Mike Huxley

Tony, thanks for the comments but I know you have that fantastic diary that belonged to Sid Dore, that alone is a fantastic piece of research material Rick, I too noticed in most of the pictures a strange mix and match situation with the types of uniform. Most pictures show greatcoats in what appears to be Dunkelblau, with others in Feldgrau. Also the fact that spiked helmets are worn, mostly with feldgrau covers, all except this on, which shows our prospective officers on parade with shiny picklehaubes and very light trousers, maybe off white. Again in 1917.

Wow .... That's great Rick, thanks I think that the slightly smaller guy on the right of the group in the picture is Generalmajor Otto, under a magnifying glass I can make out the stripes on the side of his trousers, he seems to be reading from a document while the young cadet stands to attention in front of him. Strange that with Otto retiring in 1899, he is in uniform, performing what seem to be some sort of presentation at an officer training school in 1917

Stogie, in fact there are 3 albums all to the same guy and you are so right about this sort of thing being sold off as seperate lots. In fact I only just managed to stop the seller of these from flogging them on eBay as 3 lots with the possibility of them being split forever At least he saw the error of his ways and agreed to sell them to me all together Here's another couple of shots from one of the albums ..... wonder who these officers are .... One is a General Sorry for the small size

Here's a gasmask picture from one of the albums Rick

The "Good Ricky" strikes again .... OMG where would we be without you and your knowledge. Absolutely fantastic Many thanks Rick, it just goes to show how much I have to learn yet about reserching. At least my guy made the grade and survived .... Rick, have you any idea on the Hauptmann in the first picture I posted?

It seem that fun was also part of the training as well... They sure needed that !!!!

There are several interesting shots of training at Metz in the albums. Unfortunatly I havent been able to identify the owner of these albums from them ..

I recently aquired 3 small photo albums that belonged to a young NCO during his training as an artillery officer at Metz during 1917. His name, as far as I can make out is Huhnlein. I was interested to find out if he made the grade and after looking throught the "Ehren Rangliste" I found only one match on page 860 .... Rick could this be my guy? Here's a couple of small shots from the album.. with his name inside the cover

The note on the back ... it's a shame that other coments have been added

Bob, I'm so pleased that you got the book, it just goes to show that research pays dividends. The only item that I have relating to the regiment is a very nice photo that I bought from our member Tony, showing a group in 1914. Front ....

Bob ... I don't know about you being obscure and arcane, but you have one hell of a fantastic bar there, congratulations on being the lucky owner Mike

Brian, Stogie and David .... Thanks for dispelling my concerns, I'm now one very bunny. I had just about given up hope of finding anything Imperial after spending 3 hours searching tables at the West of England Military fair. I was just on the way out when I stopped at a table and for some reason moved a couple of Riker cases on it ... there hidden below these two I found a case which had this bar and a few single medals in it ... It goes to show, it's always worth having a dig around and persevering until you find that gem Mike

Bob, I wish I was nearer to you guys in the States. In hand this just feels right, but it's that EK and swords that is my puzzle. The swords have a prong going from each side of the hilts that fit tightly behind the ribbon, I just can't see how this could have been put there at any other tine other than original construction of the bar. Is it naval with the backing cloth and non magnetic EK, + the makers label ???

Ralph, I thought that at first about the medal being reversed ... but if you look in OEK it shows the front as it is on this bar. Rick, the swords have a strange attachment on the reverse, it is like a broach which slips into the ribbon, I've never seen anything like this before. All the ribbons are tightly stitched and have fair wear and tear to the front with fading, but the reverse is a bright colour. The size is correct for 1914 EK The EK has a bright frosting on it, but I can see no way in which these could have been added later. Dave Danner site shows a bar with smaller swords on this award. This is the first non magnetic EK I have in my collection, does anybody have anymore information on these ???? Thanks so far for you input guys Mike

Now for a slightly closer view of the EKII ... sorry for the not so good pictures.

Opps ..got the posts wrong ... here's the reverse.

Close up of label ...

The reverse ....

I picked this interesting 3x bar up today at a local military fair. Having got it home, I now find there's several things that seem unusual with it. 1. The EK is none magnetic, but is 3 piece construction. 2. The Schwarzburg silver medal for merit in war has the largest pair of swords mounted on the ribbon that I have ever seen. Other than that, the bar has a makers label on the reverse and all ribbons are tight and there is no problems following a "black light" test. With a blue backing cloth and the makers label from Hamburg am I right in thinking that this bar is navy. Your thought would be appreciated gentlemen

Help please guys .... This plaque is part of a small group that I have the chance of buying and I was wondering what it was for ... and who would have had it.

Rick, Oh yes I'm afraid I just couldn't resist this one. Like you, my knowledge of Haubs is minimal but I made sure of this one before I parted with the cash .... and it did come from a very well respected dealer in Texas Bob .... you never can tell .... that slope's in front of me and I'm starting to slide I've got my eye on another one now

Tony, Just a thought ... could this have been taken in one of the Colonies around the turn of the Century, Africa or maybe China during the Boxer uprising? Just a thought. Mike

Hmm .... is it Lt Gustav Leffers from Jasta1. Pour le Merite winner .. killed in action Dec 27, 1916

last of all a very nice Baden 3rd Class, 9 year DA award. I hope to collect more of this type (credit for picture to dirklein from WA forum)

Pic of the case and EK. Many thanks to one of our forum Moderators for this