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Jens you are right, and I believe that entry on the 30th of October 1915 reads II A and could this refer to the Gebirgs Artillerie Abteilung 2 who did in fact serve with the Alpenkorps. As you spotted that later entry in 1919 all point to the fact he probably was entitled. Well spotted Jens and thanks again! Best regards Pete

Thats great information Jens thanks for taking the time. It would appear he volunteered as a 17 year old in Oct 1915 in the Artillery. I can't see any mention of him being in any mountain artillery units, so he most likely wasn't entitled to wear the Edelweiss Badge on his cap! Best regards Pete

Thanks Heiko, so that's what that patch is. Just need to find some connection with the Alpenkorps now. Best regards Pete

This photo is part of a collection of a Bavarian artilleryman and is obviously post War. He was in Bavarian FAR7 and 9, his name is Joseph Hinterholzer, but their are a couple of things that I hope someone can help me with; Firstly what is the patch on his left sleeve and secondly how would he have been entitled to the Edelweiss Abzeichen? The Patch looks like a dark triangle inside a white circle. Your help is greatly appreciated. Regards Pete

This medal bar is part of a collection of a nurse working in the Bavarian medical system; Regards Pete

The 3 other wartime award docs to him that I have are; The MVK3 with crown and swords. The Black Wound Badge for his wound near Douaumont; and his service award for 9 years; Best regards Pete

Hi Chris, interestingly this guy also got one of those decorative certificates, but it must have been just after the end of the War as the unit stamp has been edited by someone. Best regards Pete

Wow there are some amazing minis here, I'm a bit embarrassed to show my one and only, but here goes; This is part of a grouping to a Nurse in the Bavarian medical service, I also have the full size bar and ribbons. Regards Pete

As you get older I notice that the Christmas presents get less, so I bought myself one!!! I was lucky enough to get this collection of docs to eventual Feldwebel Johann Winkler. He served in the Alpenkorps and was wounded on the 10th of June 1916 near Douaumont. Firstly an Alpenkorps EK2 Certificate, I have never seen one like this before, signed by Krafft von Dellmensingen. Regards Pete

Hi great bar, thanks for sharing. The medal in second place must be wrong though. That ribbon, post 1913 and his rank mean it should be a MVK 1st class with swords. That medal is a pre 1905 MVK. I'm still envious though!! Regards Pete

Glad you like our bars guys and thanks for the kind thoughts from Stefan. Unfortunately I don't have all the documents for this bar, but here are the ones that I do have, hope you enjoy!! First the MVK2 doc. Next the DA1 doc signed by Keil. Next the FEK doc. and finally the 25 year service doc. Unfortunately I don't have his EK2 doc or the DSWA Abz. doc. Best regards Pete

Hi Chris just to follow up on Scheid, from my research and collection, I believe he only signed on 2 DAYS not weeks. Namely the 4th and 9th of March 1919, here are 2 examples from my collection. 4th of March 1919 9th of March 1919 and interestingly, even though he appears to only have signed for 2 days, if you look, a different copy signature is used on each day. Best regards Pete

Ah so it was you who beat me to it Stefan! Nice bar, I've got it's big brother. As you can see the only difference is that this guy has added his 25 year service medal onto the end of his bar! This bar belonged to Peter Puff, a Vizefeldwebel in the Schutztruppe in German South West Africa. He must have been held prisoner for the duration as his MVK certificate is dated the 19th of January 1920. All the best Pete.

Hi Odulf this tinnie would appear to be a Luftsport tinnie and the planes are actually gliders. They are mounted on a piece of real amber, so the background is a nice orange colour. Though why this guy would be wearing one is another matter! Best regards Pete

I know what you are going to say, I'm still cryin over missing that one. Still it couldn't have gone to a better home. I shall leave you to explain!!! Enjoy. Best regards Pete

Hi Chris I agree with Bernhard. Andreas Vogel born 21/12/1897 in Augsburg. Awarded EK2 on 15/6/17 and MVK3X on 1/7/17. For a latecomer he sure had an eventful time all documented on Ancestry. Interestingly he also signs himself Andi Vogel in the Regimental ledgers. Best regards Pete

Oh WOW you are a star!! Got to go out soon but will be up late tonight! Thanks Chris I owe you one. Best regards Pete

The Bavarian long service awards available to regulars/Volunteers continued to be awarded throughout WW1 with war years service counting double. These medals being DA3 9yrs service, DA2 12yrs service and DA1 15yrs service. However Landwehr awards were different. The LD2 was not associated with time served, it was eligible to any Reservist/Landwehr/Draftee AFTER service in a war. So you could serve 6mnts abroad with a rifle and get the LD2. (Only AFTER the event) Unfortunately they never honoured this rule AFTER WW1 and no LD2's were awarded, presumably because there was no cash to manufacture several thousand medals. Regulars/Volunteers were NOT eligible for this award. The LD1 however was associated with time served and is a 20yr award, BUT war years NEVER counted as double and you had to serve the full twenty to get this one, hence the relative scarcity. Best regards Pete

I would really appreciate any further info you might have on this Officer Chris, as I can't find anything on him post war. Unfortunately he is one of those who doesn't appear on ancestry also. Glad you like it ccj. Best regards Pete

Hi Chris some nice docs there, thanks. Here is an Alpenkorps one for you. Interesting guy IR21 at Apremont and Bois Brule, then after a spell in hospital to Schneeschule Ers Abt Munchen at the end of Mar 1915. At the end of May 1915 he is in the field with 4th Schneeschule Batl. Eventually he ends up in Gebirgs Funker Truppe 3 with a rank that is a new one on me "Tragetier Fuhrer" Unfortunately some Doughnut has punched holes in it, but still interesting. Regards Pete.

Hi Chris just read this thread and I thought the name rang a bell. A couple of years ago I acquired a bunch of documents to this very man! Amongst the Patents, service histories and various other bits and bobs is an official copy of the document you showed us up front, so snap! In the early 30's he applied for copies of his service history and he acquired this at the same time. Here is his service record, you may find it interesting, he appears to have been hospitalised a couple of times with 'Neurasthenie' which I understand to be battle fatigue/shell shock. Unfortunately I don't have his EK2 doc to show you. Regards Pete

Hi Daniel thanks for the info. I have taken the bar out and peeled back the RAO ribbon as best I can and I believe your hunch is correct, I think it was with a crown. The main thread that fixed the ring is sewn in just above the Hohenzollern medal and not only that there is a second piece of thread about 1cm below that, possibly to fix the crown tight to the bar as per the other medals. I did have my suspicions, hence an earlier post of mine regarding an Oberleutnant Sachse of the 3rd Landwehr Garde Regiment. According to the 1914 Rangliste he had RAO4mkr, KO3, HOH3, LD2 and I thought I may have cracked it, but I had a reply saying he also had Zahringer 1 and Hilfdienst which put him out of the running. The search continues!!

Thanks Dave, what a shame!

Hi Matthew I appreciate your dilemma I am going through the same thing at the moment. I think you have already got the answer, crown order and baden long service. they would make the most sense. Baden long service ribbon usually had a thin yellow stripe just in from the edge, though obviously you will find variations. Russian St Anna was usually very thin yellow stripe at the edge of the ribbon. The trouble is which versions of these options was it? If you go by medal sizes here are what I believe to be the options; As you say the red ribbons attachment hook is lower than the other therefore this medal must be slightly smaller. KO medal is 35-37mm Baden 9 & 12 year LS 30-32mm (The Landwehr is even smaller, ruling it out I believe) Hence about 5mm difference. KO 4th class 41mm Baden Officers 25yr 38mm Hence about 3mm difference. Take your pick, I've probably got it totally wrong, but thats my tuppence worth! Regards Pete

Andreas you are of course correct it is a Deschler piece my mistake, fooled by the poor pictures taken on my old camera. I got the medal bar out and had a closer look, definately Deschler, thanks for pointing that out. Also with the bar in hand I would say that the Reuss medal is definately a gold (gilded) one. In the areas that haven't been exposed to wear it is quite golden in colour. Which if I understand correctly means at least 12 years in the job. Thanks for your help in trying to track the guy down Dave. Does anyone know if the rolls for this Reuss medal have been published or indeed if they have survived? Regards Pete