David Gregory

A couple more: [attachmentid=56085] [attachmentid=56086]

Here are a few I have. [attachmentid=56082] [attachmentid=56083] [attachmentid=56084]

Dan, Its a large rangefinder, probably used for heavy-calibre Flak. David

Jaques, The A7V displayed at Munster is a replica. David

Tony, Very nice piece. I wonder if it is evidence of Chav fashions at a much earlier date than previously known? David

From past experience, I think the seller is a she (or at least seems to be). Considering what he/she buys on eBay, the seller must have a good idea of what he/she is doing.

Jason, Thanks for sharing these great images. Not all of us will ever have the opportunity to see that unique piece of armour in person. Until I get to your part of the world, the replica at Muster tank museum is the closest I have seen to anything that conveys an impression. Thanks, David

Christophe, Can you post a link to the online database for the French combattant cards or any other information on individual soldiers? Are all known WW1 French combattants listed or were some of the records lost or destroyed in the past? Many thanks in advance, David

Kevin, Without being able to offer any expert opinion, the items he is offering seem to be OK. As a side note, this seller has a very long track record of splitting good groups of documents and awards. Judging by the stunts he has pulled in the past, the items in his current auctions probably really did come from the family and he is now scattering them to the wind for as much as he can get. David

Congratulations on an excellent addition to an already impressive collection. I have been looking for a group like this, or even a single MEZ2 document, for a long time. I hope you manage to reunite the entire group. Any chance of scans? Cheers, David

Chris, I don't know if this is the one you are looking for, but the following is on offer at www.zvab.com (search terms Feldzug S?dwest) for a lot of money: and David

Paul, That is an excellent group. You are lucky to have the Friedrich cross award document as part of a group, since the single documents usually feature no information other than the name of the recipient and the award date. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 27 was part of 7. Infanterie-Division and later transferred to 211. Infanterie-Division, both of which spent the entire war on the Western Front. David

Barry, That is a fascinating group of documents, which are nicely complemented by the added awards and ephemera. Since it is almost impossible to know if the awards and documents of a given group really belonged together, I also acquire single examples of awards and bars for display purposes to go with the document groups that are my main collecting interest. Your eclectic approach makes for an interesting collection. David

Daniel, Put me down for one of each volume to be published, too. I only collect the odd medal bar as a side line, but the lists will be useful to me when researching officers' signatures on documents and working out what they also received. Are there any plans to make electronic versions of the lists available? Perhaps together with the printed versions for serious buyers? It would certainly help people to find names and sort by units, etc., more quickly. Many thanks in advance, David

Jens, Nice piece of kit. In the image in post #2, it looks as though the British broad arrow /| and serial number have been removed. It seems to be identical to compasses that were certainly in British Army stores until the mid 1980s. I have seen these dated from the 1930s, but yours is the earliest I have seen until now. David

Here is a clean example of the Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern for junior officers from the front: And from the back:

This seems to be the same combination to be sewn to the uniform: [attachmentid=54433] [attachmentid=54434] Perhaps there are more of these (navy?) guys around?

I think I have exactly the same combination as a sew-on ribbon bar, which is probably already packed up for a forthcoming move. I'll post a scan when I can get to it.

The medal might be OK for display purposes, but the document is unique and definitely worth chasing, particularly in view of the location and events relating to its issue. Many spectacular orders were bestowed to officers who commanded units that were involved in famous actions, but an award for bravery to a simple soldier such as this was earned the hard way. If I had the funds available, I wouldn't hesitate to bid on it.

Rick, Thanks for the additional information on von Reichenbach. If the bar is a pre-war officers one for a Saxon service award, Swedish Sword Order and something Russian, would an officer have received a zeal/merit medal or is a Stanislaus order more likely? I thought the zeal medals were for NCOs, or did officers receive them, too? What would a Saxon do to receive Swedish and Russian awards pre-1914? Was he just in the right place when the relevant monarch visited or are there any specific connections between Saxony, Sweden and Russia? Thanks in advance, David

Jens, Nice optics! The mark might have been added by the Germans, but there was no Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 33. It might also be a unit, depot, issue or other property mark. All you need now is a nice trench in your garden and you can watch the neighbours without being seen /David

Ribbon bars are not really my "thing", but these turned up (separately) on German eBay and were too nice to resist. Single Saxon service award ribbon bar: [attachmentid=54235] [attachmentid=54236] The Saxon service award and the Braunschweig non-com ribbon below seem straightforward, but what does the Russian ribbon represent? [attachmentid=54233] [attachmentid=54234]

Major von Reichenbach of Infanterie-Regiment 140 also used this plain type of ribbon bar. I worked out what the awards were from the 1926 rank list, but my notes have been filed separately from the photo: [attachmentid=54228] A close-up of the bar: [attachmentid=54229] And his cloth star: [attachmentid=54230]

Where the regiment was the rest of the time: http://www.militaerpass.net/18id.htm

Andrew, I apologise for the late reply. I have an overview of the division online at http://www.militaerpass.net/1brd.htm David