Chris Boonzaier

For some reason its pretty difficult... I am looking for artillery aspirant :-(

Hi, nice doc. I think these are the first centralised doc. Most FK docs were local level items, this was the first national recognition that men served in a FK and were issued to members of all recognised Freikorps.

Those are some world class items!

Of course it would! :-)

Hi, I dont think there was a SAHA as Horse Arty.... SAHA as always been for the Heavy Arty for South Africa in WW1... http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol125df.html SA Had Field and Heavy... See top 3 Units listed here... http://kaiserscross.com/40117/295001.html

Hi, some really nice itrems in the museum... the weapons sewction was very impressive as well!

Here you go.... all framed up....

Hi, I think all the buttons were replaced at some stage. The shot that looks like the remains of a hood is actually the inside, little bit of shoulder-lining (If thats a word), there never was a hood on it. Thats another reason i think it was made for soldiers. It also never had a lining... it can be folded up really really small and fit in a pack. Best Chris

According to the page on the 9th Jäger, an officers cape was introduced in the battalion in 1899

It should be added... this is a pretty traditional Trachten Cape design, used in Southern Germany and Austria in the mountains. Difference being the material, collar etc. A bit like this one.....

I know right off the bat that this will have some who think it good, and some who think it bad. Here is my thinking Negatives - Private piece - No period thing to compare it to - Does not have to be WW1 - Darker color - We will never know for sure Positives - Material is good - Obviously old and worn - Collar and fittings very "Military" - Piping looks very kosher Neutrals - Traces that other buttons were originally on this, 2cm to the left of where they are now. I personally like this a lot, but I did not find it in a barn or get it from the family, so I cannot say "its a sure thing!" ... What do you guys think?

I still wonder if we are simply used to the elastic thing because most of what we are interested in is WW1.... the period 1895-1905 still being largely undocumented or unexplored? Maybe elastics became the mode in 1910 for example?

I am guessng he joined in 1990, just made it in time for operation Daguet, and at Camerone this year was still just months short of his 25 years..

Hi Rudi, das denke ich auch. Angesichts den Verleihungs zahl finde ich die dinge viel zu billig! Bis Bald! Chrs

Hi, he is probably months away from the MM,

This one reached an OK Price... http://www.ebay.de/itm/Hessen-Darmstadt-Krieger-Ehrenzeichen-in-Eisen-Steckabzeichen-/252129379655?hash=item3ab4150547:g:5~8AAOSw9mFWIjcf&autorefresh=true

Snob!

Hi, I was wondering if the elastic ones were introduces a bit later or if the early ones (if this was 1892 model) were maybe with hooks.

Hi, even companys like Gobet made silver cutlery... carving knives etc. (Blade delivered to them, silver handels made by them. There is a 800 silver Godet spoon on ebay right now. Best Chris

This must be close to a record....

Mein Kamaraden Erhart Bei XXX (Sturz?) über See Cant make out the one word :-( date is his death date

Hi, is the cover an officers or "other ranks" ? I assume officers had the hooks on early ones as well? Best Chris

All the examples I have seen (now a grand total of 3!) are dated 1916.... what did they use before?

The ebay one is exactly the same as the one in the bavarian Army museum, shown in the Kraus book? The RAdfahrer units were a tiny fraction of the army, I guess we will have to wait a loooong time to see a period photo of one in wear.

Not directly involved, but close..... http://kaiserscross.com/41815/164301.html