Chris Boonzaier

Hi, Very possible, there are documents like thisthat mention that a watch was given with it. Basically they are awrds at the commanding Generals perogative, a personal award from the unit as opposed to the EK or whatever that is from the state.

Close up

Here is a nice Bavarian 15th Sturm batln. doc. Usually they were training other units in assaults, but on occasion they were used for raids as well. This one broke into the french lines and tzhey took prisonners. best Chris

Very nice, EARLY EK1. Maybe Rick can find the Officer?

Found courtesy of Stogieman. OK, its not unusual as such, but it makes you do a double take.....

It becomes a tad more complicated though. Odendaal is not a German name, it is one of those adapted "Ex-European" names (Like Boonzaier, which is far removed from its original Dutch spelling) that you find in South Africa. They (Odendaals) seem to be centered in the free state area. Lets not overlook 2 things here... Bloemfontein(the stamp on the flap) is BOER territory, not british, there were no British troops in this area, in fact, in less than two years they would be at war with Britain. The saddlemaker whose stamp is on the holster must have been one of many private english speaking citizens living in Boer territory. It must be remembered, at this stage the Boers (Transvaal and Free State) are on the eve of a war with Britain. From 1899-1901 (more or less) the Kaiser was a big supporter of the Boers in the war against Britain. So, that just makes the history of the holster more foggy ;-)

Unfortunately saved this to small, they even took the trouble to make it a field press in an east african village...

Why is the writing so bad, so uncentered? Would a faker do something like that? It is a generic doc, could have any unit, any war zone, but East Africa was chosen...

It was on a German Ebay Auction. I was outbid by a german gun author, who said he would think of me if he ever moved it on. I forgot all about it until out of the blue he mailed me about two weeks ago. At the same time an American collector wanted it from him and he passed his address on to me as well. Once he heard I was not selling he kinda ignored my offer to him to visit GMIC

The late W. Waldvogel had a great Iron Cross collection, including Mason badges with the EK as a motif... does anyone hve any to post?

But what else makes this so off the wall.... in fact, it is all so off the wall that my initial thought was "Its so off the wall, it COULD just be GOOD!"

Stamp is "? Komp. Kilimatinde" (to make it more interesting).

A fake EK doc from WW1 is usually a rather rare bird... but this is one of the most enticing ones... I have seen 3 offered, they are just plain wrong, but if real would be so super sexy that even as fake it leaves you wishing "If only !!!"

But to confuse things.... this dedication, from the deepest desert of German South West africa....

Actually has a stamp of an English saddle maker in the Orange Free State...

Man, if this piece could talk !!! The boers were very mobile folks indeed.... What looks here to be a regular 1890s British holster....

It is hard to show how detailed the work really is...

The curtains and bows are real gold, the rest silver

engraving of Karl Storck

Back of the two, you can see the belt fittings are removed..

Fort Napier in South Africa housed many German captives in WW1, most from German South West Africa, although I have not been able to find the article there is one about the artisanal work made in the camp by the POWs. Here are a couple of items. The first I am not sure if it is in fact from napier, an uncle gave it to me, all he knows is it is made by a POW, from the way it is made it looks similar to the belt buckle, which is 100% from Fort napier.

I have a named item to a man who I think was a reserve officer captured in South West Africa in 1915... Is there a roll with the men out there somewhere? I also have a list of all officers and men captured at Gibeon in 1915 if it is of interest to anyone. Best Chris

Thats 2.25 medals a year without ANY operational service?

Here is a trial I have been following with interest. The Amnesty International report makes interesting reading, the best on the subject so far. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAF...open&of=ENG-2AF

You mean... My guy was your guys boss The signature was in coloured pencil. Small world !!