Machodoc
Old Guy
Sometimes you just get lucky if you try hard enough.
I posted elsewhere about doing research on the name that was on the troop tag under the buttplate of a K-31 that I recently bought. The name was apparently not a particularly common one, and Google turned up a photographer in Switzerland who had the same name. I figured that he might be a son, or other relative, so took a chance and wrote to him.
A couple of days later, I received a brief reply ... that it had been his father's rifle.
While I didn't want to ask too much of a stranger, I nevertheless felt compelled to ask if he might have a photo of his dad, so I could print a copy to keep with the rifle. After several days of waiting, and beginning to think that the fellow didn't want to be bothered, I got this reply from him today:
===================================
I remember very well this rifle. When I was a little boy, I helped my father (born 1918) every year to clean this rifle for the annual inspection. So it is not necessary for me to have a picture of the rifle, because I know it very well ...
My sister found two photos of my father in time of WWII. I am happy to send them to you.
Best regards,
Franz Schwendimann
===================================
You may have seen the troop tag that I posted elsewhere. This tag translates to:
Franz Schwendimann
born 1918
Platoon Number III of the heavy anti-aircraft battery number 40
stationed/lived Mellingen 1A6
Here's what his son and daughter sent to me ...
I posted elsewhere about doing research on the name that was on the troop tag under the buttplate of a K-31 that I recently bought. The name was apparently not a particularly common one, and Google turned up a photographer in Switzerland who had the same name. I figured that he might be a son, or other relative, so took a chance and wrote to him.
A couple of days later, I received a brief reply ... that it had been his father's rifle.
While I didn't want to ask too much of a stranger, I nevertheless felt compelled to ask if he might have a photo of his dad, so I could print a copy to keep with the rifle. After several days of waiting, and beginning to think that the fellow didn't want to be bothered, I got this reply from him today:
===================================
I remember very well this rifle. When I was a little boy, I helped my father (born 1918) every year to clean this rifle for the annual inspection. So it is not necessary for me to have a picture of the rifle, because I know it very well ...
My sister found two photos of my father in time of WWII. I am happy to send them to you.
Best regards,
Franz Schwendimann
===================================
You may have seen the troop tag that I posted elsewhere. This tag translates to:
Franz Schwendimann
born 1918
Platoon Number III of the heavy anti-aircraft battery number 40
stationed/lived Mellingen 1A6
Here's what his son and daughter sent to me ...
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