Chrisnp

Thanks for taking the time to reply Rob.

Hello gentlemen, I know I seldom contribute, but I thought I'd try to revive this thread for a mystery I could use help in solving. I have a four ribbons sewn around a stiffener, first two being obvious - Belgian and French Croix de Guerre. BUT…if the red ribbon next to them were the Legion of Honour, it would not be in the right order of precedence. Lastly, the Victory Medal ribbon does not look like French or Belgian ribbons, but then what? Czech? Chris

Kilmarnock, Balmoral?, Bonnet? Whatever you call it, this headgear was discovered in the same shop as the Royal Highland Fusiliers ToS I posted last week. The dicing is red, white and dark green, which I read was also used on the RHF glengarry, as well as some other regiments. I just don't know which regiment wore a bonnet like this. Being found in Texas, there is also a likelihood of Canadian use. There are numerous small holes along the dicing and just above it, which may be where a rosette was sewn, a badge was attached, or it could be just wear and moth nips. I can't tell. The lining has been cut out, the same as last week's ToS. The blue material is shapeless and is only off to the side in the photos because I don't know how it was originally shaped. I eagerly await your learned opinions! Thanks in advance, Chris

Thanks so much for the detailed information and the time it must have taken to put together such an informative post. The stiffening of the crown looks fairly extreme in the photos! I wonder if it was merely starched or if some sort of stiffener was inserted inside the crown. I do not know how long the current issue ToS you mentioned has been in service, but I do know this particular example turned up in a shop in Galveston Texas sometime between 1985 and 1989. I often wonder how things get where they end up.Chris

Actually I thought of the Seaforth at first, but photos I've seen of the Mackenzie tartan on a Seaforth TOS have the lines running diagonally. Plus there are no lug holes for the Seaforth badge. I certainly would not mind learning otherwise CHRIS

Thanks to a person on another forum, I have confirmation this TOS was worn by the Royal Highland Fusiliers. I believe the hole in the middle of the middle of the tartan backing was for the white hackle. I've seen this same tartan flash/backing online for the Highland Light Infantry, but I presume there would be lug holes instead of a hole in the middle, or if a slider, the hole would be higher I cannot date this TOS from the markings because the lining has been cut out. This poses another question - was this a common practice in the British Army? I know from experience that American soldiers commonly remove the lining from their berets. Under what circumstances did they wear the khaki TOS with only the hackle and no badge? I've been informed the TOS was worn with the material pulled forward, not to the side as shown. The TOS might also be Canadian, as it was found in Texas, and our brothers up north are a bit closer. Thanks in advance everyone Chris

I begin to feel like I only post when I have questions. I apologize for that. This wappen came off of a dragooner style helmet with squared visor, cruciform spike base and chinscales. I always thought someone just found a Prussian Line Eagle with a broken leg, trimmed both legs off neatly to make it more appealing and symmetrical, then replaced the missing dragoon eagle on the helmet. Years later I saw an identical neatly trimmed legless eagle on eBay. The seller spun a yarn about it being something an anti-monarchist movement in Germany did. That makes no sense to me. If they were anti-monarchist, why not remove the crown? At the same time, it seems incredible to me that two different people would have trimmed the legs off line eagles in exactly the same way by coincidence. Anyway, since then I have spotted one more legless eagle, although this might have been the original eBay eagle up for sale again. I look forward to your comments Chris

Sorry not to have responded earlier - my computer went buggy. Thanks for your response, the information and for the photos of the M89 sword. I also have an M89 to an Uhlan Rgt, but unfortunately not a Wurttemburg Rgt. Chris

After the Prussian's kind assistance in an earlier post, I thought I might post a photograph that the group would appreciate as a way of saying thanks This photo is matted in a frame, marked with the photographer's studio "Emil Schmid, Ludwigsburg" and dated 1908. Under a glass I can make out the Arms of Wurttemberg on the guards of the swords. I assume this is Uhlan Regiment King Wilhelm I (2nd Wurttemberg) only because I understand it was garrisoned in Ludwigsburg. If someone identifies it as another regiment, please let me know. Also, I am assuming the occasion was a wedding. I must say the matching moustaches are a nice touch. Amy additional information on the meaning of stripes, decorations, etc. would also be appreciated. Chris

Andy, Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. I suppose this could be a theatrical piece. It is well made, and does not appear to be an alteration of a pre-existing uniform. I have photographed the undersides of the shoulder boards - do they look suspicious? Also, I have photographed the lining. I do not know if that a typical style for this period uniform. Chris

Hello Gentlemen, I've lurked these boards for a few years now, but I think this is my first post. I'm only guessing this is Weimar, because the buttons are pebbled, which I believe is post-imperial era, yet this particular uniform has a stiff stand-up collar and no upper pockets, which makes me think it's pre-WWII, but I really don't know. The uniform is more grey-green than the photos seem to indicate. Also the EK2 ribbon in the buttonhole is strange. It's 3cm wide and the white stripes go nearly to the edge, with just a tiny bit of black edging. The EK2 in the close-up was not part of the uniform, but I put it there for comparison to the buttonhole ribbon. I am assuming by the shoulder straps and litzen that this was for a cavalry major, but again I don't know that. This is not my usual area of collecting. Chris