Chris Boonzaier

Indeed... that is an achievement all on its own... Once again you would think that the medal would have given him a leg up. He seems to have spet the last half of 1917 and all of 1918 back in bavaria at the Ersatz Battalion... I am at a loss for what job they had for a buck private there... you would think a little bit of Rank would have been handy...

Here is his rough Bio... Max Stark was born on the 30th of December in Eichstadt. At the outbreak of the war was working as a laborer in München. On the 1st of October 1914 he joined the 1. Pionier Ersatz Bataillon for his training, then on the 18 January 1915 he transferred to the 3. Feld Pionier Komp in the field. From the 18.1.1915 to the 6.10.1915 he was engaged in positional warfare on the Somme, then from the 7.10.-13.10.1915 the “Herbstschlacht bei La Basse und Arras”. From the 14.10.1915 till 30.4.1916 the Komp. Took part in positional warfare in Artois including fighting at Neuville – St Vaast on the 25-28.1.1916 and 8.-10.2.1916 In May the unit moved to Verdun and Stark was involved in the fighting for the Wabengräben in the Thiaumont Wald and at Thiaumont Ferme on the 22.5.-27.5.1916. On the 26.5.16 he braved artillery fire to dig men out of a collapsed bunker. He was wounded in the action with shrapnel in the left arm. On the 27th he was evacuated and went through the following hospitals: 28.05.1916-15.07.16 Reserve Lazarette Saarlouis 15.07.1916-31.07.1916 Res Laz München 31.07.16-3.10.16 Laz. Perlach On the 3.10.16 he joined the Genesenden (recovery) Komp 1. Pionier.Ersatz.Bataillon. On the 23.10.16 he was awarded the Bavarian Silver bravery Medal. (Silb. Tapferkeits Medaille ) After joining the 4. Ersatz Komp on the 12.11.1916 he transferred to the bay. Mineur Komp on the 20.11.1916 then later to the bay. Pion. Komp. Involed in the last days of the battle on the Somme , 22.11.-26.11.16 then positional warfare on the Somme from 27.11.16-13.1.17. Changing to Flanders Stark took part in positional warfare in the Wytschaete-Bogen until getting sick in early April. On the 5.4.1917 he was sent to hospital, then again, on the 6.5.17 to the Genesenden Komp 1. Pionier Ersatz bataillon. On the 2.6.17 he transfered to the 3. Ersatz Komp. 1. bay.Pion.Ers.Batl, while here, on the 28.2.18 he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, on the 16.7.18 the Verwundeten Abzeichen (Schwarz). Transferring on the 1.10.18 to the 1. Ersatz Komp. 1. bay. Pion.Ers.Batl. he was released from service on the 21.12.1918.

I assume stores and recruiting depots all over the reich had old bravery medal officers sitting behind a desk. I wonder if it was planned, to promote them just before the outbreak of the war?

Hi, Does anyone know if there were membership lists published between the wars? Thanks Chris

In August 1939 the German state gave all recipients of the bavarian bravery medal the honorary title of Leutnant der Landwehr a.D,.... what would this have meant a month later? Would they have automatically have become officers (age permitting) if they were called up? Thanks Chris

Hi, thanks for the feedback guys Stuart, fantastic display !!!!! I am thinking of getting the cloth covered bits to 7cm instead of 14cm and having stands made like Brian and Roben have, although tending towards the solid wood ones as I try to keep modern materials out of the war room. When i get back from ethipia I will see about it. Best Chris

Ha! Thats the Murphys law of collecting.... you can be swimming in regt Histories... but will never find the one you want... have drawers full of Photos of guys with Regt numbers on their Picklehaube covers... but none with the one you need....

oooofff... that is nice. Eric, you get first prize for that one!!

In spite of being retired from the US Army, are they still in production for other markets?

Here is a good example... http://www.kaiserscross.com/41815/339201.html

.. if you have a moment to leave some feedback/Ideas... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/49360-ultimate-picklehaubehat-stand/ Thanks Chris

What do you guys think? I had the wooden blocks done 14cm high... which gives enough space to put a plaque or label on it, even pin badges or things on it... Another possibility would be only 8cm... and have a stand added. Both seem to have possibilities... The Cream linen cloth seems best, but fieldgrey, rough silk, sacking material etc. are all possible...

Another...

Lightly inclined forwards really makes a really nice display, showing "all the good stuff"

Display a haube, keeping its shape and proctecting the visors...

Giving a stand that allows you to display a hat without deforming the top...

The only commercialy made parts are the felt feet... I am thinking of asking for a different solution, maybe wooden leggies...

Then, using no glue, double sided sticky tape, staples etc... a pure linen cover is hand fitted and sewn...

So with the help of a local carpenter... This was the first test... Hole at the bottom incase a stand needs to be added...

Having been offered a number of Spiked Helmets or hats that have suffered from bad storage/display I decided to look for a good method to display then,keeping their shape... On ebay there were special "stands" for EUR20-25 which look to have been thrown together with Home Depot parts... but did not really turn my wheel... I would rather spend a few bucks more and have the "king of stands" (or "Kaiser of stands") made.... You know how the hats look....

2 real "Battle Studs" up on the update today... really worth a read! http://www.kaiserscross.com/152301.html

Seems to be a possible answer. I think often families add all the bits and pieces in a way that seems logical to them, but maybe not to us. Best Chris

Hi Uwe, Thanks :-) The signature is difficult as the glass feflects, it is a standard Ludendorff one. August Lindner seems to have been a bit of a writer in Theme Ludendorff. best Chris

There is an August Linkner that wrote an unpublished book/Article about Ludendorff, tend to think thi was a Photo given to Linkner by Ludendorff, and given by Linkner to XXX ... Either way, a nice find :-)))

Just as interesting is this on the back... hard to read... Für XX XX Deutsche Freheit! In treuer kampfXXXXXXXX Meinen lieben XXX Gallwitz XXXX Mit herzlichen Wünschen Zum 28. JulXXXXXX 1938 August Linkner...