Martin W

Thanks Norm. Now you know why i have been selling off other items from my KM collection.It is so that i can obtain pieces/groups like this. Oddly enough,i have more items from the Hilfskreizer's THOR and STIER than i do from the ATLANTIS. I hope to be picking up an album and documents from the KOMET this weekend. With the ATLANTIS book came this other book for the "Crew Grossdeutschland 1938". Kuhn was an instructor on this vessel. Cheers,Martin.

Thanks Gordon, the traditions pin is postwar,but was worn by the crewmen at their ship reunions. I hope to add Kuhn's Hilfskreuzer award and his Imperial EK1 with 1939 spange to this group at a later date. Regards,Martin.

Also,as part of the group was this Atlantis traditions hat/lapel pin. I have wanted one of these for a long time. Regards,Martin.

However,this one is very special. It came as part of a small grouping that belonged to Erich Kuhn,the 1st Officer on the Atlantis. What is so special about this book is that it has a written dedication by the Atlantis Commander,Bernhard Rogge to his 1st Officer,Kuhn in the front of the book.

I am fortunate to be able to obtain another copy of the Atlantis book. Again,this is a first edition in great condition that contains the complete crewlist.

I totally agree with Gordon here. A definate fake. Regards,Martin.

Yup ! Cheers,Martin.

As i mentioned in the WAF thread,a great piece of work Norm and a wonderful reference for us all. I realise that Norm's study is entirely based on German Manufacture,and Vienna. I thought,seeing as Bacqueville of Paris was mentioned,perhaps we could include Yokohama,Japan. Yes i know,only a Hilfskreuzer collector would bring this up. But HK awards were produced by an unknown jeweler in Yokohama and awarded to crewmen of the HK's serving in the Far East,namely the THOR and MICHEL. Unlike the Baqueville badges we do have photographic evidence of the Japanese made awards being worn. This would complete the list of cities involved in KM award manufacture,i think. Again,great job Norm. Martin.

Hi Leigh, yes i have tried but there were quite a few Charles Ward's in Warwick's during the WWI period. Sadly,there is not much that we know about Charlie's service record. Let us just say that he was not the best of men,a very bad man in fact,in the eyes of the family. Basically,he left my grandmother with three daughters some time in the 1930's,i beleive. We do know that he rejoind the Warwick's prior to WWII,and we think he was with the BEF at Dunkirk.Well he told my father he was at Dunkirk,and from what i recall the Warwick's were at Dunkirk. During WWII he joined the Pioneer Corps and i do have photo's of him in his PC uniform. I guess he came back to visit my grandmother,from time to time? I wish i knew more.He probably sold off his Medals for beer,who knows. I remember meeting him a couple of times when i was very young before he died back in the 1960's.A sad story,on the whole. Regards,Martin.

Yes Leigh, he was in the regulars and not the "Pals". Regards,Martin.

Paul, as i mentioned i beleive my badge is a copy but the slider is marked for Gaunt,London.

Paul, hopefully ,one of these years on one of my trips back to Birmingham i will find a nice original "Pals" badge? All i have for now is this repro i picked up a few years ago. Regards,Martin.

Great looking lapel pin Merv and Paul,the Birmingham Battalion badge is outstanding. Being born in Birmingham and the fact that my maternal grandfather,Charlie Ward,was in the Warwick's during WWI,i really enjoy seeing any items associated with the regiment. This is the only photo i have of my Grandfather taken during WWI. He is standing in the center of the group with his arms folded and cap tipped back. Thanks for showing guys. Regards,Martin.

Thanks Norm, i looked at a couple of images this morning that were straight on shots.It was easy to see that the catches were of "C" wire stock but hard to see how they were applied to the reverse. Cheers,Martin.

I think the badge displays a very similar reverse set up as K&Q EKI's,especially with the "C"-wire catch. Regards,Martin.

Thanks guys, from what i can find so far it sure looks like the Messina Earthquake medal,illustrated below. Brocksein was born on 6 June 1898 and the Messina Earthquake occured on 28 December 1908. So he would have been about 10 and a half years old. It just does not add up,rather young i think. Regards,Martin.

Some additional information on Ulrich Brocksien,WW1. Kaiserlich Marine. Diensteintritt,1-17-1915. Marinschule und "Freya" Ausbildung,bis 10-1915. "Mecklenburg",Seekadet,bis 12-1915. "Lothringen",Seekadet,bis 2-1916. "Hannover",Fanrich und Offiz.Dsst,bis 6-1917. "Westfalen",Leutnant,bis 9-1918. U-Schule Ausbildung,bis Ende. Regards,Martin.

H Gents, i was wondering if someome could help identify a ribbon on the bar posted below in the link. It is the green and white striped ribbon second from the right. I am not sure if this is an Imperial German award. Any futher input would be much appreciated. Regards,Martin. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=41115

Daniel, would this be the medal of 1908? After some searching i found that Brocksien was born in 1898.This would make him only 10 years old when the medal was introduced,if it was introduced in 1908? Regards,Martin.

A very unusual badge indeed Jan Arne and another fine addition to your great collection. Thanks for all of the images you sent to me. Much appreciated. Regards,Martin.

Yes it is Hardy,with his DKiG. I have the exact same 28 Oktober 1943 newspaper clipping. Regards,Martin.

Yes,he served on both criuses.The photo is dated 27-10-41 just before the "Thor's" 2nd cruise on 30-11-41,and just a couple of weeks before he was awarded the DKiG on 20-11-41. I would be very surprised if he was wearing the Defense Wall ribbon? Perhaps it could be the ribbon for the Turkish War medal as mentioned by Matt? Regards,Martin.

Here you go Hardy.

Damn my eyes you are correct Hardy. The Defense Wall medal is not the type of award one would associate with KM personnel,i would have thought? Cheers,Martin.

Gents, thank you so much for your replies. Much appreciated. Matt,the officer is Kapitanleutnant Heinrich.Hille.He served on the Hilskreuzer "Thor",both cruises. Regards,Martin. Interesting point Matt,regarding the ribbons.They are both EK2 ribbons,Imperial and TR. So he is wearing a TR ribbon in his button hole and the 1939 spange on his Imperial lapel ribbon. Did regulations state that they could wear both the spange and the ribbon?