Chris Boonzaier

I have a couple of these for decoration. my first one to a machine gunner who seems to have been a pretty good shot...and this one to a guy whose name I cannot read I like it because it is so beaten and battered that I think the vet must have liked it so much he slept with it, bathed with it, worked with it, and came almost close to being buried with it. I dont want to go the whole route of winding my way down the maze of Russian research, but was wondering.... There must be a few of us here who have one or two Russian pieces where we would be happy to have the reasearch, but have just not around to it in the 15 years that the medal has been laying in a drawer.... What say we form a pool of guys, maybe 5-6 who have a medal or two, find out who will do the research for us, and send all the details to the guy. Done that way it may be easier than all of us amatures wondering till kingdom come if we will ever get around to it. From what I can see, the Russian researchers must be driving Rolls Royce silver shadows and spooning caviar... their fees seem to be even more than brit researchers... who are expensive fellows indeed!

And the 100th aniv. of the regt (in 1914)

Got some knick knacks to the guys Regt... A postcard....

This is the back of the award doc itself. Filled out and forwarded to the regt Commander who then signed and stamped it on the front. (or "had it stamped")

Although, looking at the doc, his LAST unit during the war was the 16th, his present unit (when this was filled out) was the 2. I.R.. His EK2 doc was 1917. I assume he was serving in another unit at Verdun (June 1916 at Douaumont makes me think 1st or 2nd b.I.D., maybe at a push Alpenkorps) and then transfered to the 16. b.R.I.R. after his first wound. best chris

Okay.... 1) Why is this regt so interesting? (for some) 2) Few things are exciting as the fighting around Douaumont in mid 1916 (from a research point of view....) but I can find no mention of the b.R.I.R. 16 being there.... THAAAAAT is a mystery I would love to have solved.

I am sure you can get someone to take some photos of his grave for you. Enough folks visit Normandy. best Chris

Hi, have you managed to find anything on him? Best Chris

What is the 1ere R.E. badge doing in there? Best Chris

I agree, both great pieces, and wondeful phots !! (as always)

Nice lid, makes me want to break out the pipe, pink Gin... and go shoot a tiger ... ;-)

It has a small cross strap like the WW2 ones.

dfgf

Hi, This is the one I was on about...

Founf this useful article... http://fortiter.napoleonicmedals.org/miscellany/poincons.htm

A translation of the citation

The official citation for his Legion d'H. published in 1918...

The award document for the belgian C.d.G.... Interesting how they are awarded and how it says "Does not entitle to the french C.d.G.

A real gentleman on the "Great War Forum", who does not know me from Adam, popped these in the post for me as he did not need them. I am sure you guys will appretiate a look. The award document issued in May 1915 for his Legion D'Honneur

Hi, it had just taken part in the breakthrough between Gouzeaucourt and vermand in March 1918 and then fought on the ancre, Somme and Avre. Document was signed during a period where they were pulled from the line. A month later they were fighting between the marne and vesle. best Chris P.S. as with 98.345% of wound badge docs, there is no way to know if the wound was in 1918 or 1916 or 1914.

Not only Musketier.... From a randon array of Regular and Reserve infantry regt EK docs... All names for Privates. Musketier is not any or less comman than infanterist or Landsturmmann. Landsturmmann, Reservist, Grenadier, F?silier, Wehrmann, Ersatz-reservist, Infantrist, Musketier, Landsturmmann-Rekrut, Sch?tze, Landwehrmann, Soldat (Kriegsfreiwilliger, Soldat, Kriegsfreiwilliger, best chris

Photo is on the western front in 1918. No way of knowing if the guy with the cross above him really is the man... Writing on the back is unfortunately unreadable. (Unless maybe your name is Rick?)

A photo with it...

I picked up another Karpathenkorps doc this week....

Hi, I am embarresed to say, my knowledge of old Legion stuff is basically zero, but this guy was a Sgt, stayed longer than 5 years- less than 10, was in the Cavalry regiment (armoured) and seems to have gotten the "standard" rack of medals. A nice group!