TREASURES OF WAR
Scarce early WW2 RAF tunic brass button escape compass.
These buttons were used early on during the war, when pilots and aircrew still wore their service dress tunics on Operational flights. This standard looking large button has a hidden compass inside. Ingeniously designed by Clayton Hutton and his team at MI9 this escape aid gave the airman a fighting chance to evade capture, if parachuted into enemy held territory. The compass is revealed by unscrewing the top half of the button, leaving the bottom half with the compass inside. This early example has a very fine right handed thread (later ones changed to a left hand) and the compass has a rotating disc to point North. Later escape compasses changed to a 'star' like pointer.
The button is 100% original wartime RAF issue. It is stamped on the reverse B'Ham Buttons Ltd. together with Trade Mark and a pair of cross swords.
WW2 RAF SOE Escape miniature telescope MI9
Very nice example of a genuine WW2 single drawer Miniature escape Telescope. The main body has a black rough textured finish. Complete with its original aluminium container with most of its gold coating remaining.
extremely hard to find in this condition.
Developed by Clayton Hutton at MI9 to aid in both evasion and escape know as SOE.
It measures 3cm long when closed, 4.3 cm long with single drawer extended.
The lenses are very clear and give a good viewing image, the brass body is in a good condition, overall excellent good condition, rough textured finish intact.
MI9 "The British Directorate of Military Intelligence Section 9".
This was a highly secret department of the War Office between 1939 and 1945.
SOE “Special Operations Executive”.
In June 1940, a new volunteer force - the Special Operations Executive (SOE) - was set up to wage a secret war. Its agents were mainly tasked with sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines, real-life inspirations for James Bond.
The British one pence "1p" coin really gives you an idea of the size of this telescope.
WW2 Escape and Evasion 1943 Shaving Brush and Hidden Compass
WW2 Escape and Evasion SOE “Special Operations Executive” Shaving Brush and Hidden Compass 1943 dated, brown bakelite shaving brush containing an MI9 escape compass.
On the base of the brush there is a war department arrow and the manufacturers name - lenc, plus a 1943 date. Unscrewing this base from the brush, reveals an escape compass fixed into it. Originally, this would have had a shaving soap stick covering, so concealing it.
The brush is in a very good used condition.
WW2, RAF & SOE issued, silk 'blood' or 'ghoolie' Chit
WW2, RAF & SOE issued, silk 'blood' or 'ghoolie' Chit.
Used to help during an escape & evasion attempt, in the Indian/Asian theatre, if captured by 'friendly' civilians etc....Printed in 17 different languages. Size, 19 x 11 inches.
In a very good condition
WW2 Merlin Sub Miniature SOE Spy Camera c1936
Merlin Sub Miniature Spy Camera c1936, A rare example of a miniature spy camera as used by British S.O.E (Special Operations Executive) agents behind enemy lines during WW2.
Scarce WW2 British SOE Folding locking Jack Knife
A scarce WW2 British Commando & S.O.E. Lock knife. These knives were manufactured in England primarily used by Commando’s & the S.O.E. These knives can be seen in the following references: 'British and Commonwealth Military Knives' by Ron Flook, Secret Agents Handbook of Special Devices by Mark Seaman and The British Spy Manuel by the Imperial War Museum. There are two variants of these knives one has the Tyre-cutter blade at the opposite end of the knife, this one is without.
Manufacturer is 'JOHN NOWILL & SON'S SHEFFIELD stamped on the blade. The knife is fitted with correct steel lanyard ring. The single edged blade measures 3 1/4” long and it is 8” overall with the blade locked out. The blade folds out and locks in place correctly. Once extended the blade is locked in place and released by pressing the catch on the top of the handle. Grips are in black plastic terminating with a folding D ring to allow the Knife to be attached to a lanyard.
there is a small split in the plastic from one side of the grips whilst the other side shows evidence of maybe heat, but solid and a honest Lock Knife in very used condition.
RAF shirt collar stud escape compass and Air Ministry collar.
These special collar stud compasses are half the depth of the standard half inch MI9 escape compass. This was to give the collar stud the exact same appearance as a regular one, also the front glass was painted white. When required for use the paint was simply scratched off. Clayton Hutton at MI9 had these compasses specially manufactured purely for the collar stud.
This example is in a very good working condition. There is some slight trace of the white paint on the glass edge. It is the early type compass with a rotating disc, rather than the later star type pointer. with an original wartime issue RAF shirt collar
Scarce WW2 SOE Escape and Evasion Toothbrush hidden escape compass
This is scarce WW2 SOE “Special Operations Executive” Escape and Evasion Toothbrush with hidden escape compass, this one is complete with its concealed compartment, cover and holding ring, would be very difficult to find in this superb used condition.
WW2 RAF / SOE escape & evasion 'fly' button compass, type 6
A pair of brass fly buttons as used on R.A.F. and other British Forces battledress trousers etc. Designed by Christopher Clayton Hutton at MI9 and designated as the 'Swinger, Type No.6', one button has a small 'spike' in the centre on which the second magnetised button can be balanced. Small luminous dots on this button indicate North & South. Issued to aircrews to aid escape and evasion. This example is in mint unused condition, still attached to the card it was supplied on.
WW2 RAF / SOE micro escape & evasion compass
These compasses were Developed by Christopher Clayton Hutton at MI9, this is the final design of the miniature escape compass and the smallest measuring just 5mm in diameter and 2mm tall. The case is solid brass and fitted with a central 'pin' onto which the rotor is placed. This is in the form of a simple black painted metal disc marked with a single luminous dot to indicate North. Being so tiny this compass could easily be concealed inside such things as pencils, pens, pipes, cigarettes etc. It would no doubt have been incredibly challenging to use but is now one of the rarest compasses to find. In very good used condition.
WW2 RAF escape & evasion razor blade
RAF issued, razor blade compass, War Department broad arrow marked.
The blade has been magnetized so that when its suspended by a thread in water it can be used as a compass. This makes it ideal for Escape and Evasion purposes.
Other, different brands of blades were issued including, Cheerio and Dawn.
This is in a unissued condition, It is still showing some signs that magnetism is present, seen when moved next to a compass.
WW2 RAF escape and evasion compass in waterproof pouch
RAF escape and evasion miniature compass, still sealed in it's original waterproof pouch.
Air ministry stores reference number, 22P/15.
The compass measures 15mm in diameter. The compass spinner moves freely and it's condition is excellent. The waterproof pouch is in original sealed condition and is still clear. The white cotton tape lanyard is in very good condition with only a couple of storage marks. Part of the RAF wartime escape and survival equipment.
These were issued to RAF aircrew to be carried in escape kits or sewn into uniforms etc, they were also issued to SOE operatives. There are no markings on these just incase the solider was captured by the enemy.
During World War Two, the Department 9 of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence (M.I.9 - Escaped British Prisoners of War/POW, Debriefing, Escape and Evasion) developed a great number of secret means to conceal tools and instruments in harmless looking objects for everyday use. The means the pilots carried with them during the air raid were called pre-capture. These comprised many items like uniforms or shoes, that could easily be converted in civilian plain clothes but also see saws, food, etc.
Compass 1 ACompass, M.I.9. pattern, wrapped in transparent waterproof material. Stores ref. 22P/15. Comprises a standard 0.5" escape compass with 'star' rotor encased in a small plastic pouch to seal against humidity. Could be used by an evading or escaping airman to head for neutral territory. Issued with many escape packs/kits. Some light soiling but in good working condition overall.
Compass 2 Small compass in the form of a pointed, metal bar. Chemically blackened finish with minor wear. Central hole with white and red dot markings. Measures 27 mm long. This form of compass is designed to be suspended from a piece of cotton and would spin until pointing North. To avoid vibration and any wind movement it could be siuspended in a glass of water to give a damping effect!
Compass 3 RAF black bakelite battle dress escape button compass.
This bakelite button was designed by the team at MI9, to be sewn onto a battle dress blouse or trousers and look exactly the same as the standard buttons. When removed it could be placed in water or suspended by a thread (as this example) to show North. Two illuminous dots point North and one for South.
Compass 4 WW2 British Airborne Battledress Blouse Epaulette Button Escape Compass
Three dots are located on the back surface adjacent to the rim if the button, so they could not be seen when sewn onto the uniform. The single dot which is on the side of the periphery opposite from the two closely spaced dots points toward the Magnetic North. The compass element is a small magnetised bar of steel which has been embedded in the plastic body during the moulding process. In use, the button is suspended from a fine thread about 12” (30,5 cm) in length and is allowed to oscillate until it comes to rest.
Compass 5 A Small compass with brass case and glass top. Chemically blackened finish with minor wear. Inside with 4 pointed star shaped pointer with white and red dot markings. Measures 15 mm diameter and 5 mm deep. Working order.
Compass 6 A Small compass with brass case and glass top. traces of a Chemically blackened finish. Inside with rotating pointer and dial marked NESW. Measures 10 mm diameter and 3 - 4 mm deep. Working order. The smaller than normal size suggests it was for concealing inside a uniform button.
Compass 7 A Small compass with brass case and glass top. Inside with printed dial with arrow to point North. Measures 17 mm diameter and 5 mm deep. Working order.
Compass 8 "GS" General Service button hanging from the a peice of string/cotton the crown on the button points to North, Working order.
WW2 RAF Escape and Evasion kit sealed matches
The matches are still sealed in their waterproof celluloid plastic cover, marked at the bottom 'contains 20 matches'. Size, 6.5 x 4 cm. They have a stores Ref. No. 12D/761.
ORIGINAL WW2 RAF AIR MINISTRY NO (7329A) 1941 ESCAPE EVASION SILK MAP FRANCE / GERMANY 9C A. (MOST SECRET)
Air Ministry double-sided silk escape map carried by RAF personnel. These were also widely used by USAAF crews and pilots.
One side covers France, Ref 7329 A / 9C (a) dated 1941, and is printed in three colours. The other side covers Germany, (MOST SECRET) ref: 7330 / 9U R, and is printed in two colours.
This is one of the earliest escape map published by the British military intelligence unit (MI9) in 1941. It shows Escape routes the border between French occupied and unoccupied zones, also coastal defences etc. Excellent condition.
British, WW2, SOE and Commando Booby Trap Switch Number 3,
Release, Mark 1 Booby Trap Switch
This is a British, WW2, Special Operations Executive and Commando booby trap pressure switch used for detonating explosives by means of a percussion cap or a blank cartridge. Booby trap mechanisms were developed by ‘Experimental Station 6’ which was a cover name for the SOE (Special Operations Executive).
This is a Switch Number 3, Release, Mark 1 switch and is made of green painted steel and has a spring loaded hammer with an anvil for detonating a primer. The switch was designed by Lt. Col. Stuart Macrae.
