Chris Boonzaier

So would I ... and you can send me yours as well so it does not feel lonely here by me... ;-)

A question, Would i be correct in saying this is a later piece? original, but not made in the 1870's? I always think of the 1870 made crosses as having cast cores with higher sharper relief and later pieces as with WW1 crosses, having a slightly lower, rounded relief to the core details? Ditto with the black finish, seems more WW1 like than on most 1870 I have seen which I always think of as a more matt black. Am not an 1870 collector, but noticed this on the 1870 crosses that I have had in the past.

Thats IT !?!?!? The rest of you only married to princesses? Noone got an ugly one stashed away? Man... when my computer is working properly again.... you will see REALLY ugly !

Hi, you can get French citizenship, but only when rectified and with your original name. If you are on the run from the law for something serious... dont bother trying to join. It has not been a "no questions asked" deal for decades. They filter out the wierdoes, whackos and wankers right from the start. there is no keeping your papers or legion name when you leave. Applying for the citizenship is rather long and complicated, a lot of guys give up on that right away (I did when i found out I had been throwing away my tax return papers for 4 years and they wanted the tax returns as proof of something). You may always remain a legionnaire... but when you are gone you are outa sight and outa mind. there is no secret helpline or tel number. Puylobier you mentioned is a retirement home for ex combattants and old as god legionnaires, there are a couple more, but they are vey institutionalised. Its a nice thing to have done when you are young, but when you leave it is a closed chapter and thats that. best Chris

Not really, to the above, but it would be nice

My scanner is down so it will be a bit of time till I can play with youse... but how about a thread showing the ugliest WW1 EKs... Those with the cores with details that look as if they were made out of pudding, rims made out of cheap tinfoil.... There are some uuuuuugly ones out there.....

There are many, many German made EKs with terrible details on the core. There was no LDO to control this back then. Maybe a boxful of EKs by this company landed up with the german troops in the region and that is why they are found in groups?

Have to agree with Rick, I have never been able to find any evidence of Postumous WW1 EK awards, in fact, have a large document that points to this as being impossible.

A few are a bit Gaudy... but still better than modern Australian ;-)

Yes indeed it does. Thank you. all the best Chris

Welcome Dirk !!!! Always good to see a new face with a serious interest. All the best Chris

Nice shots Douglas... I am gonna have to do a bit better and get some more up !!!!

Wanna come play with it sometime ? :-)

a 17 year old who saw 3 weeks of combat at the end of the war... and they try and rip him apart :-( He used to claim he was a Flak helper........ WAIT !!! Isnt there another famous German last year who was saying HE was a Flak helper in 44-45 as well !?!?!?!!?

certain collectors will say... "Well, thats why we have guns, let them usskies try and we will patrick Swayze their a33es till the dawn is red !!"

Lets see your photo efforts...

Hi Sorry, I am up to my neck in work and have the hobby on a backburner, Will get to this SOON !! Thanks Chris :-)

Anyone !?!?!? :-(

Hi, how often are these up for sale and what can be shelled out for one? Thanks Chris

Hi, Anyone know how you tell Original from copy German machine gun cloth belts (WW1) Thanks Chris

Hi, Can anyone tell me the difference between the german WW1 and WW2 Ammo Tins? Thanks Chris

A silly question... I always thought the germans only issued dogtags after the outbreak of the war, and that guys serving prewar did not have them?

I guess Rick is the best bet for this one. I have an EK2 doc to this guy Gefreiter Oskar R?sch Prisoner Number: 2036 2. K III S. B. (2nd company 3rd Sea Battalion) Japan POW Camp: Bando Orginally from: Wittemberg Preussen Is there anything you could possibly find to go with that? About the unit, the camp etc..... Thanks Chris

Back then, like now, a narrow minded society can drive a good man to ruin.

Same guys in the photo above