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Overview
A war souvenir
This German military issue belt buckle was claimed as a war souvenir by New Zealander Sergeant William Thomas Richards. Souveniring and petty pilfering was a widespread pasttime of soldiers. The central disc is stamped with the legend 'GOTT MIT UNS' with oak leaves surrounding an Imperial crown. The inscription translates to 'God with us'. The phrase was commonly used on armor in the German military from the German Empire up to the end of the Third Reich, however its historical origins are much older. The German example highlights the general use of religious justification in war - which both sides (Central Powers and Allied Powers) employed in the conflict.
Sergeant William Thomas Richards
Originally from Wellington, Richards embarked with the 5th (Wellington) Regiment, Samoan Advance Party from Wellington on 15 August 1914, bound for Apia, Samoa. He served in the Pacific from mid-1914 to to April 1915 when he was discharged. Richards embarked for a second time on 2 March 1918 with the 35th Reinforcements A Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, sailing from Wellington to Southampton, England. He served in the Egyptian and Western European theatres from 1918 to June 1919.
Richards was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in the war. He died at Lower Hutt, Wellington on 16 September 1953.