Welcome to The Vault Militaria
Welcome to
The Vault Militaria
Authentic pieces. Timeless stories. Exceptional service.
The Vault Militaria is the UK’s newest destination for authentic wartime memorabilia and collectables. Specialising in rare and hard-to-find items from World War I and World War II, we offer history enthusiasts and collectors a carefully curated selection of genuine artefacts.
new items every week
Rare finds
Our team of experts meticulously sources, authenticates, and catalogues each piece, ensuring that you receive only the finest quality items with verified provenance. And we’re adding more and more items on a regular basis.
From battle-worn uniforms and medals to vintage weapons, field equipment, and personal effects, The Vault Militaria brings you closer to the tangible remnants of wartime history.
knowledge & experience
We buy & sell
The founders of The Vault Militaria bring over 50 years of combined collecting experience to the table. They have a pair of keen eyes for the unusual together with an extensive knowledge of wartime collectables to ensure that every item offered is both authentic and exceptional.
With decades spent honing their expertise, they’ve developed an unparalleled ability to source and validate rare military artifacts, making The Vault Militaria a trusted name in the field.
Contact Mark on 07471 058445 or Andrew on 07944 609319
Contact Mark on 07471 058445
or Andrew on 07944 609319
latest additions
Browse our latest items
-
Royal Doulton Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
£45.00 SKU: 0020AThis piece is genuine Royal Doulton and makes up part of “The Heroic Leaders” collection. Designed by Stanley J Taylor, these were issued in 1990 and only 9500 were made. This one is an early one, numbered “678” This man lead a very busy life, being in both World Wars, writing several books on military strategy and his wartime experiences. He was made 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein in 1946, in recognition of his wartime services. He received numerous British and foreign honors, including the Order of the Bath, the Order of Merit, and several foreign orders of merit and valor. His contributions to modern military strategy and his successful command during some of the most critical battles of World War II have left a lasting impact on military history – which is why Royal Dalton chose him to be a part of this collection. This piece comes with its original card and is in perfect condition. There are no chips, dents, cracks and even the gloss is in perfect condition. There are some VERY light scuff marks on the base where it’s been stored on a shelf – these marks are on pretty much every piece of this kind however. It’s clearly marked on the base, and with the unique card it comes with it’ll fit into anyones collection well considering who this man was. -
WW1 Princess Mary Christmas Gift Box
£290.00 SKU: 0019AThe “Smokers Gift” box. This Princess Mary gift box contains almost all of the components of what these boxes originally contained. The only things missing are the pipe, and some of the cigarettes. Included, is an UNOPENED ounce packet of pipe tobacco, a photograph of Princess Mary, a Christmas card with original envelope and obviously, the tin. 13 cigarettes remain in the opened packet. The more items present in these boxes, the rarer they are and this one is nearly 100% complete but not only that, all the components are in excellent condition including the tin itself. The hinge works just fine, it opens and closes without issue and there are no major dents to the base. Obviously, given it’s age there are some wear marks but even then nothing too significant. -
WW2 North African POW Made Case
£90.00 SKU: 0012AHere’s an excellent example of a POW (Prisoner of War) made case, made for holding cigarettes. It’s believed that these cases were made from mess tins by Axis prisoners. These sort of items are all one of a kind and this one is no different. The outside has a North African silhouette and given the style with which it has been made, it’s likely Italian. Each side depicts an elaborate design, and three of the four sides also have colour as well. It opens and closes with a definite click, and the hinge is in full working order. Aside from some general wear and tear marks, it’s in great condition and even the cord for holding cigarettes is still securely in place. -
German Hip Flask with Picture
£115.00 SKU: 0011ALittle is known about this hip flask but you can tell from the wear of the leather and the fact it’s dated 1885-88 that it’s very, very old indeed. Leather bound, this hipflask excluding the cap is made out of glass. The writing is way too faded to read properly, however “an meine Dienstzeit” can be read which roughly translates to “At my Period of Service”. The front has a cut-out in the leather and a picture of a female can be viewed through the glass. Possibly someone’s sweetheart? Through history it’s been common for soldiers to have pictures or mementos from loved ones on their person. Considering it’s age, and also the main surface material being leather, this piece is in remarkable condition. Only one of the loops for a carrying lanyard has come off, but the other four are in place.The leather is well scuffed but the cap screws on and on as if it was brand new. This piece fits nicely in any serious collectors portfolio because it’s so memorable and quirky. Even if little is known about it’s history, it tells it’s own story. -
Vintage Cigar/Cigarette Box
£23.00 SKU: 0010AThis vintage box has a geometric design on the lid and is still in fantastic condition. Inside, you can see where strips of cedar wood (not present as reflected in the price) would’ve been placed. Cedar is used to help preserve the flavour and humidity of cigars because it is very sympathetic to tobacco and doesn’t affect their flavour. A lot of the time, cedar strips would be used as a spill with which to light cigars from hence why they are most likely not here, as using a more traditional lighter that uses liquid fuel, impacts negatively on tobacco flavour. It opens and closes perfectly, and has NO dents whatsoever. These tins usually have some damage as they are made from thin sheet metal. On the base, “NAAFI STORES FOR H.M. FORCES” can still be seen printed – as other examples we have seen haven’t got this, is too faint to read, or is damaged in some way, this one proves to be rare, and in excellent condition, despite some minor scuff marks. -
WW1 Chocolate Gift Tin
£85.00 SKU: 0009ADuring WW1 these gift tins were given to HM Naval and Military forces. Originally, they contained a bar of chocolate labelled “Gift of the Colonie of Trinidad, Granada & St Lucia To His Majesty’s Naval & Military Forces” which can be seen clearly on the lid. During WW1 a variety of tins were sent to forces all over the world, containing all sorts of little comforts. From chocolate, to tobacco, these gift tins provided much needed moments of pleasure and respite from conflict and were meant to help boost moral among troops. Despite being quite well worn, every single word and letter can still be clearly read and the hinge for the lid still works, although made from thin metal, it’s still a nice tight fit when closing. The gold paint on the bottom has held up better than the lid over the years and aside from a few chips is in very good condition. The lid, while very slightly misshapen, works just fine. -
WW1 Trench Art
£35.00 SKU: 0008A“Trench art” refers to decorative items created by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians using materials associated with conflict, like shell casings and shrapnel, particularly during World War I and World War II. These artifacts often hold significant sentimental, historical, and artistic value, offering unique insights into the experiences and creativity of individuals during wartime. Although most commonly associated with WW1, pieces from WW2 also exist. This piece is made from brass, likely an artillery shell and resembles a bag design. It has a hinged lid which works perfectly and opens and closes just fine. Inside, there are two compartments of equal size and being hand made, is a one off piece. It shows no damage, however as stated, it’s handmade during times of conflict. Overall it’s in very good condition and will make a great addition to any collection. -
Hitler’s Letters and Notes
£120.00 SKU: 0007AThis book is long out of print and is recognised in the collecting community as being highly sought after. Whilst it’s not a first edition, the contents are of course the same. First published in 1974 by Heinemann, this is a fantastic book for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Overall this book is in excellent condition with no missing pages or tears to the cover. It’s obviously been sat on a shelf for decades and left alone as you can see the light spotting of dust on the top edge of the pages when the book is closed and viewed from above (see pictures). Under the cover, the green hardback and gold lettering are in perfect condition and certainly don’t give away this book’s age. While yes, it’s been read and shows VERY light wear marks here and there, it’s clearly just been living on a shelf for a very very long time.
