REGULARS

Welcome
What the Editor has to say about this month’s issue as we look at the Siege of Malta, where the British base in the Med became a thorn in the side of the Italian and German forces trying to resupply North Africa.

News 
What’s happening in the world of militaria shows, museums and exhibitions. This month we’re looking at what’s coming up at the National Army Museum and at exhibits for Tankfest 2023.

EVENTS

In the sale rooms
Here's a look at what's coming up for auction with no fewer than four auctions at Hermann Historica. We preview the ones for classics arms and armour, and orders and medal from pre-1918.

Under the hammer
Let’s have a look at what’s gone under the hammer in auction rooms, with badges and headgear at Marlow’s, medals at C&T auctions and a variety of militaria at Ratisbon’s American auction.

FEATURES

WWI webbing: Germany
Ed Hallett’s series on the accoutrements of WWI armies heads down under to see what Australia brought to the Great War and what it borrowed from the Empire.

Royal Navy fixtures
Mark Wood is your guide to collecting the fixtures and fittings from Royal Navy ships. These range from lights to complete cabin doors from famous vessels.

Battle of Tanneburg 1914
Outnumbered on the Eastern Front in 1914 the German Generals monitored the advancing Russian radio traffic and deployed their armies accordingly, resulting in a stunning victory.

Coorg medal of 1837
During its long period of expansion by conquest in India, the East India Company took the lead in issuing campaign medals to its forces of the Bengal, Madras
and Bombay Presidencies. This is a rare one from 1837.

Cities at War: Liverpool
As the western port that was the main destination for convoys from the USA, it was a constant target for the Luftwaffe and submarine patrols. Discover what life was like for those living through it.

Luftwaffe Flak Battle Badge
Each branch of the Wehrmacht had an award for shooting down or spotting enemy aircraft. This was one handed out by the Luftwaffe for its forces, as Duncan Evans explains.

Schnellboot ahoy!
They were the German fast motor torpedo boats that terrorised shipping in the Channel. Ian Baxter has the story of their exploits, which included stumbling across a rehearsal for D-Day.

Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1878-1880
Gabriele Esposito has the story of the conflict on the North West Frontier as British troops struggled to contain local partisans and warlords.

The Photo Inspector
Ray Westlake looks at the uniform and insignia of Alexander Henry of the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers.

COVER FEATURES

Siege of Malta
With joint German-Italian operations in the Mediterranean threatening British forces in North Africa, control of the island became vitally important for both sides. Cue a grim struggle as the Axis forces bombarded the island and tried to starve them into submission, as Allied convoys tried desperately to keep the population supplied.

Collecting the Siege of Malta
Edward Hallett looks at collecting some of the militaria related to both the German and Italian forces besieging the island, and the British and Maltese troops defending it.

SIGNALS

Militaria reviews
Duncan Evans takes a look at some of the latest releases including F-16 Fighting Falcon, German Fighters of WWII, HMS Turbulent, and Sex under the Swastika.

Letters/Next month
Here is what you’ve been writing in about this month and it concerns a tracing the history of a sailor at Jutland, what someone made of last month’s cover and what weapons are identified with specific warriors and nations.

Auction & Fair Diary
Check out the online arrangements for the auctions where you can top up your militaria collection and what fairs are open.

Competition
Thanks to our friends at Pen and Sword with have three sets of prizes up for grabs consisting of copies of the excellent Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels, the salacious Sex under the Swastika, and the poignant Faces of the Few.