Guadalcanal Battlefield Relics Found in New Area - grenade, BAR magazines, barb wire, etc.

[@catsinhouse]

Years ago my dad was talking to my next-door neighbor and discovered they were both at Guadacanal during the fighting at the same time, Dad in the Army Medical Corps, Lightning Division and my neighbor, in the Marines. Two of the most gentle, sweetest men on the planet. The horrors that they saw and rarely ever talked about.

[@eddie-nk4jk]

My dad was there too- in 11th Marines artillery. He rarely ever said anything about it other than he was there, in New Zeeland and Australia. And he always referred to it as "the service", never the Marines, possibly out of humility for those who didnt make it back- to speak of it in the most unassuming way possible.

[@jimbriola6264]

My Father was A regimental surgeon in the battle of Guaudal canal Lt Colonel PF Briola M.D. He was awarded thw Legion of Merit citation for his service there, He was from Cleveland, Ohio.

[@michaelrutledge7048]

Fascinating stuff!! Walking in the footsteps of true heroes!!

[@miketriz3100]

Best videos on KZbin about the Canal

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Glad you enjoy them. I plan to do a bunch more and take requests!

[@miketriz3100]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 can you please show more Savo island and Iron Bottom Sound, I'm in New Jersey and probably never get there. I know you do the battlefield visits but possibly a panoramic from the shore? Very much appreciated Mike

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Mike Triz will do. I plan to do an episode on the large US Memorial soon. It overlooks Ironbottom Sound and Savo Island. At the first of my Hill 2 Edsons CP episode I have a shot of Savo.

[@miketriz3100]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 awesome please keep up the great work, my dad is 87 and grew up a John basilone fan and he to enjoys your videos.

[@jacoballen3267]

Fascinating, certainly as a US Marine. Always wanted to go visit my predecessors footprints

[@stevebrownrocks6376]

Id love to be able to explore places like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Pelelieu, etc. There's probably LOADS of artifacts in those places!

[@conpop6924]

Peleliu is completely loaded with them from what ive seen. It is just lying all over the place

[@tomdaley9154]

Im a Marine combat vet, most recent war. My brother is as well and we've both been life long History fanatics. In fact he has a Master's in History. We've wanted to take trips to do this for a loonngg time. Very cool to at least get to see it on video.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Great content and stay safe 🇺🇸

[@jaywinters2483]

Thanks for all your work and what you do. You're a national treasure.

[@opubiqueco-ordinator6631]

That foresight shroud is off a BAR

[@joem5332]

That’s insane I can almost picture the men walking around the area back in 42-45

[@terminal99]

Collectors would pay for any of those finds - even the barbed wire.

[@MaxPulse1]

Was there twice in 1988 and 91. There on business but spent time on Bloody Ridge behind Henderson, and along Red Beach. Not much to see in either actually. Red Beach had a US naval gun on the beach. All the good stuff was gone. If you go back, go to St Josephs school at Tenaru. They are alongside the jungle and it is quite dangerous in the area due to UXB. Spent 2 months on Malaita, and surprisingly, very little fighting took place there. Love the Solomons, such a shame they are struggling financially. War tourism could be a way out perhaps? PS, did find an UX shell off from a beach in the water north of Honiara. Told the police and went back at the end of our trip nearly 2 months later, and still there!!

[@bsenalaska]

Great search with great finds!👏🏻🇺🇸

[@krieger.r6740]

Great video

[@PeterOkeefe54]

My father in law walked that ground..went ashore with Vandergrifts 1st..he was army though. Whats not known is early on the army artillery 247th field artillery supported the initial landings. They found the big guns could not be moved so they used 75mm at first. Dad came home with malaria and PTSD..big time.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Respect to your father in law. Interesting as I never heard about a complete Army unit at the beginning. He must have been attached to the 11th Marines initially? I will do some follow up now since you’ve ticked my interest.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Could not find any info to say that battalion landed then. The battalion was part of the Americal Div. the first elements landed 10 Oct with the 164th Regiment. What I found interesting was that the 247th left the US with no arty. They were outfitted with Australian guns once overseas. Trying to now find out if they had those same guns when they arrived on Guadalcanal. Do you have some info on that unit? Not much around and would like to learn more about them.

[@PeterOkeefe54]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 I have the presidential unit citation with august date on it..also HAD a newspaper after the rest of the americal landed with "bat juggling" by "sparrow" between games. Dad (sparrow)was always weird about not receiving any credit about being with the marines. Mostly after they were relieved and went to new zealand I think he didnt get the gorls they did..LOL..let me look and I will be get back to you..email? I can send you copies

[@PeterOkeefe54]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 its also listed as 259th and 247th...his single battery K I believe was attached to the 1st marines. I remember his description of the first slot naval battle and the navy gone in the morning. He was the unit bad boy but earned a bronze star among others decorations. Very hard to pin down anything on that unit..BUT I know the americal lacked battery K stateside

[@rogermiller2145]

I walked around bloody ridge in 1973 ?A lot of war stuff then. Nice to see how much it’s still the same.

[@PunchesCouches]

the yellow pineapple grenade was an early type issued to marines in the pacific theater early in the war. yellow is the code for high explosive ordinance.

[@esquad5406]

The over paint O.D. green has weathered off over the years. Some made it into combat that had not been over painted.

[@stevebrownrocks6376]

Looks like old rust to me.....

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

esquad 540 the HE ones used in this early campaign were all yellow.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

stevebrownrocks yes but gold to others 😀

[@redtobertshateshandles]

OK. Good reason not to stuff around with ordnance. Not all pineapple grenades used black powder.

[@tsmgguy]

Object at 12:05 is without doubt a BAR front sight cover.

[@Stopsign32v]

No kidding? Yep you're right. He said it right there in the video. Also without a doubt this is filmed on Guadalcanal and uploaded to KZbin.

[@fhbkx]

12:50 Looks like the front bracket for a bayonet?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

John E turned out to be the front site protector of a BAR.

[@RaoulThomas007]

WWII Barrington Hall Soluble Coffee Tin GI Ration. It looks like Barrington is still in the coffee business. 9:55 Headstamp *DEN* Denver Ordnance Plant (1941-1945) - Denver, Colorado: a division of Remington Arms. 13:05

[@kevinevans6980]

I believe the unidentified item was a rifle attachment piece for a bayonet.

[@LoneWolf051]

Front sight hood for the BAR

[@joem5332]

Kevin Evans thought same

[@diegofianza3525]

Very cool vids. Subscribed!

[@Jeff-uq7iu]

My grandfather was there with the us army artillery unit 105s

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Jeff they would have fired a few shots at The Gifu I bet. Have a look at my episodes there. Hill 27.

[@justinmishler6758]

Marines had the Garand on Guadalcanal as well

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Yes in fact the 3rd Defense Bn along with elements of the 11th Marines landed with them on day 1, 7 Aug. When the 8th Marines arrived in Nov one company in each Bn was equipped with them. The 2nd Raiders had them and many were liberated from the US Army by the Marines from Oct onwards. In this particular area in this video however the 7th Marines who primary manned it did but have them and the Army had just arrived.

[@Armored_Muskrat]

BAR magazines might have been washed down the slope from the Marine positions by many years of rain.

[@maxsimeck902]

I would have taken the BAR mag and mortar fin. So cool.

[@josiel152]

kind of mine boggling there is so much military refuse still left in the places where battles took place. Just think where you found the BAR Mags the soldier was firing at the enemy, dropping the mag and reloading probably right where you found it.

[@michaelrutledge7048]

R. Long ... and over 75 years ago!!!!

[@Bwh-rm3py]

I was at Guadal in the mid 80's while in the US Navy and would love to go back. How do you get there from the US ?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Bwh3200 before COVID it was normally a flight from the states to Fiji then Fiji Air to Guadalcanal.

[@mivanwe]

Before Covid you could fly from Brisbane to Honiara. I was in Guadalcanal and Tulagi a few times in the 1990’s doing work on tuna fishing boats. Fascinating place with plenty of 1942 weapons and associated military things both Japanese and American all over the place. I was there in 1992 when a large party of Japanese were looking for bodies (bones I Guess) from the fighting around Henderson field.

[@RandomRetr0]

The yellow ones are HE grenades, nothing to mess with for sure

[@Wild-tb1gv]

What did you do today? Found stuff from ww2.

[@southernman5839]

It’s a shame you can’t keep it because it’s just rotting away.

[@dianelord2905]

Ils n'ont pas nettoyer le terrain ....

[@dougmccrae9643]

Bayonet clip???

[@Zoomie932]

My father lived in those trenches.

[@00zero11b]

I never really understood why the BAR mags were so small. Why didnt they design a bigger mag with more rounds?

[@davids.sharpescpls3075]

Snale shell at 10:45. Little spiral conk.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

David S. Sharpe SCPLS bunch of African snails in that area.

[@zaynevanbommel5983]

if it hasnt gone off in 75 years it aint gonna go off now, the explosvies used in US Grenades in ww2 was gun cotton and over time would degrade to nothing The original Mk 2 grenade had a 3⁄8-inch (9.5 mm) threaded plug in its base, which covered the opening used to place the explosive filling, either 1.85 oz (52 g) of TNT, 2.33 oz (66 g) of Trojan explosive (a mixture of 40% nitrostarch, ammonium nitrate, and sodium nitrate), 1.85 oz (52 g) of a 50/50 amatol/nitrostarch mixture, or 1.85 oz (52 g) of Grenite (a mixture of 95% nitrostarch and binders). Some early Mk 2 grenades were filled with 0.74 oz (21 g) of smokeless EC powder. The improved "Mk 2A1" (a designation used informally by armorers, historians, and collectors, but never by the US military introduced in 1942 was filled through the fuse well instead. The Mk 2A1 was initially filled with 0.74 oz (21 g) of EC powder. In 1944, the EC powder filling was replaced with 1.85 oz (52 g) of TNT. Low explosive-filled Mk 2s had their cast iron bodies painted gray or black to prevent rust. Pre-WWII high explosive-filled Mk 2s were painted bright yellow. During wartime (from about 1943 onwards), grenades were overpainted in olive drab, leaving a narrow yellow ring remaining at the top. Not all were overpainted, however, as D-Day film footage shows. Mk 2 practice grenades were painted red (a practice copied from the French military). M21 practice grenades were painted light blue (a practice copied from the British military) and had blue-painted fuse levers, often with the end painted light brown indicating a "low explosive" marking charge

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

I generally say that to keep people from handling unexploded items. Good practice for those with little knowledge not to touch or tamper.

[@halbutler4059]

Good information bro. Thanks. My dad was 2nd Marine div. WWII. He's 95 & still won't talk about it. I try to find out as much as I can, maybe help me understand.

[@zaynevanbommel5983]

Guadalcanal - Walking a Battlefield yeah Rodger that i was Army just over 10 years and after that was mining as a qualified Shotfirer and driller so i know my explosives ;)

[@halbutler4059]

@Me Smith I appreciate the response. But if a couple of home brews (18%) don't do it, I doubt anything will...lol

[@halbutler4059]

@Me Smith My father taught me how to make home brew (it ain't beer, it's ALE). So strong it almost doesn't need a glass. We live in Memphis. If you're ever in town look us up. And thanks for your service. 🇺🇸

[@rackets7991]

The Marines machine guns in 1942 were water cooled so the Gerry cans were likely for water..Rubber tubes ran from the cooling jacket to the cans to keep the guns from overheating.. Gunners had heat resistant glove to hold the water jacket when they had to move a hot weapon.. Also remember the Marines on Guadalcanal in 42 used 1903 Springfields and not the M1.. So some unidentified pieces may have been off a Springfield..

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Rackets thanks very true. They had to bring their water up in a small 1 ton truck and jeeps. In this area Puller even had them dig wells. That particular weapon part is off a BAR. Found out some Marines (arty, defense Bn) had Garands initially but not the infantry regiments. This area was also occupied by the Army as it became a ‘nursery’ sector in Dec 42- Feb 43.

[@dianelord2905]

Bonjour Traduction En Français. Merci à vous

[@guywerry6614]

If you slow the camera down while panning it would make life a great deal easier.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Thanks I mainly do . Think the relics got me excited.

[@normfreilinger5655]

Guy Werry for who ?

[@guywerry6614]

@@normfreilinger5655 For me, obviously.

[@glennh3977]

You sound like an Australian from Tennessee 😂

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Glenn H almost. Originally from Alabama

[@glennh3977]

Haha! Good on you for showing our history! 💪💪

[@glennh3977]

I envy you, just finished Neptune’s Inferno.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Glenn H good book and author.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Glenn H 8 years in the USMC, it’s in my blood!

[@earlyriser8998]

neat finds

[@TheRetirednavy92]

Had an uncle seriously wounded there. He was never the same.

[@jakespringer5016]

12:21 is maybe off an m1 Garand? Looks sorta familiar

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Jake Springer it’s off the front site of a BAR

[@olentangy74]

Man, I would not want to walk in this area in soft shoes. Heavy boots would be in order.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

olentangy74 the locals walk there bare footed! But their feet as as tough as boots.

[@bobbertee5945]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 On a side note, are there any snakes on Guadalcanal??

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Rob Tee small non poisonous tree snakes. Coming from Australia it’s a struggle at first walking around without thinking about snakes!

[@mikehartsook5281]

THE PIECE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS WENT ON A M.1 GARAND RIFLE FOR YOUR BAYONET TO HOOK ON YOUR RIFLE OR IT WAS A BAYONET IT MORE LIKELY IS THE PART THAT GOES ON THE END OF YOUR RIFLE FOR YOUR BAYONET TO HOOK ON TO.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Thanks. I have soon found out it’s the front site protector for a BAR

[@DeviousShrimp]

When you find relics, do you keep them? Finding relics on a ww1, ww2 battlefield is a dream of mine. I would die to go there.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Bruh Bruh I generally put them back in the ground. If it’s an unexploded item I mark it and report to police. Walking and digging around on a battlefield can be dangerous.

[@gustavvader2207]

Matthew I lived in France for 4 years. Huge into WWI AND WWII. I can’t explain how much there is just left where it find. The French are not interested. I was invited to my grandfather’s brothers memorial service in France. Killed in a B-26 crash. 10,000 pieces of his plane still onsite. I took 50 cal rounds out of thé dirt, pulled off the slug and the powder burnt instantly with a match. The WWI battlefields are the same way, relics everywhere. I brought back a German fuse attached to the blown artillery casing from the Somme battlefield. As well as many machine gun slugs and shrapnel. I did find things that I believe are best left for historical reasons. A few helmets, canteens, personal items. A relic hunters dream but when you are actually there, you feel the presence of the battle, and somehow you change. Hard to explain. I brought back items that were a dime a dozen, but those items I felt were better left in place, I sat back down. I’m guessing many people before me felt the same way. I see no harm in removing casings and shrapnel, but some things seem best left alone for the next person to see.

[@ExpectedEvil]

Gustav Vader I think it’s amazing. To think a soldier, a person, a brother, father stood where you’re standing and either died or fired off rounds from his rifle. 100 years later you’re standing where he/they stood finding items that were left behind. It’s just such a crazy concept. Something so big and amazing that I can’t comprehend what it must feel like. I love watching these videos.

[@gustavvader2207]

ExpectedEvil If you goto Europe, send me a message and I’ll recommend a few books about Walking the Somme and Walking Normandy Battlefields. They are time savers. You should go one day. Also, and I say this from experience, if you are with your wife or girlfriend, be aware that unless they are really interested, they only see fields and rusted metal and can shorten or even ruin your time. Some friends that all want to see the same things and love walking fields and woods all day looking through the history is as fun as it gets.

[@ExpectedEvil]

Gustav Vader I’m from England (south east) my parents used to own a house in Normandy so we would go with them (me and my girlfriend) to see the memorials etc. Omaha beach was probably the last one we went to. I have always wanted to go to Ardennes, Carentan and similar places but also ones shown in these types of videos. Guadalcanal is out of the question for me unfortunately. My other half knows I’m really fascinated with WW1&2 so walking with her won’t be a problem! Haha. Thanks for the reply as well.

[@davidharris6581]

Have you ever found a complete weapon?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

No but are aware of a few that have been found.

[@southernman5839]

Must be some big bugs around?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Plenty. If I was to walk in the jungle the mosquitoes would swarm.

[@marksummers463]

Baynotte attachment maybe.

[@michaelthomas7178]

Lucky Tiger hair tonic bottle.

[@ShroomPapa]

So you sound Austalian and American Southern lol so which is it?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Both

[@ShroomPapa]

​@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 what a crazy mashup, I have a Southern Appalachian accent so some of it is very familiar.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

You picked it. Raised in the N. Alabama mountains.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

We have a water shortage, but you can drink a pigtail if you want. I can't imagine carrying that heavy junk.

[@ALRIGHTYTHEN.]

4:35 If the locals think they're a nuisance because they step on them, just imagine what the Japanese thought of them for contributing to them getting shot and killed.

[@raider_militaria]

A grenade is no danger no matter what age as long as the pin isnt pulled. Those explosives require a fuze to go off.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

inbush_1969 Fan Club Illinois Chapter most people don’t know about explosives so it’s best to give the advise don’t touch or tamper.

[@raider_militaria]

@Marlin Williams Yes but those are usually shells or bombs. Not hand grenades. Hand grenades have to have the pin pulled to pose any threat.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

You couldn't be more wrong, go back to your gaming.

[@raider_militaria]

@@snowflakemelter1172 Do you not understand how explosives work? I asked a guy this same question who has extensive knowledge on explosives and he said the same thing.

[@isaac-vb1ng]

@@raider_militaria Yes the pin needs to be pulled but an 80 year old pin thats been rusted should never be handled as it could be easily broken or snapped

[@Edwardnarby92]

Awesome video thanks very much for sharing! If you ever swing by hk give us a shout plenty of ww2 stuff out here as well)

[@davedowling8469]

It is not bob wire it is barbed wire as it has barbs on it.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Dave Dowling funny. It’s mainly just wire now as the barbs have broken off. Maybe I should say ware instead of wire as they do down south.

[@davedowling8469]

Guadalcanal - Walking a Battlefield I spent a lot of time putting up barbed wire on the farm before laying barbed wire entanglements and putting up concertina razor wire in the army.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Dave Dowling yes not a fun job. Called stringing wire in Australia

[@davidmurray5399]

If you're walking a battle site and there are battle debris laying about, wear good boots, and gloves if you're handling rusty stuff[get your tetanus jab first]. Watch out for un-exploded ordnance.

[@bikerleo1966]

Fairly hard to see landmines

[@davidmurray5399]

@@bikerleo1966 It depends on what kind of mines you're dealing with, how long ago the mines were laid, how the soil eruption affects the mines. That goes for all types of un-exploded ordnance.

[@kyrablue7034]

Hope there is no snakes

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

No poisonous snakes there. Only small tree pythons.

[@pzkpfw2310]

Wouldn’t want to be anywhere near there when they burn off that brush.... probably cooked off a lot of those rounds that were left there

[@nunyabuziness8421]

Them ppl are out of their minds burning w unexploded ordinance littering that island

[@Stellar12316]

I do something everyday as to not forget the people before us remember freedom is not free and it can slip from your hands very fast if we do not keep charging the gates of hell

[@baguiobestmmafighters2001]

Bad camera it hurt my eyes

[@michaeldelahunty2440]

I thought Fanta was a German drink

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Yes correct. I had the right era though!

[@zaynevanbommel5983]

lol the Germans had FANTA in ww2 not the Allies lol

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

thanks very true

[@StaryjShkolyar]

У нас в любой лес зайди и такого ржавого железа кучи лежат

[@soulfly4076]

wouldnt those grenades exploded after all the burn offs of that field over the past 60 years???????? c'mon man

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Not all the time, same as bullets and large artillery shells.

[@1Dougloid]

It's a graveyard. Respect the men who died here.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Robert Luedeman I don’t think what I do is disrespect? The entire capital city of Honiara is built upon a vast graveyard.

[@bobbertee5945]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 Dont worry about that comment, I detect nothing but respect from u when u do these videos, u do an excellent job, your videos are wonderful, i learn something from everyone u make.... thank you

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Rob Tee thanks. Comments don’t bother me just curious about the reason why.

[@1Dougloid]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 Here's your reason why. A person never wants to lose sight of what happened there and at what cost. I think many footsoldiers, either American or Japanese would rather have been somewhere else. I myself might have stopped at a church or chapel and said a prayer for the repose of their souls. I may have the minority argument in this particular mosh pit but there it is.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Robert Luedeman yes I respect that and I think we feel the same. One of the reasons I do what I do so others don’t forget them and what happened here.

[@JoeSmith-zg7in]

Bring in 10 thousand goats.

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

They would be eaten first I think.

[@rooroo8767]

Are you a yank or an ozzy!?

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

Bit of both.

[@rooroo8767]

Guadalcanal - Walking a Battlefield best people.

[@johnmarlin4661]

@@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349 mostly USMC

[@guadalcanal-walkingabattle5349]

@@johnmarlin4661 never leaves you I guess but I’ve got plenty more years of Australian service than US.

[@Hoff_0313]

Zoomed in way too close. Gave me motion sickness

[@newlevelgraphicsdavidframe2870]

ping

[@michaelthomas7178]

Lucky Tiger hair tonic bottle.