Glenn J

It is difficult to be certain from the photograph but I get the impression he is some of form of non commissioned military official, perhaps a Zahlmeister-Aspirant or Waffenmeister of a mounted unit. He is not wearing a cavalry uniform. Regards Glenn

Chris, 1963 I believe. Regards Glenn

Chris, 1963 I believe. Regards Glenn

Chris, It is the Austrian Bundesheer Wehrdienstmedaille in Bronze or Bronze Military Service Medal. Awarded on successful completion of basic training. Regards Glenn

David, should you be lucky enough to find copies, the full titles are: Offizier-Stammliste des k?niglich Preu?ischen 4. Garde-Regiments zu Fu? 1860-1905 by Paul Curtius, Berlin 1905 Nachtrag zur Offizier-Stammliste des k?niglich Preu?ischen 4. Garde-Regiments zu Fu? 1905 - 1910 by Paul Curtius, Berlin 1910 Regards Glenn

Paul, he is not in the 1904/05 Orders Almanach either. Also no commissioned service in the former Hannoverian Army. Regards Glenn

Paul, here is the title page. Christophe, I will have a look! Regards Glenn

Paul, the Rangliste der Offiziere der k?niglich Bayerischen Armee 1918 is not rare and fairly easy to pick up. It does however only list Bavarian awards. It is more akin to a Dienstaltersliste or seniority list as opposed to the pre war editions of the Bavarian Military Handbook. A 1917 edition was also published. Regards Glenn

Excellent work Rick His Major's RDA is 1.3.31 (4) In 1920-1923 he was in Artillerie-Regiment 3 In 1932 he was on the staff of the Heeres-Waffenamt (WaA) in the ballistics and munitions department - Ballistische- und Munitionsabteilung (Wa Prw 1). He commanded Beobachtungs-Abteilung 4 at Landsberg (Lech) from 1 May 1933 - 30 Sep 1934 and Artillerie-Regiment 5 at Ulm from 6 Oct 1936 - 1 Feb 1937. Born on 12 Sep 1889, died 14 May 1967. Regards Glenn

No wonder I did not recognize him from this earlier mugshot Regards Glenn [attachmentid=4690] :food-smiley-004:

Sal, well before the war he was a businessman living at Landstra?e 107 Regards Glenn [attachmentid=4602]

Hi Rick, not much to add, Westmark was commissioned as a Leutnant der Reserve on 17.10.99 B6b in I.R. 114. By May 1909 he was the senior infantry Leutnant der Landwehr I in Landwehrbezirk Stockach and was an Oberleutnant d.L. by May 1910. He was living in Linz so that is probably why the decorations turned up in Austria. Regards Glenn

Bob, there is an entry in Transfeldt's "Wort und Brauch in Heer und Flotte". he states that the Schellenbaum was not an instrument as such but a victory trophy and as such was carried not by a musician but a member of the ordinary troops. He goes on to say that the Schellenbaum probably originated in China and later was carried by Turkish Jannissary bands. The Schellenbaum was introduced into Prussian Infantry and Foot artillery units during 1813/15 presumably captured from the French. Following the wars of liberation other regiments were awarded Schellenb?ume as a symbol of gratitude from the Fatherland. Named as such after the small hanging bells (Schellen). Regards Glenn

Hi Rick, the old boy was almost certainly a former medical officer with that commander's grade FJO. Regards Glenn

Hi Claudio, I am as certain as I can be that the Major Riese who signed this document was the later Generalmajor and Artillerie-Kommandeur 143 from 1 Jan 1916 - 22 Feb 1917 Friedrich Riese. General Riese was born on the 20 Mar 1856 and died on 18 Nov 1919. Major Riese returned from Africa and assumed command of II./FAR. 50 on the 1 Nov 1906 and of FAR. 5 on 18 Aug 1908 having been promoted to Oberstleutnant on the 20 Jul 1907. He retired as an Oberst on 24 Mar 1909. As Rick points out he is listed twice in the Ehrenrangliste: once as a Generalmajor and once as an Oberst and both incorrectly give his last peacetime appointment as FAR. 15 and not FAR. 5! He was still an Oberst whilst ARKO 143 so I presume he was given a "charakterisierte" promotion on his final retirement. Sekonde-Lieutenant: 17.10.78 Premier-Lieutenant: 22.3.87 Hauptmann: 18.11.90 Major: 18.1.01 Oberstleutnant: 20.7.07 Regards Glenn

Christophe, I think the other Prussian General Officer is Generalmajor Emil Hell, Chief of Staff of Heeresgruppe Mackensen. Regards Glenn

Hi Rick, Leutnant der Landwehr Minte was killed on the 21st of July 1918 at Buzancv (Soissons). Regards Glenn

stands for War/substantive (Quartermaster) Regards Glenn

Tony, I can't make out the branch colour on the captains's board but the cypher is that of an officer of the Wehrmacht administrative branch of the "Special Troop Service" or Truppensonderdienst. The rank designation is Stabsintendant and the branch was formed from former administrative officials of the intendance and paymaster branches on the 1st of May 1944. The correct piping should be light blue. Regards Glenn