Chris Boonzaier

Go Imperial!!!!! :-)

I remember when we got the Saudi medals for Gulf 1, guys in the regiment were insisting that the middle part was in solid gold... Hope always stays strong... ;-)

Nah, not really. It was during selection at Aubagne. He was an Older Caporal or CaporalChef detailed to march us (or shuffle us off) to lunch. We (Guys who had seen the book with the photo) were going "###### me! its the guy whose arm is in the book!" So we walked over and said "###### me! you are the guy whose arm is in the book!" and he said...... "Yes, now shut the ###### up and get into the messhall otherwise you lot will not be eating today". And that.... was the deep conversation... it was a Portugese guy if i remember correctly.

I once briefly met the guy with the Angola Comandos on his arm, should have seen about collecting his medal ;-)

Yup, also has the name on the leather, but very hard to read....

This is a rare one, A smoke grenade that was at the same time poisonous. I did not know they existed....

I have been looking for one of these for ages and ages... I have always not gotten one because of the obscene price, or because I have thought there is a 50-50 chance it was made as a souvenir for GIs. But this is a right as rain one looker, been there and bought where there was intense fighting in late 1918....

Hi, there is an account on Hill 304 or Dead man hill where there is a German and French account of the same action. Both mention a German flamethrower operator going up in flames. Best Chris

Have these originally packed paper packets of bullets. what is the best way to go? With a corner I have tried clear varnish, it seems to work quite well... should I clear varnish them to protect? I think otherwise they will fall to pieces....

am off to verdun in two hours (am at work) so will only get to it middle of next week :-)

Hi, Gruppe Wytschaete was on the very Southern edge. I guess you could call it a side show to Passchaendale. best Chris

wait a mo... I was surprised that the doc was not a 6th b. Inf Div doc but I am guessing they were detached from the Div to the Gruppe Wytchaete as things were pretty hefty at this time... Will check this in a few days when I get home...

"Gruppe Wytschaete" in October 1917... Iron Cross 1st class to a Maschinengewehr Scharfsch?tzen NCO.... this is the stuff horrors are made of. October 1917... one of the rainiest months in 100 years.... Flanders.... the 3rd bavarian MGSSA was attached to the 6th Bavarian division... this was the first battle of bloody Passchendaele...

I love these...

Still looking for examples/comments Thanks Chris

Hi, its a regular EK doc with 2 pen lines through "The Iron Cross 2nd class" and "Wound badge in black" written in. WW1 EK docs are the wild west days of EK docs...

Indeed. I have a wound badge and EK doc set. The EK is done on a type written sheer, the wound badge is actually an EK doc with the EK part crossed out....

Hi, I think this falls under the laws that allowed them to do some catch up awards for a short period after the war. best Chris

I would guess he was attached to the Luftwaffe in an official capacity.

Hi, Guy in post one is Feldwebel Kuhn.(1st Company) Guy in post two is called Hildebrandt Post 3 Offz Stellv Agram Post 4 and 5 unknown Post 6 says Waffenmeister Zinner or Zenner The guy who owned the album seems to have been an NCO on Regimental staff. Of course, a number of these guys must have died as the 99 RIR was one of the front regiments that faced the British attack on the 1st day of the Somme. The British actually broke through their lines and split the regiment in two on there way to the Schwaben Redoubt.

Maybe French? Thanks Chris

Bavarians attack in Avocourt forest

4th Reserve J?gers in the Vaux Schlucht...

I assume it is not German and that the guys are just playing around with it?

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