Chris Boonzaier

it is indeed superb.... when I look at modern military medals I wonder if the "fantastic design gene" has died out.....

I just picked up these items. The first seems super rare, non of the Aschaffenburg local collectors I know have ever seen it (which is strange), it is a medaillon commemorating the first 100 years of the Aschaffenburger Jäger. (although they did not spend the whole period in Aschaffenburg). in 1925 there were big ceremonies and this coin dates from then, but I assume not for everyone as most of the dadges are well known. The other one seems to be an Austrian one commemorating the fighting between the Germans and Austrians in 1866. The Jäger one is a gem for my collection, the other one pretty rare but not really my collecting field.....

Hi Tom, thanks for the info! All th ebest Chris

The so far best quality compass I have found, solid brass, no maker but stamped to the 3rd Company 5th Pionier Battalion....

Indeed, so you have to factor in a lot of Bavarian Infantry in the Vogesen z.B. as well as divisional sturm Units in the Areas of the Units above etc...

Very nice indeed!

Hi, I have seen regular infantry wearing the leather patches, I used to think automatically "Sturm bataillon!" but in retrospect there were lots of guys with leather on their knees.

Hi, I think they would be way too big for the Waffenrock, and would be sewn in. The ones in the middle are greatcoat ones

I just picked up a new set (Left), I assume for the Blue Litewka?

My wifes great grandfather was also in the 101st for a while... 1917 I think.

Hilarious! :-)

Here is a Grandfather, Father and Son group out of my trade box.... unfortunately it seems he did not get an award document or he lost it... the family knew nothing about it... but there is a WW1 and WW2 EK2 doc as father or son Combo!

Fantastic find Tony!.... the letter is heartbreakingly naive....

Unless he was wearing it during the war before any of the trio was introduced? Probably unlikely, but theoretically possible?

If he served in the Boer war, got his QSA, then KSA.... then in WW1 got the DCM long before the 14-15 star was awarded... it would be a possible wartime mounting?

I am guessing from a Sturm Abteilung of some sort, not a S.B.?

An interesting career... I would have thought they transferred him to the US army. Have you checked to see if he was in some way attached to the Yanks? I think many US units lacked artillery and were supported by French units attached to them... Would have been right up his street...

I use my pic as I am the lord of the rings :-) As far as names go, some guys are justifiably careful.... there have been numerous break ins up to and including murder to steal collections. If you are named "John Smith" and live in a big metropolis, no worries, but for the rest, it pays to be careful

Only when I see anything Alpenkorps in someone elses collection! ;-)

.... und es wird immer schlimmer.... :-( ;-)

Hi, It was an artillery officer who was serving as a staff officer at the outbreak of the war up until about 1916

Not good IMHO.... Polish Fleamarket specials...

I was happy to get the Leiber Haube to complete this :-)

Here you go... I managed to pick up more items than I wanted to this month... financially painful as hell... but worth it.......

I had to pay through my nose for this.... but worth every penny. I have looked for a Leib Regt Haubde for about 10 years now.... I remember Kube on the German "Kunst und Krempel" show viewieng a Prussian 1 Garde zu Fuss stamped Other Ranks Haube. (I think that would be the equiv of the ILR as far as regiments go) . Kube said he had had a number of officers Helmets to the Regt over the years, but never, ever a tamped Other ranks one in superb condition... he valued it at EUR4000... of course, that was over the top... but it says something for the rearity... unfortunately no name, but 1910 made Kammerstück....