding maple leaf standing atop a Vickers machine gun over “1940” against an all-white satin background. The circle around the lion reads “Machine Gun Training Centre M.D. 4” (Militia District 4–Montreal). Edges in gold and purple thread fringe.

Italian high relief bronze medal of a machine gunner shooting a St. Etienne M1907 machine gun commemorating “Tregnago 1.2.18 1.2.19” (Tregnago is a municipality in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto where this unit originated from). The reverse shows a flying eagle and is marked “Battaglione 907 F. Del 1° Reparto Mitraglieri” (1st Company of the 907th Machine Gun Battalion).

People’s Republic of Hungary distinguished light machine gun gunner’s breast badge.

Hungarian People’s Army 1950. Red enameled Soviet star atop a bronzed wreath with a white metal Soviet DP-28 light machine gun to the center. Two affixing prongs to the rear.

Canadian recruiting poster for the 86th Machine Gun Battalion.

The battalion was raised in southern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Hamilton under authority of G.O. 151 December 22, 1915. The battalion sailed May 22, 1916, under the command of Lt. Col. W.W. Stewart with a strength of 36 officers and 1,072 other ranks. In England the battalion was reorganized as the Canadian Machine Gun Depot. It was disbanded September 15, 1920.

Australian remembrance lapel badge. The button reads around the edge,

“Australia Day 1917 Somewhere in France” with a central image of a Machine Gun Corps gunner and his Vickers gun in silhouette. Attached is a red ribbon with a blue tin map image of Australia that reads, “Australia Day 1917” to the center. The badge has a pin back and is side maker marked, “A,W, Patrick Maker, 440 RAF St., NH Fitzroy, Melbourne.”

U.S. World War I era son-in-service window banner with blue star to center.

Marked at the top, “Co. B” over “24th M.G. Bn.” (The 24th Machine Gun Battalion was part of the 8th Division.) Below the star is an image of the Colt Model of 1915 Vickers with “U.S. Machine Gun” below the image of the gun. Measuring approximately 5½ x 9 inches, the window banner is cream-colored cloth with sewn red border and blue felt star. Legend and graphics are printed.

Italian interwar officer’s sleeve insignia with gold bullion thread image of the M07 machine gun on gray wool backing.

In World War I and the immediate post-war years, the primary machine guns used by Italy were the FIAT Revelli Model of 1914 and the French Model of 1907 St. Etienne, which they designated as the M07.

Pair of enameled cufflinks for the British World War I Motor Machine Gun Corps.

White enamel background with red, blue and gold enameled King’s crown over crossed Vickers with “MMG” banner below. A brass chain attaches the rear studs.

1. PREIS 16. INF.-REGT.” (“Shooting Award, 1934, First Place, 16th Infantry Regiment”).

German army interwar gold gilt shooting prize medallion. The obverse has a soldier firing a Maxim MG08 on sled mount in relief. The design is signed “EF.” The verso has the inscription “PREISRICHTEN 1934. These shooting competitions in the interwar years used old World War I equipment and provided essential training for the rebuilding of the German army.

2. World War I New Zealand officer’s bi-metal silver and brass Machine Gun Specialists cap badge.

Fern leaf wreath with king’s crown to the top and “NZ Specialists” banner below. To the center is a silver Maxim machine gun beneath crossed signal flags. Note that to the left and right of the NZ is the mark “RD 876.” This is a “Registered Design” number, which was a form of copyright. These badges were entirely un-official, and the designs were protected by the jewelers who made them (thus, slight design differences between similar badges). These jewelers were actually on base in Featherstone Camp (New Zealand’s largest training camp) and Trentham Camp (near Wellington) in World War I. They made these badges to order and from whatever material the customer could afford. Silver and gold are not at all uncommon. They also made sweetheart badges from gold for the soldiers’ ladies. Many soldiers wore these badges as they went off to the Great War. However, the badges were ordered to be removed on arrival in England, generally at a place called “Sling Camp” in the heart of the great Salisbury Plains where the New Zealanders were encamped prior to being sent to France to fight. All NZ personnel overseas were ordered to remove their individual unit badges that had been so proudly worn for months back home and at sea to be replaced by the generic 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force cap badge.

3. Finnish elite shooter badge for machine gun.

 This Finnish badge was issued to “Vailo-Ampuja” or “Elite Shooter” machine gunners. The first of these badges were issued in 1933 and continued being issued until the end of World War II. This is a very scarce two-piece badge because it has a gilt Maxim machine gun inside a white metal wreath, meaning it was issued to someone on the permanent staff. The outside edges have Civil Guards influence with branches of the evergreen tree. Screw back.

4. Imperial Japanese Army shooting award. 

The obverse features two rising sun motifs that are on either side to the top. The center displays a gold army star over a crossed Arisaka rifle and Type 11 light machine gun and gold kanji below the weapons that reads “prize” all framed within a laurel wreath. The reverse has characters that read “Showa 10 (1935) special shooting, infantry 10th regiment, 1st battalion.” The medal measures approximately 3 x 2.5cm.

5. Print of Medal of Honor winner Douglas A. Munro by Bernard D’Andrea for the Coast Guard Bicentennial program in 1990

. U.S. Coast Guard signalman first class Douglas A. Munro is depicted manning a Lewis gun providing cover fire during the withdrawal of a company of Marines on Guadalcanal on September 27, 1942. Munro was the officer-in-charge of a group of landing craft and volunteered to evacuate a detachment of Marines facing annihilation by an unanticipated large enemy force. He succeeded in safely extricating them and in doing so was mortally wounded. Munro was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery by the U.S. Congress, the only member of the U.S. Coast Guard to receive the United States’ highest military award.

6. Immediate post-World War I bronze table sculpture of two French soldiers manning a French M1907 St. Etienne machine gun.

 The bronze is signed by renowned artist Georges Omerth (1895-1925) and shows great and correct detail of uniforms and weapon. Weighing almost 20 pounds, it is mounted on a green marble plinth.

1) Jodhpur Lancers (India) Machine Gun Company officer’s bronze pith helmet badge. 

Indian elephant with “MG” badge to center.

2) World War I trench art hat made from a 4.5-inch Howitzer shell. 

Affixed to the front is a New Zealand Machine Gun Corps brass collar badge. Above the visor is a section of copper driving band that is used on artillery shells. The top of the hat has full ordnance markings, including a date of 1915.

3) African Cape Police Maxim Battery. Cut-out silver officer’s slouch hat badge for the Cape Colony. 

Its rear is marked “silver” and has two mounting lugs. Circa 1898–1910. The Cape Colony was one of four British colonies (Natal, Transvaal, Cape and Orange Free State) that amalgamated in 1910 to become South Africa.

4) World War II lapel button to remember the Polish soldiers who fought in exile with the British against Nazi Germany. 

The central image is of a Polish soldier manning a Bren light machine gun. The Polish language around the top translates to “Remember the Polish Soldier.” Pin back. Measures approximately 1 inch in diameter. The Poles fought valiantly in North Africa (Siege of Tobruk), Italy (including the Battle of Monte Cassino), the D-Day invasion, Operation Market Garden (“A Bridge Too Far”) and many other engagements, and they fought throughout the war on land, sea and air.

5) Swiss officer’s Model 1910 Shako helmet for a first lieutenant,

as denoted by the two small, gold braided bands around the body, for the 29th Machine Gun Company. The front visor, neck and top are leather, and the helmet body is covered with beaver fur cloth. The brass helmet plate consists of two crossed Swiss Maxim MG11 water-cooled machine guns.

6) World War I German death remembrance card. 

Four-sided, the front has a photo image of the fallen soldier with the Machine Gun Marksmanship badge on his left sleeve. The rear has the soldier’s name and details of his death. The inside has pictures of Christ and prayers. The translation of the German text reads: “As a pious remembrance in prayer of the virtuous young man Matthias Bruckmofer, sergeant in the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, Machine Gun Company No. 1, holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, nominated for the Military Service Cross 3rd class, who died the hero’s death for the Fatherland on July 5, 1918 at the age of 22 years as a result of a shot to his head after 32 months of most faithful performance of his duty. R.I.P.”

Russia maintained the largest force of armored cars of any of the allies in World War I. A typical armored car platoon consisted of two or three twin-turreted cars, such as Austins, Fiats and other makes armed with Maxim or Colt automatic guns, and one or two armored trucks mounting short-barreled 75mm guns. American-made Indian motorcycles provided communications, and some had machine guns mounted to give anti-aircraft cover. By November 1917, over 200 armored cars were in service. The insignia for the Motor Transport Service features two winged wheels and a steering wheel. The addition of a Maxim gun to the top of the steering wheel specifically identifies the Armored Car Service. The armored cars were totally encased in armor plate, as were the machine gun turrets.

I. Russian headquarters banner for the 20th Automobile Machine Gun Platoon. 

The use of the red background, made of thick velvet material, indicates that this banner was created after the February 1917 Revolution. Onto this background is stitched white cotton linen in the shapes of the number, Cyrillic letter abbreviations and aforementioned insignia for the Armored Car Service. The banner measures approximately 35 x 21 inches.

II. Imperial Russian Army uniform shoulder boards. 

This pair is for a 7th Siberian Automobile Machine Gun Platoon armored car driver. The branch insignia “7Sb Shifrovka” indicates the 7th Siberian Rifle Regiment. The red stripe and single star indicate the rank of junior officer in the reserves. Silver-plated buttons depict the Russian twin-headed Imperial Eagles.

III. German soldiers in World War I check out a captured or disabled Russian armored car. 

Note the insignia of the wheeled and winged Maxim machine gun, denoting the Automobile Machine Gun units, painted on the side and rear of the vehicle.

IV. Profile photograph of a Russian armored car. 

Note the Automobile Machine Gun Armored Car Service insignia with the horizontal Maxim gun on the winged wheels painted on the side.

The Russians had another very similar insignia for armored mobile anti-aircraft units that consisted of a single wheel with wings and a Maxim machine gun pointed upwards. By order N105 Military Department from 1916, the single wheel, winged insignia with the upraised Maxim machine gun became the insignia for mobile armored air defense machine gun units of the Motor Transport Division. These armored cars generally had open tops to allow the machine gun 360-degree vertical access for anti-aircraft work.

A. Russian soldier’s shoulder boards for the 1st Special Armored Automobile Air Defense. 

The shoulder boards are red with brass buttons depicting the Tsarist double-headed Imperial Eagle, and they also show the insignia of the upraised Maxim gun atop a steering wheel joined to a single, winged wheel. Below this insignia is the number “1.”

B. Breast badge worn on the coat or tunic of a Russian commander in an anti-aircraft armored car unit. Post-revolution due to the red star at the top of the wreath. 

Screw back.

C. Russian (Red) Army machine gun qualification sleeve badge for the mobile armored anti-aircraft Motor Transport Division. 

Heavy bullion embroidery on a black wool background.

D. Two armored cars of the Motor Transport Division attached to the mobile armored anti-aircraft infantry company. 

Note the white guidon flag with the insignia of the single wheel, wings and upraised Maxim machine gun. Close inspection reveals that the armored car in the background also has the insignia painted on the door.

I. Heraldry Insignia of the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry. The British Machine Gun Corps (MGC), formed in 1915, was initially divided into three branches–the MGC (Infantry), the MGC (Cavalry) and the Motor Machine Guns (MMG). Later there was a Heavy Section formed in 1916 that ultimately became the Tank Corps. The Infantry is the most well known followed by the Motor Machine Guns. However, the Cavalry Divisions, Yeomanry and Squadrons were based throughout the world and served the Empire in all battle campaigns and far flung outposts. The MGC Cavalry Squadron consisted of eight officers and 203 other ranks, equipped with 299 horses, 18 limbers, one GS wagon and one water cart. These were formed up into six two-gun sections each of a Subaltern, 33 men and 46 horses. The Squadron was commanded by a Captain or Major. A depot for the MGC Cavalry was formed at Maresfield Park. Their battle honors include Mons 1914-18, Ypres 1914-15, Somme 1915-18, Arras 1917, Cambrai 1917, Amiens 1918, Gallipoli 1915, Rafa 1916, Bersheba 1917, Jordan Valley 1918, India 1914-18 and the Persian Gulf. The Cavalry Divisions served on the Western Front and Flanders as well as in Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia throughout the war and took part in actions where cavalry was used as a mounted mobile force and where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry.

II. While the cap badge and collar badges of the Machine Gun Corps were the same regardless of branch with the King’s crown over crossed Vickers, the brass shoulder titles delineated the branches. For the Cavalry units, a “C” was placed under the MGC title.

III. A veteran’s end of war certificate that reads, “On the occasion of Peace being signed, The Officer Commanding Machine Gun Corps Cavalry Reserve Training Centre, Maresfield Park, desires to place on record the Army Councils strong appreciation of the services rendered by No. 50882 Pte. Thomas Simms of the 1st (Kings) D. Guards (1st Kings Dragoon Guards) who served overseas with the 12th 5th M.G. Squadron, from January 1916 to 1919 during the Great War and to wish him all success and prosperity in his future career.”

IV. A wounded veteran’s discharge certificate that reads, “To 110695 Pte. Harold Hitchcock, Machine Gun Corps Cavalry, Having previously served during the War in the City of London Yeomanry, Served with honour and was disabled in the Great War. Honourably discharged on April 11th 1919.”

V. British Army Machine Gun Corps Cavalry officer’s mess tureen to serve soup, stews or casseroles with lid. The insignia of the MGC Cavalry is well displayed on the lid. The style of this tureen is probably from the Maresfield Park depot. Maker marked clearly on the bottom, “John Maddock & Sons Ltd England Royal Vitreous” with a Victorian crown.

VI. British Army Machine Gun Corps Cavalry officer’s mess soup, stew or casserole tureen with lid. The insignia of the MGC Cavalry is well displayed on the lid. The style of this tureen indicates it is from an officer’s mess either from the Middle East Persian Gulf region or India. It is maker marked clearly on the bottom, “Stubbs & Kent Longport.”

VII. Stoneware coffee cup probably from the NCO mess at the Maresfield Park depot emblazoned with the insignia of the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry. No maker marks.

VIII. Glazed stoneware pot for a variety of uses such as a biscuit, jam or pickle jar. Either a private purchase or officer’s/NCO mess item. Under the glaze is the insignia of the Machine Gun Corps Cavalry. The pot is 8 inches in height and 6 inches in diameter.

I.Bronze Danish qualification shooting badge. 

Features the King’s crown with prancing lion with axe on shield to the top of a wreath with a crossed rifle and Madsen M1914 machine gun to the center. Pin back.

II. Rare qualification sleeve badge for the 156th Battalion, Gurkha Parachute Machine Gun Company. 

During World War II this company was part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division that served in Burma. Worn on the right sleeve by the airborne machine gunners. Rear still has the maker’s tag marked, “Supplied by Yousuf & Co., Military and Police Tailors, Ludhiana. (Punjab).”

III. Canadian Guard Forces infantry machine gunner sleeve trade badges 1985 pattern. 

(Left) Level II with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun over wreath on black felt background. (Center) Level III with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun under the Queen’s crown on black felt backing. (Right) Level IV with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun to the center under the Queen’s crown and over a wreath on black felt backing.

IV. Blackened bronze shoulder title for the Machine Gun Section, Gold Coast Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force (MG/GCR/RWAFF). 

Worn 1928-1945. Two lugs to the rear. Due to fears of French colonial expansion in territories bordering northern Nigeria, the British Colonial Office in 1900 formed the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. In 1928, it received a royal warrant, becoming the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).

V. Russian aviator’s badge circa late 1930s.

Blue enameled diamond with white metal insignia of propeller, crossed swords and spread wings behind a red enameled Soviet star at the top of the diamond. To the center is a crossed machine gun and bomb. Screw back.

VI. Cap badge for the Egyptian Motorized Machine Gun Corps.

During the interwar period of King Faud I (1922-1936), officers in the Egyptian military were British. The cap badge shows crossed Vickers machine guns set against a wheel to the center with the King’s crown to the top of a wreath with an Egyptian banner at the bottom. Two lugs to the rear.

I: Russian silver shooting medal award

The obverse has a central image of an M1910 Maxim machine gun on a wheeled Sokolov mount with engraving above and below the Maxim in Russian that reads, “1st prize for machine gun fire.” The reverse is engraved in Russian (Shamordino 2 base 1919). Shamordino is a small village located on the Seryona River. Measures approximately 1 1/8 x 1 3/8 inches with a suspension loop at the top.

II: Wall plaque for the 2nd Australian Imperial Forces 2nd Machine Gun Battalion.

Red wood shield with insignia of the 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion at the top consisting of the Australian Rising Sun with crossed Vickers machine guns with 2/2nd M.G. BN. Beneath that is the formation patch insignia of a yellow T, bordered in black on a gray T field. At the bottom of the plaque is a banner that reads “2/2 Machine Gun Bn.”

III: World War I German silver presentation cup.

Engraved to the front is the German Iron Cross and “1 Masch. Gew. Komp. Inf. Regt. 372 Weinachten 1915 im Felde” (1st Machine Gun Company, Infantry) Regiment 372, Christmas 1915, in the Field). The bottom of the cup is engraved to “Vicefeldwebel Neumann” (Sergeant 1st Class Neumann). Also on the bottom is the maker marks “H. Nicolai” and imperial era marking for 800 silver. (800 parts of silver per 1,000, or 80% silver, 20% other metal. Sterling silver is 925/1000 or 92.5% silver. (800 silver is not sterling quality.) It was customary in the German army at that time that the regimental commander would present these cups to his NCOs at Christmas time in appreciation of their service. In this instance, this applies to World War I in the field (im Felde) meaning the unit was deployed. The cup is 4 inches tall with a rim diameter of 2 5/16 inches.

IV: Canadian brass shoulder title for the Automobile Machine Gun Brigade.

The letters AMGB are superimposed upon a Colt Automatic Gun Model of 1895/1914. At the start of World War I, Canada, as part of the British Empire Commonwealth, started raising an army to send to France in 1914 in support of England’s war efforts. Among the many groups being raised were armored vehicle units such as Boyles and Eatons Motor Machine Gun Batteries. Vickers machine guns were not available to the Canadians at the start of the war so these raised units bought commercially available Colt Automatic Guns and used them to arm the armored cars. Two lugs to the rear.

V: Lacquered (Urushi) World War II era Imperial Japanese Army commemorative sake cup tray (Obon).

Orange tray bordered in gold with Army star to top with a scattering of white Paulownia leaves (native to China). Centered is an Imperial Japanese Army flag, helmet and fan with an image of a Taisho 3 heavy machine gun. The lettering (kanji) on the helmet translates as “Loyalty and Bravery.” There are two vertical lines of kanji to the left bottom corner above an outline of a cherry blossom. The right vertical column reads, “Commemorating triumphant return from Manchuria and discharge.” The left vertical column reads, “68th Infantry, Mr. Kato.” The kanji inside the cherry blossom reads, “commemorating machine gun unit.” The 68th Infantry Regiment was based in Gifu, near Nagoya and saw service in Manchuria in the 1930s. The tray measures approximately 12 x 8 ¾ inches.