The book (pair of books, actually) we’re looking at today is a bit less rigorous than our usual material, and more humanistic. It’s a pair of books entitled Veteran Bring Backs and Veteran Bring Backs Volume II, by Edward Tinker. Both volumes are compilations of firearms (and a few other related items) brought back from various wars by vets. Each one includes photos of the gun and the story of its capture, history, and other interesting anecdotes, plus often current or vintage photos of the men who brought them back. The guns featured run the gamut from Lugers to AK-47s to handmade Vietnamese weapons and engraved SS sidearms, each with its own unique tale.
These two books aren’t really intended for the dedicated researcher, but instead to the folks who enjoy reading about the stories of individuals coming home from conflict abroad, and the paths their trophies take over the decades since their return. I find Volume II a bit more interesting for its greater variety of items, but both have plenty of microcosms of war history to capture your imagination.
Both volumes can be purchased directly from the publisher, Simpson Ltd. For folk who prefer to shop on Amazon, volume I is available from a couple different sellers there:
Hey mate! Deals like the packet of smokes for a handgun still exist. So, er, I’ll trade you a pack of Winfield Blues for a P08?
Ian, have you ever made it to Simpsons store in Galesburg, IL? It is quite the place, you should check it out if you’re ever in the area.
I haven’t been, but it’s definitely on my list for the next time I find myself in Illinois.
I’ve got the Arisaka Type 99 and bayonet my granddad brought back from Japan. He was on a ship headed to be part of the invasion force when the war ended. He was stationed in Japan as part of the army of occupation. He brought back the rifle, I would love to find the capture papers for it. It has the mum ground off.