Chris Boonzaier

Some details of the sledge....

Here is the Optical site and its case. This one was used by the Germans in WW1 then sent to Finland and used by them.

Because some folks dont visit there... here is a link... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1291...mp;#entry125055

Regular site in use...

With Optical site

Here are the Grips of Death !!!

Just kidding folks.... I would have to bash his head in with the entrenching tool... all weapons on this thread can no longer fire.... they are legally altered according to german law, which are alterations that are (thank god) hidden, not like the US destructive way of cutting up the reciever.

Tell him to bring his friends.... we have party snacks for all....

He will need Kevlar plates in his briefcase....

OK, the title is corny.... sue me.... tell your lawyer I am hiding behind the woodpile.....

will take a look. They were indeed on the Somme, at a rough glance between Dompiere and maricourt for most of 1915, then in mid october by Neuville-Souchez. I must see if something more is to be found.

Nice link! Thanks! So I just bought an entrenching tool stamped to them. Any idea which company old one ball was in?

would have stamped items B16R3 I assume bavarian Reserve Regt 16. 3. Komp? I really, really, really hope so !!!!

a note to the link above, the silber "C" as it was known was a very high award at the time, In fact, all the badges were. My wifes greatgrandfather had it, as well as the nsfk one. The great uncle was very involved with gliders before and after the war. he said modern gliders are so, so, so much more advanced, even an absolute beginner can get the lower grades nowdays. Maybe that is why they introduced a gold one?

I would.... Spray some WD40 in a spoon... get a cotton swab/Q-Tip... gently dab the corrosion. It does no damage, does not repair it, but will stop the corrosion.

A thought... isnt "Flieger" a rank for ANY private attached to a flying unit? i.e. "Flieger" as private equivelant, not as a description of his functions?

Hi, A pilot in a torpedo bomber Geschwader. Best Chris

When one speaks of reuniting medals it is usually a case of reuniting medals to one man. In this case it is a question of medals to two opponents. Both joined irregular units at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war, both were invalided out after serious wounds to an arm. But this is not the only parallel, their fighting careers were very similar. The one besieged Ladysmith, the other helped relieve it, the one defended at Colenso, the other attacked, they were both in units that were active on the heights at Spionkop and both were in action at Pietershoogte or Pietersheights, here they were both badly wounded in the arm, were evacuated and later invalided out of the service. There can be few pairs of medals that fit together as well as these do, although the men were from opposing sides, they fit together, for want of a better term, like two gloves.

A light "20" :-( O with he had had been given a better maker !!!!

At last it has arrived... Two soldiers, both enlisted at the outbreak of the Boer war, they fought together at Ladysmith, Dundee, Colenso, Tugela heights, Spionkop. Both were wounded at Pietershoogte, the one in the left arm, the other in the right. Both were invalided out.

It is an interesting field!! Every now and them I see someone collecting something and I think "Wow, I could collect that as a sideline !!"

They are a bugger to dance in !!

Hi, he had KVK2, EK2 and a croation thing "Zowonir" or something like that. I thin Lt. was his highest rank.

Indeed he did... was the doctor in the next village. I hate discussions about " SS Men - lords of battle" etc. but a few things ... He was as vain as you could imagine, but very "correct".. he once told me, that he had never known of death camps, Auschwitz etc. Which I am sure you will agree sounds ridiculous... On the other hand... he told me of men in his regt throwing men, women and children into a barn and burning/machine gunning it (of course, he was not "there" he was back at the first aid post)... So, it has always been a bit of a mystery to me... how can one claim not to know about death camps... which one had nothing to do with... but at the same time admit to knowing about crimes against humanity from ones own unit ? I think in those days people knew less than we do today, we have internet and CNN, they had party press and news. Anyway, until his 90th birthday he used to cycle the 10km's from his village to ours to have some tea...

Nice !!!! Should be in my collection !!!! A specal print for flying troops, I have never seen that.