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Fritz Klein (* 1877 , † 1958 ) was a German officer who undertaken command operations against the British in Persia and Iraq during the First World War . He has occasionally been referred to as German Lawrence of Arabia . Klein was the son of an industrial entrepreneur from the Siegerland. He chose the military career and at the same time he went abroad. In 1904 he went on a world tour. In 1910 he took a leave of absence from the military and spent one year at the German embassies in Rio de Janeiro , Cairo and Tehran (where he learned Persian). During the First World War, he first served in France and was wounded in 1914. At that time he was a captain . He took part in an expedition that was supposed to encourage Persian and Arab tribes to rebellion against the English and to attack the oil pipelines in Persia and the Middle East. He was subordinate to the Federal Foreign Office and wasMajor of the Ottoman Army . 70 German specialists, including the archaeologists Conrad Preusser, Walter Bachmann and Hans Lührs, engineers and merchants, took part, as well as former Muslim prisoners of war and around 300 Austrian prisoners of war escaped from the Russians. The starting point was in the fall of 1914 Aleppo . However, the Turks represented their own interests, and the tribes in Iraq again did not want to know anything about Turkish domination. He met high Shiite dignitaries in Kerbala , who suspiciously demanded large sums of money due to the lack of German troops. From autumn 1915 he was also active in Persia (where the archaeologist Friedrich SarreLiaison officer was), where it also succeeded in April 1915 to interrupt oil pipelines (with which the British fleet was supplied), but not to pull the Persians on the side of the central powers. Later in the war he was placed under the control of the Turks and lost his relatively independent command. While he was initially able to prevent massacres of Armenians in his command district, he later failed. To supply the Turkish fleethe also opened a coal mine on the Euphrates and Tigris, and he fought grasshopper plagues and outbreaks of pests (vaccinations in Baghdad). In Persia he tried to incite the population to a holy war (jihad) against the Entente. If he initially acted arbitrarily, from July 1915 the Foreign Office set up its own German Persia mission, which among other things fought the Russians in the north. However, they suffered a defeat at the Kangavar Pass in February 1916 and Klein returned to Germany in 1916. After the war he wrote philosophical works. The historian Veit Veltzke was later able to evaluate Klein's estate (as well as the war diary and Klein's official correspondence in the Federal Foreign Office archive). His adjutant Edgar Stern-Rubarth (1883-1972) was later a journalist (editor-in-chief at Ullstein and in the Wolff telegraph office), who emigrated to England as a Jew in 1936 and published memories of the expedition (Playing Lawrence on the other side). He had studied Romance languages and was at times advisor to Gustav Stresemann.

Thank you gentlemen as always it’s appreciated

Most excellent...really appreciate you doing this ....regards, Paul

Service Militaire des Chemins de Fer Kepi...with engineers buttons...4th Regiment, very little information in English so if anyone can point me in the direction of any French histories or better still the Kepi being worn...thanks for looking

Lovely collection, here is my contribution , including a picture of captured vestments

This tunic has now been passed to me...welcome any additional thoughts, thanks, Paul

Further information has come to my attention that Dr Long was not awarded the QSA....which has save me time looking for it...!!

Reunite; South African medals, plus information of his Boer war service..."In command of 30 men escorting 19 empty wagons. Lt Sheringham rode ahead to find the escort he was expecting. Instead he was captured and taken back to the convoy, which he ordered to surrender. The Boers released the men after stripping them of their arms and ammunition. The Court of Inquiry found Lt Sheringham responsible for the surrender, despite his young age (18 years) and inexperience." Just need a photograph of him !!

Good news, looks like we have a reunite with his South Africa war medals...more to follow 😀

Private Sidney Harold Goodwin late 219th Battalion, severely wounded 29 June 1917 at Lens with the 85th Battalion, died 1958, the interesting element is the ER2 memorial Cross confirmed as issued to his wife in 1958

If I can add to the research of the Tiffany, engraved with the mans name W.C. Miller., William Charles Miller became the Commandant of the Citadel military academy 1926-31 and died in 1935, His WW1 service was with the 27th Infantry in Siberia.

Good write up, glad it’s gone to a good home 👍

Recently picked up a single British War Medal to 4251 A/Sgt Frederick Sullivan, 19th Battalion AIF (10th Reinforcement), Killed in Action 3 May 1917 DCM (recommended for the Victoria Cross) Enlisted 7 December 1915. Lived 339 Alfred Street, North Sydney, New South Wales Served with the 19th Battalion AIF (10th Reinforcement), Killed in Action 3 May 1917, Distinguished Conduct Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He went out and found a wounded soldier(Mackey) about 40 yards from the enemy's trenches. He then returned for a volunteer, and with Private Weaver went back to the wounded sergeant. Finally they returned for a stretcher, went out again, and brought him in. They were sniped at the whole time.' Private Weaver mentioned in the Citation {4294 Frederick Steene Weaver KIA 12-11-1916) was also recommended for the VC and ended up with the DCM, 3543 Pte S.C. Mackey 8th Battalion. AIF. MM .. Severely wounded 18-8-1916,the only one of the 3 to make it Home Sullivan was born Dover, New Romney, Kent, England, His Father was Jeremiah Sullivan, who was a serving soldier in the Royal Artillery his mother was Mary Shay (from Ireland) his full name was James Frederick H Sullivan he was born in Dover Kent in 1883/4 When he was seven (1891) he had moved to Portsmouth, the father was not in the picture (yet to establish why) It appears he joined the merchant navy at some point..certainly from 1909 and I have him on various ships as a steward up to his enlistment, He was one of 60 recommended for the Victoria Cross Has anyone come across any other items belonging to Sullivan or a photograph...would welcome a heads up. thanks for looking, P

Yes...DD1911 confirmed

Thank you Simon, would you have any photographs of the good Colonel

Ha....so back to the beginning.......help !!!!

If anyone could add to this most excellent research by Rick & Glenn I would welcome it..as ever many thanks, Paul

Glenn, been after this for years....really really appreciate this...

I am trying to ascertain the forenames and medal entitlement to Oberst Niemoller also confirm war time service Leutnant 14.01.93 Oberleutnant 16.01.01 Qq Hauptmann 10.09.08 O4o Major 18.04.15 Ww charakterisiert Oberstleutnant aD, alive in 1926 to Oberst Niemöller , Infantry Regiment 69 in 1914 Joined the German army 19 September 1891 and transferred to the Marines 2 July 1900. Presumably back to the army when promoted to Captain in 1908 (still Marines in the Navy 1908 Rank List as Oberleutnant) Leutnant 14.01.93, Oberleutnant 16.01.01, Hauptmann 10.09.08, Major 18.04.15, Charakterisiert Oberstleutnant aD, alive in 1926 1900: II. Replacement Sea Battalion, Wilhelmshaven (steel medal for waving bye bye to China expedition), 1902: detached from II. Sea Battalion to Ships' Boys Division, 1905: II. Sea Battalion, 1906: III. Sea Battalion with the East Asian Occupation forces, Tsingtau, 1907: still on duty with III. Sea Battalion in Tsingtau, China, 1908: same but back home with the Stamm III. S.B, 1909-13: commander 3rd Company Infantry Regiment 69, 1914: as mentioned above. Final WW1 wartime position: Commander of Infantry Regiment 347 in 87th Infantry Division. Any photos or biographical details gratefully received .

Nice group to a Gefreiter in 3rd Marine Brigade Lowenfeld, welcome your thoughts

Interesting photo...

Andy, most excellent, many thanks, Paul

Nice group to Franz Langheinz Leutnant Grenadier-Regiment 2, wounded and POW...awarded Hessian medal and EK2 & 1, if anyone has any further details on Herr Langheinz please let me know ? as ever many thanks, Paul

Name:Calvin S. Hildreth Birth Date:11 Apr 1896 Birth Place:Dalton, Massachusetts, USA Serial Number:41373 Residence Place:Hallowell Military Date:31 Mar 1919 Comments:Enl: RA Ft. Slocum, N. Y., June 1/17. Pvt; Pvt 1st cl Jan. 7/18. Org: Co D 48 Inf to Aug. 14/17; MG Co 2 Inf to disch. Eng: St Mihiel; Aisne-Marne; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. Received citation. Awarded French Croix de Guerre. Wounded in action: About Oct. 5/18. Overseas: Sept. 7/17 to Feb. 2/19. Hon disch on demob: Mar. 31, 1919.

Will post more later....but here is an interesting citation