Gordon Williamson

And Bartholomy himself wearing his awards

EK2 and EK1

High Seas Fleet Badge

Richard's Documents for Bartholomy U-Boat Badge

And the doc for operating in the Arctic.

Here is the Urkunde for crossing the Equator. Interesting in being done on cloth rather than the usual paper document.

A quick look at the reverse however will disabuse you of any such notion. Die struck yes, but in one piece and with no reverse detail. Absolute crap which they refer to on their certificate as a "Museum Quality" replica.

And here is one of their stinkers. Complete with certificate of authenticity, serial numbered no less ! You could be fooled into thinking it was a reasonable quality die struck copy from this view.

Must have been an interesting uniform to see, with three war badges worn , plus the Narvik shield.

Several entries show the Fieldpost numbers M42766 (5 U-Flotille) and M50100 (U-386). Operating out of St. Nazaire, U-386 was located by British escort HMS Spey north-north-east of the Azores and sunk with depth charges. Some of the crew were rescued but Weyel and 32 others were lost. Very few engine room crew ever escaped from stricken U-Boats.

Weyels awards included the EK2, Minesweeper Badge, Destroyer Badge, Narvik Shield, KVK2 and U-Boat badge.

Like many former Destroyer crew whose ships were lost at Narvik, Weyel transferred to U-Boats. He served on U-386, eventually reaching the rank of Maschinenmaat, still in the engine room.

On U-Boats !

The Erich Koellner is part of the Destroyer fleet which is sent in to Narvik. Here she is active in both the First Battle of Narvik, which she survives. In the Second Battle however she is attackled by both British Destroyers and the Battleship Warspite and sunk with heavy loss of life. Weyel ends up a POW in Norwegian captivity, but not for long as Norway surrenders. He then ends up for a while on Minesweeping duties around the Norwegian coast before moving to new duties.

Weyel is posted to the Destroyer "Erich Koellner" and by the outbreak of war has reach the rank of Maschinenobergefreiter

Military Service commences 1 December 1937. He does his basic infantry training, like all sailors, with the rifle, qualifying on the G98, and is trained as an engine room mechanic.

Did his 6months service with the RAD, then volunteered for the Navy.

One of my favourite sets. Erich Weyel, Born 13 July 1918. Ordinary lad, no special education, just Volksschule, registered for military service just before his 18th Birthday, on 3 July 1936.

Reverse Close Up.

Close up obverse. Design as for 8th Class but inlaid with green enamel on the leaves and purple on the flowers.

Seventh grade.

Reverse. Design identical to 8th Class

Close up obverse. Gilded finish except for silver mirror in centre.

Here is the 7th Grade.

No problems here, case and cross both OK