WWII Canteen

[Narked1]

Hi Everybody,
Haven't posted on this forum in years as I am usually on the shipwrecks forum because I own a dive center in Alexandria, Egypt and am more interested in shipwrecks and underwater archaeology. However, I also occassionally assist an affiliate company with desert safari's out to the Qattara Depression (of WWII fame) and to the Siwa Oasis.

Was out on the eastern edge of the the Qattara Depression with tourists from the Semester At Sea program and my Land Cruiser got bogged down in soft sand. In the process of getting "unstuck", a canteen came to the surface behind one of the rear wheels. Am looking for assistance in identifying the nation of origin. I suspect that it was used by the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) during WWII, but can't find a good reference in order to prove it.

Will be out MD'ing the area in the next week or so because the LRDG used to bury their ammo, weapons, water, and food when they were watching a particular spot.

Any help that anyone here can offer in the identification of this canteen would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

 

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[Mackaydon]

Hello Mike:
The Axis belligerents closest to the Qattara Depression during the second Battle of El Alamein were the Italians; and those on the Allied side were the Free French--then the British 44th Infantry Division. Six other nations were represented in this battle but those listed above fought closest to the QD. Hopefully, that may limit your search.
Don.......

Map Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/2_Battle_of_El_Alamein_001.png

 

[toolman61]

Great WWII canteen Mike!! I hope you can find some buried munitions, weapons or anything historical on your return trip. And welcome back to posting on this part of the site. HH Tom

 

[Mackaydon]

Here's a standard Italian canteen of one litre capacity, originally issued in 1933 and used throughout the Second World War:

http://cas.awm.gov.au/heraldry/REL28967

Here's a canteen used by the German Afrika Korps:

http://cgi.ebay.com/original-wwii-g...6QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101

 

[tymcmurray]

Nice story and find.
Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

I'm thinking Italian as well.
CurbdiggerCarl

 

[Narked1]

Hi All,
Thanks for the feedback....greatly appreciated. Have been able to identify the canteen (partly with all of your help). This is an Italian 1.5 liter canteen manfactured between 1938 and 1945. Can't wait to get back out there and look for some other "goodies"!

Thanks again for the input.
Mike