C & T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd
Lot 497
* The American M1 Helmet Shell of Edward “Eddy” Joint Easy Company 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division, One of the Band of Brothers, Parachuted into Normandy, Served Through Holland and Wounded by Shrapnel at Bastogne, the helmet is a standard M1 pattern helmet shell which retains much of its original green combat paint finish. To each side is the original painted insignia of Easy Company, 506th, the white spade. When viewing the painted insignia under glass it has the correct mottling style pattern that you see with all original painted American helmets. The interior of the shell has the early fixed chinstrap bales. Painted crudely to the inside is “E. J. Joint 13135150”. The helmet shows combat wear and has dents to the top section. A really un-assuming item, but one of real historical importance. 13135150 Private First Class Edward “Eddy” Joint was from Erie, Pennsylvania. He served in Normandy, Holland, Bastogne where he was wounded by shrapnel, he then re-joined the unit at the end of the war. A tribute to him after his death gave the following details, “A short, but stout Pennsylvanian from Erie, Eddie joined the army specifically to become a paratrooper. He liked the idea of getting $50 extra a month, along with doing something different. He joined Easy’s 2nd Platoon after their arrival at Ft Bragg in mid-1943. The affable rifleman was soon clicking along like he had been with the company since the beginning. On D-Day, he landed right near another Erie man and good friend Joe Lesniewski. But the reunion was brief as the two were soon separated in the chaos that accompanied a brisk firefight. Luckily Eddie managed to avoid being wounded despite the fierce combat he was involved in, especially around Carentan. He once again suited up and jumped into Holland. Quiet and steady, he did his job and helped the platoon hold the line, especially up on the island. After a short respite in Mourmelon, Eddie deployed to Bastogne. Lady Luck stayed with him until he was wounded outside of Noville (Bastogne) and evacuated. He later returned and finished out the campaign, finally returning home to Erie at war’s end.” Another account states that he was severely wounded by shrapnel to the right arm at Bastogne, as a result he was taken to a hospital in Paris where he was told that his war had ended. He was said to have broken out of the hospital and hitchhiked back to Easy Company to stay with his comrades till the end of the war. After the war he worked as a mail carrier for the United States Post Office for 33 years. He died on 12th May 2012. The men of Easy Company are some of the most famous soldiers to fight during WW2, this in many ways is thanks to the H.B.O mini-series “Band of Brothers” which documented the war of men of Easy Company, although Joint’s war was not featured in this series, he certainly went through the hardships that all faced. This is a unique opportunity to purchase an item belonging to a man of one of the most famous companies in military history. This item has been imported from outside the EU so is subject to a 5% import duty on the hammer price.
