Germany 3rd Reich, War Flag, German HQ in Bayeux, Normandy capture, former Bullock Collection.
This German war flag was taken from the German headquarters in Bayeux, France by the British 56th Infantry Brigade on 7 June 1945. The flag was conveyed to Royal Navy Commander Anthony Kimmins who brought it with him to the United States in mid-June 1944 as a gift for the Wall Street financier and promoter of Anglo-American goodwill Calvin Bullock. Sadly Mr. Bullock had died on 21 June 1944, several days to the arrival of Commander Kimmins. Instead the presentation was made to Bullock's son Hugh Bullock, who accepted them for display at the 1 Wall Street offices of Calvin Bullock Ltd.
Commander Anthony Kimmins relates the story of this flag with the White Ensign he secured for Calvin Bullock. In his 1947 book, "Half Time" Kimmins states, "About a fortnight after D-Day I was again sent over to the United States...True to form, I had two more flags for Mr. Calvin Bullock's museum in my suitcase-the tattered White Ensign (ZFC0228) of our leading ship in the invasion, and the swastika (ZFC1074) which had been flying above the Hun headquarters in Bayeux...I learnt that he (Calvin Bullock) had died of a heart attack a few days before my arrival... Fortunately he left his son Hugh, a man who will carry on his father's great traditions, and I was proud to present the flags to him at the first meeting of the Forum after his father's death."
Bayeaux, France was liberated shortly after the Normandy Invasion. It is also the sight of the Bayeaux Tapestry, a relic from the 11th/12th century depicting the Battle of Hastings.
According to the Bullock documents, this important flag was kept in Bullock's office at Number 1 Wall Street, NY "In FILING drawer (AFP office)". The documentation states "German Flag which we (British) captured at Bayeux. It was flying over the German Officers' Rest House." Mr. Bullock's secretary went on to add the following - "(From Commander Anthony Kimmins, R.N. June 23, 1944)". This statement and date of recording, in addition to the location of the capture of the flag pinpoints that the flag was taken by British Forces during the the D Day Invasion in the Battle for Normandy.
Publication History:
Kimmins, Anthony, Half-Time: The Autobiography of Captain Anthony Kimmins, London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1947, P. 246.
ZFC Significant Flag
Provenance:
• German Army headquarters in Bayeux, France, June 1944.
• Captured by British 56th Infantry Brigade on 7 June 1945.
• Acquired by Royal Navy Commander Anthony Kimmins, June 1944.
• Intended for the Calvin Bullock Collection, Presented to Hugh Bullock, New York, New York, 23 June 1944.
• Hugh Bullock, until passing. 1966.
• By descent in Bullock family to daughter of Hugh Bullock, until 1997
• Purchased for the Zaricor Flag Collection by private treaty from the estate of Calvin Bullock, New York City, 1997.
Sources:
Kimmins, Anthony, Half-Time: The Autobiography of Captain Anthony Kimmins, London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1947.
War Trophy, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_trophy
Third Reich 1933-1945 (German), Flags of the World, 15 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de193345.html
Bayeux, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux
The Bayeux Tapestry, Wikipedia, 15 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
