Bernie Brule

Reverse. Note the small ring on the cross.

A little late but here's mine.

"Mouse trap" reverse.

Hope you enjoy a few pics of my WW1 KMST "mouse trap" EK1.

Reverse

I managed to pick this nice parade mount EK2 today for the collection by MM60 - Katz & Deyhle.

Reverse

Here's my eagle by Maybeur. Unfortunately, the catch is broken.

Graham, Thanks so much for the information. A few words of explanation. Whether they are relevant, time will tell. As with all Commonwealth countries, Canada fought in the Boer War. Although the picture was taken in Canada, the Union Jack is the only flag flying because we did not get our own flag until 1967 when the British North America Act was replaced by the Canadian Charter. Before that, we flew the Union Jack at all official ceremonies. I have no idea where the picture comes from. I have a geneology folder that I keep bits and pieces of information that come my way about my and my wife's family. It was in there so I presume that it was given to me by a relative. Whether one of my relatives or that of my wife's remaines a mystery. I have two great uncles that fought in WW1 but they would have been too young to fight in the Boer war. I showed it to my father who is 82 and he did not recognize the picture or any of the people in it. My wife's mother and father are both deceased so I cannot ask anyone on her side of the family. Since it is in my possession, I am assuming that it is a Canadian unit and not British. Under that assumption, can you guess at what Canadian unit it might be? A lesson learned here: if you come into possession of family history, jot down all pertinent information about it when you file it.

Giving this a try for a larger picture:

Thanks Graham, I am unable to post a higher resolution picture. IE shuts down for some reason every time I try to do so... I have figured out that the letters on the front of the doctor's bag (2nd from left seated in front) spell "RIFLES". Wonder why I can't post another picture. Bernie

Thanks for the replies.

This picture is in my possession but I have no idea where it comes from. I suspect perhaps my wife's family. We are Canadian so I suspect that they are WW1 Canadian (or Bristish). Most interesting is the large man in the centre. Clergy perhaps? Any assistance would be most appreciated. Bernie

Thank you Webr55. Isn't it interesting that a Dr. in agriculture would become a DKiG winner and eventually the commander of s.Pz.Abt. 503 "Feldherrenhalle".

For those who are interested, I have found that Dr. Diest-K?ber did not win the KC. It was not approved. There is a thread on the axishistory forum where this is quite plainly stated by Dr. Dieter Zinke: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php...on+diestkoerber

Scott, I must say that in collecting over 30 years, I have not seen this. But since the numbers on daggers were applied individually, I can certainly understand how it happened and I'm sure it's not an isolated case. If I was to guess, I would say that the right number is 12326 - the number on the dagger. The scabbard looks the same from the top regardless of which way it's facing and it would be easier to make a mistake in applying the numbers on the throat of a scabbard. But that's just a guess and there is no way of knowing which is the right number. This could drive you crazy. I checked my data base and SS number 12326 is not there but 12329 is. It was assigned to SS-Untersturmfuhrer Fritz Michiels of the 25th SS-Standarte based in Essen. Nice dagger by the way. Bernie

Thanks Hardy. I guess there is no info on the actions that led to his RK. Much appreciated. Bernie

Dick, your help is nonetheless much appreciated. While doing searches on the net, I did find sporadic information about Diest-K?ber. One site that I found is, unfortunately (for me) in Czech. I wonder if any of the Czech speaking members could review the site and provide me with the following information if it is there. I am interested in knowing what actions led to his awarding of the Knight's Cross on 5.1.45. Also, it appears that the Tiger II shown was Diest-K?ber's. Is this correct? http://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/10666/view/next

Thanks Dick. I suspected that the late date of the award may have precluded him from being on the official list of winners. Do you by chance have the details of the award? I am specifically wondering if it was awarded for the actions around Budapest in late 44 or early 45. On an outside chance, would you have the number of his tank and also if it was a Tiger or Tiger II? Bernie

In Tiger's in Combat 1, Schneider names Dr. N. Diest-K?ber as having won the KC with the s.Pz.Abt. 503 "Feldherrenhalle". Yet I have not found him in any reference of Heer KC winners. Is this an error on Schneider's part?

An awesome helmet Cody. I never tire of seeing that one.

Thanks Robin, I do believe that they are very possibly one and the same King Tiger. This helps immensely. May I ask where you found the other two pictures? Perhaps there would be more information available on it. Tiger "233" was the 3rd tank of the 3rd platoon of the 2nd company of schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 "Feldherrenhalle". I have Tigers in Combat 1 & 2 but nowhere is tank 233 mentioned (although it is listed in the OOB). Bernie

I wish to model a 1/16th Tamiya King Tiger on a tank of the sPzAbt 503 "Feldherrenhalle" at the Battle for Budapest in January-Februery 1945. I have scoured the net for pictures of any King Tigers in Budapest but only found one on Wikipedia and am unable to read the turret number. Can anyone read the number? Any assistance with this project would be most appreciated. Bernie

I wish to model a 1/16th Tamiya King Tiger on a tank of the sPzAbt 503 "Feldherrenhalle" at the Battle for Budapest in January-Februery 1945. I have scoured the net for pictures of any King Tigers in Budapest but only found one on Wikipedia and am unable to read the turret number. Can anyone read the number? Any assistance with this project would be most appreciated. Bernie

Nice to see some old friends here. Not to mention the superb models... Thought I would post a picture of my full option 1/16th Tamiya Tiger. It's modelled after "Das Reich" Tiger S01 that fought at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943. It's stock except for idler wheel bushings, a gear reduction kit and metal tracks. Oh yes and I reinforced the bottom of the hull to accomodate the additional stress from the metal tracks. I can build them but unfortunately, I can't paint them. This one was professionally painted. I've got a King Tiger on order... The wait is killing me....