Shell Petrol Can Find

[rob love]

Many of them appear to have holes punched into them as well. Perhaps it was both: hole(s) in body and neck broken off.

It seems like it would have been very time consuming to de-militarize that many cans, especially considering that there were tons of other equipment to be demilled. As well, the jerry can, which was far superior, was already in play.

[Ed Storey]

The Jerry Can was only in play by the Germans during the early stages of the war so it is quite possible that this was a BEF fuel dump. Without checking I believe the Allies (US and UK) did not start manufacturing their own versions until 1942.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

The Jerry Can was only in play by the Germans during the early stages of the war so it is quite possible that this was a BEF fuel dump. Without checking I believe the Allies (US and UK) did not start manufacturing their own versions until 1942.

Agreed Ed...my suggestion was that the effort expended to de-mil the cans was wasted, as the Germans likely would not have used them anyway.

Originally Posted by Lang

There would be a ton of brass caps in that lot, certainly a valuable commodity worth more than the usefulness of the cans.

Lang

Possible the caps would have been tossed down a well somewhere. The necks were not brass though, and a lot of time was spent ripping those off.

[Owen Evans]

A bit off-topic but the in the photo, the fellow's boots and gaiters suggest German mountain troops. And what may possibly be a Gebirgsjager patch on his upper right arm?

Owen.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It could also be a picture taken after the fall of France. The German occupying forces then had plenty of time to recycle the equipment and stores they captured.

H.

[Lang]

There would be a ton of brass caps in that lot, certainly a valuable commodity worth more than the usefulness of the cans.

Lang