Chris Boonzaier

Yup indeed... time to go onto Youtube and watch some old Sharpe episodes again.... ! The Alexander White group does it for me!!!

Zirkler got his EK1 before being attached to SB 7... but the big plus is now knowing he was in the 3rd Company... that was always a mystery. Knowing how where and why Breuer got HIS EK1 is a really nice thing as well :-)

Hi, Flipping through this the other day.... super coincidence.... In the period where 2 companies of Sturm Bataillon Rohr were attached to the S.B. 7 there is no seperate mention of them, they were fully intergrated in the S.B. for their time there... I have found 2 mentions of what were very likely 2 of my Rohr men... There is no Lt Zirkler in S.B. 7, but there was in S.B. Rohr... I think it is a sure shot that the Lt. Zirkler mentioned in this history was "My guy"... so it allows me to place in in 3. Komp of S.B. Rohr. as they were detached to S.B. 7 in July 1917. Secondly, few NCOs are mentioned by name, but Unteroffizier Breuer is mentioned, "My" Breuer was there at the time and got the EK1 just a few weeks later... I think it is a pretty sure shot that it is the Uffz. mentioned in the book as most of those mentioned seemed to have been decorated for their efforts soon afterwards.... So I am very happy with the book :-)

You should do what I do with the moronic US sellers who won't sell to Europe.... Get someone to bid for you.

Hi Uwe, thanks a million... ages ago, that is what I thought... then when I looked at it this week I just could not see a "W" there ... The confirmation is a relief...

Another fake http://www.ebay.de/itm/Urkunde-EK-1-Dachbodenfund/251546295170?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D22568%26meid%3D7436648110053103865%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9765%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D360951299323&rt=nc

Hi, his name was Mensch, it was from 1919

More...

A selection of 3rd Jäger....

Can anyone figure out the last word? It is Reichswehr Ministerium, Ü7 (Ab??) Thanks Chris

Hi Thomas, I hope you dont take this personally, but I still think that is more theory than fact. I cannot remember the exact opinions exchanged, but still believe that there are plenty of reasons why in one sector/Unit men did one thing, while in another they did another, both blissfully unaware that things were different elsewhere. Once again, i am happy to see you back, hope you stay, and keep in the back of your mind, that differing opinions on Militaria are not personal insults, but rather simply differing opinions. Robin could still date my sister, even if he believes his skulls to be wartime....

I disagree.... a period photo exists. Ergo, the badge was worn back then. I do not challenge the existence of Robin's badge... just when and why it was made. I am sure we will agree that just because some badges existed unofficially back then, it is not a Carte Blanche to believe anything found on Ebay "Could and would" have been original? If the origin of the badge had somehow been promising, but it was one of those Ebay Junk/Militaria sellers who have the same "Found in an attic/You know what you are seeing/Cant say exactly what it is/"... we all know the type... Here is his cousin using a similar "found in a house..." description... http://www.ebay.de/itm/Eichenlaub-Schwerter-und-Brillanten-/151318656661?pt=Militaria&hash=item233b4b7695

What on earth is the badge on the left??

The guy who made them on sunday evenings while watching Tatort and drinking beer, thought they were too much effort for the money they earned ;-)

Its a tough call... For me there is a flip side... racial aspect aside... how many soldiers missed out on a medal because they did not have good relations with their CO, while others who did less got a medal for kissing a$$ ? From some contact I had with a Person working on these cases a few years back... They really, really, really had to do an extreme amount of work for all people put forward, and they did not take "passage of time" into account when the proof was not to be found. Best Chris

I must admit that I find this fantastic. I have a couple of rusted relic helmets in the cellar, meaningless to anyone but me.... There were millions of the things... I think to take a good conditioned helmet and do this would be a crime, but to do it to a relic assures that rust buckets place in history. Fantastic!!

I intend, when the tunic is finished, to make a small pilgramage to his grave in Berlin. I think it will be a nice gesture....

Thanks a million, the plate is fantastic, it shows a set of M15 Litzen would not be out of place on my M10 jacket. I guess an infantry Picklehaube with a green cloth cover will be the easiest and cheapest way to go. Best Chris

Hi, Ironically we always say, we collect this so the men are never forgotten, history is not repeated etc. etc... In a small round with some german collectors i mentioned how fantastically intersting the tunic was, and when i said it was to a Jewish officer one collector said "Hyuck, Hyuck... snigger.... burn the damn thing!" Shows that people can learn... and never learn.....

When I have my Horse Doctor finished, at least his tunic, what would I need to make a good display? Would they have a regular stethescope around their necks, or were there special animal ones. I guess he would not need binoculars... but maybe a pistol? I have no idea how a vet would look... Was there a special Picklehaube? Best Chris

I think the piping? The collar and cuff in black and front in Crimson are for Tierärzte, Best Chris

Agree... they were more like a PX for officers... and you could mail order from the front ordering Uniforms, Metal Trunks, Iron Crosses or cigars.... I am guessing the 4 stars were the standard for the maker, and if you wanted, they would put a retailers name like D.O.V. on it.

Unlike the infantry, where you have your own.. in the artillery a bunch of guys get around and share someone else's .... :-)

Apparently he served in Tchad for 6 years!!

I hope for him it was not!!!