HOTCHKISS MACHINE GUN EQUIPMENT,
FOUND AT 81st COMPANY POSITIONS
IN AND NEAR BOURESCHES

Courtesy of Gilles Lagin

Two boxes found recently in cellar of old house in Bouresches. Unopened box on left holds Hotchkiss cartridge clips. Open box is Hotchkiss machine gun tool box. Tools are for Hotchkiss machine gun and include wrench & cleaning brush. Both boxes found in Bouresches house-cellar. Tools found in trench southwest of Bouresches.

Hotchkiss cartridge clip box shown in open position with three cartridge clips beside it on ground. Box found in Bouresches house-cellar. Clips found in trench southwest of Bouresches.

Close-up of Hotchkiss cartridge clip box in open position.

All items above, both the boxes found in the cellar in Bouresches, and the loose tools & clips found in the trench southwest of Bouresches, were found in positions occupied by 81st Company, 6th Machine Gun Battalion.

Photos & information: Gilles Lagin.

GAS MASK BELONGING TO
A.R. APPENHEIMER
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT, 6th MGB

Canvas gas mask pouch (only part of strap visible), worn around neck.

Gas mask with hose & canister removed from pouch, but not unfolded.

Anti-dimming stick for clearing fogged lenses of gas mask.

Booklet tied to hose of gas mask containing instructions on outside cover.

Interior of gas mask booklet with table for recording occasions & particulars of mask deployment, safety pin, & plaster for repairing tears in hood.

Cpl Al Appenheimer sent this gas mask home by mail before shipping home himself. When his neice tried the mask on, she was unable to breathe through it, and complained to her Uncle Al about this when he returned. He chuckled, opened the base of the canister, and poured out a pile of French gold coins.