Chris Boonzaier

Here is one of mine.... he served most of the war in the 23rd Reserve Regiment, but the 7th Inf Regt gives him the doc that he may wear the 19th regiments uniform.... Walter Sperber of the 23rd Reserve Inf regt.

The artillery raged with an unbelievable ferocity. Towards evening, it must have been about 6pm, the drumfire stopped. I warned the sentry to keep alert. We all stood at the ready, grenades in hand. The sentry shouts “Sie Kommen!” I was first out of the bunker and stopped to fire flares to call in our artillery. My men pushed past and occupied the trench. The enemy was already so close I could not make it to the trench; I stayed in the sap with a handful of men and begin firing. The enemy was about 20m away. I barely got off 10 rounds when I was knocked to the ground. I lost consciousness for a few moments, but then my head cleared. Looking down I noticed that my right foot is torn off. Both my thighs were shredded. Next to me lay Unteroffizier Seiling, victim of the same hand grenade. He was also missing a foot but was dead; he must have had other wounds. The enemy seemed to have bypassed us and have entered our trenches. I crawled back to the bunker as best I could on hands and knees. With much effort I succeeded in reaching it. There I met a number of men, who had been wounded earlier, including my orderly. They took care of me and laid me on a mattress. On my orders my orderly took a pair of shears and cut my foot off, it was still joined to the leg by some skin. They bound the wound as best they could. I gave orders to make a fire and burn my effects

Hi, Muchos Grazias. Duh! I should have thought it would be one of the brigade commanders!

Hi Glenn, thanks, that fits perfectly, commisioned Lt der Reserve, lost a leg on the Somme, repatriated to Germany and released in April 1918, he was then given the right to wear the uniform of the 19th bavarian Inf. regiment,

Indded, but for who, and when coul they wear it? Feiertage, parades etc?

Hi, I occasionally see documents giving an ex officer the right to wear the uniform of his regiment. Was this given to all officers? The latest one I saw was "auf allerhöchster Befehl"... I assume it was only for certain occasions? All the best Chris

I guess this is someone on the staff?

Hi John, Are you collecting Imperial German docs now? Best Chris

I am working on write ups for a bunch of Irom Cross documents.... How does this sound... story as told by the recipient..... I still need a couple of docs tocomplete the group.... .......On my orders my orderly takes a pair of shears and cuts off my foot which was still joined to the leg by some skin. They bind the wound as best they can.......

Hi, very strange indeed... I am guessing not good.

That is just freaking awesom ... as the younger folks would say. Really, really nice!

Hi, what are the funny things on the shoulders? There is a kind of ridge along his left shoulder?

Here is another smaller one, but for me the restoration has destroyed it. http://www.ebay.de/itm/TOP-original-restaurierte-Nagelscheibe-von-1914-/331752460273?hash=item4d3dfccff1:g:wUkAAOSweW5VTbfm

Hi, it was the 25th fusiliers in GEA, maybe he transfered? http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/452201.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_%28Frontiersmen%29_Battalion,_Royal_Fusiliers

Hi, have you ever heard of Owatrol? It is actually usually for metal, but apparently also super good for wood....

There was a Royal Fusiliers battalion in East Africa I think?

To quote donD... "True dat" but it is simply huge.... 1.5m by 1.5m.... I have to look into preservation, although it has survived 100 years in tip top condition.... then think about placing it somewhere :-(

Hi, The author of those pages has spent a lot of time and effort, but is still missing quite a bit i think :-)

Les nailed it! It is indeed! A Historical Verein in a German city has had to give up their rooms and downsize to smaller rooms.... it meant cleaning house, so i managed to buy this.... I have never seen a real one before... only photos of a couple in Museums...

Anyone know what this is? :-) 1.5m by 1.5m.... 70kg's (or more)

You nailed it! ;-)

Yup... if all goes well, by this time on Moday I will have the Mother of all iron crosses, the piece that would leave all others in the shade, able to crush any other cross .... My cross will make me the owner with the mostest, staggering under the weight of my awards.... ... watch this space!....... :-)

Pity, I thought it was a good tip. I guess it is safer to stick to ones own collecting field. best Chris

has anyone ever seen one of these before ???

Hi, I was not sure because some awards were worn like this even after the award date, like the Prussian golden Military verdienst cross and Bavarian gold bravery medal, so I thought maybe the Hohenzollern as well. Best Chris