Farkas

Hi Gents i enjoy these cards with annotations.... I am envious that you can look into your own to this degree! i used to prefer to buy unwritten postcards but then came to realise that words were far more precious, unique insights into the often anonymous (perhaps forgotten) individual - better than the mass produced and available images on the front...(which I do still love) .and so Rppc with annotations became my first choice. Although I can't read them I collect Austrian/German cards. The few British cards I have contain so few words, usually limited to 'I am well, hope to see you soon' or similar..... yet the Austrian and German cards use ever mm of space including the front on occasion. no contest! ---- i digress...... ----- i agree with you're thoughts about the mindset of combatants changing over time.... and how survival must have come as a surprise to those who did. A story on a BBC site currently tells of a British Machine Gunner who spent 48 hours behind his weapon with the dead bodies of his best mates added to the top of the sand bag defences around him..... I don't know how you can expect to survive yourself when you experience such things... So i equate it to driving a car - we all know people die in crashes but not ourselves surely? But As you get older you see crashes (cause them?) and so on. if You saw 500 crashes every day you would surely be less confident it wouldn't happen to you.... especially as those around you fall. ------- I love that this forum means that Pionier Napfel, his image and his fate will now be forever 'out there'... ------- tony

Thanks Bayern you are spot on...... tony

Hi Bayern thanks as ever for sharing your knowledge..... yes, I had overlooked that central piping when I bought this uniform. I'm doubt now that they are even 'German' at all but I do like them in their own right. So I wonder if you might have any ideas what their origin could be? ----/// They are not of the same era as the rest of the uniform either..... ((Although apparently the US army apparently embraced the zipper during WW1 spotting its versatility.)) ----/// tony

Hi Gents Once I had 'decided' my uniform was a Major General ! I didn't think these trousers were related. and had put them to one side. I think they are too late in manufacture the metal zipper is made by 'lightning' who google says started 1921 over here in UK.... im wondering please if these are 'clearly' recognisable as 'this' or 'that' to anyone? they are lovely kit in their own right...... tony tony

Joint effort...., tonyTony

Received today.... tony

Hi Gents Don't suppose anyone knows what this is? It came from a Scottish antique shop. Before that I know not where it's from! It's construction is extra sturdy - probably the contents warranted it It has the same looks as some ww1 austrian ammo pouches I have so maybe it's not British? But military I reckon. The ways it straps down and opens is 'quiet'. there are two letters stamped on the bottom.... looks like an L and an E but not that close to each other. I thought Lee Enfield but it's not an LE. I don't even know if they made such things. the fronts strap is missing btw tony

Hi Historian having just joined myself.... I welcome you treasure indeed and it keeps getting better! tony

Thanks - I love it! i wonder how close these different pieces of paper were maybe 99yrs ago. So Friedrich Rohde it is..... thanks again tony

The omitted pages are blank If you'd like the scans though let me know. tony

that all took me a while ! I hope you Gents enjoy...... tony

Hi Gents below are scans of the Soldbuch And Militarpak belonging to a man serving with Ersatz-Escadron-Dragoner-Regts Nr.1, I believe he was a prisioner of war - the dates are all I can read... His name looks like -Rohde- to me but that's about it from me perhaps the wizards amongst you can make up the rest...... hope you enjoy,,,,, ((loads of scans to upload so will be editing for next 10min or so...)) Militarpak--------- Soldbuch_______

Hi gents these are mine..... No details of them sadly.... tony

Thanks both.,... they belonged to the same man so perhaps his service covered the 1975 changeover good to know.... tony

As a 47 year old that blows my mind! I've got a few Canadian cap/collar badges, I think though only from 1900 on, I will dig out and maybe if of possible interest will post. thanks again tony

The lanyard is total length about 34 cm. it is made from one piece of cord. The centre braid is 15cm then one end is 10cm the other is 8.5/9.0 cm. it went from a main tunic button to the shoulder. picture 5 above shows the knotted end- a clever unstitched tuck knot. That end is unbroken just knotted then returns picture 6 above shows the only stitching required to complete to work. It is discreetly tucked in the end of the braid work. the balls are solid and bristly. Each end with puncture holes for the threading of the suspending cords/lanyard that allowed them to hang. the two larger are 4cm diameter the odd one is 3cm in width. i acquired these and the CDV together along with a number of Alpine related items -some military and some I suppose are not. tony

Thanks Mike, after quick read,even with my beer goggles on- that link is spot on. --- You mention the Boer war- is that specifically your interest? I love postcards/pics of all sorts. I know somewhere I've got cards of scenes/uniforms that predate Ww1. I think I've even got some postage stamps of the like. Certainly vintage British Napoleonic themed illustrations of uniforms and antique late 19c German cards of all sorts.... if I dig them out would you or others be interested? if so, I would enjoy sharing them and would like to give you notice when they are up? either way - I appreciate you replying to this. cheers tony....

Hi Mike, glad you like it and.... thanks for the heads up. (((Just between you and me....!... i got my nutsack burnt by asbestos in the mid 80's....))) So I will take care as of now...., ------- i don't suppose you could tell me the proper name for this ? there is another thread about a Canadian mark II helmet- would this be one also? i only know (think I know!) that Mark I is ww1 and mark 4 (Brit) was N. Ireland issue? Cheers tony

Hi Gents I seem to recall this 1941 helmet has a '39 liner. Helmet maker marked for 1941 but I can't see any markings on the liner - so perhaps to those who know there is a visual difference but I'm not one of them! There is also a peculiar clearly ink stamped, arrow marking stamped in the crown inside - its pointing to the crown liner bolthole.... I cant see it being required for the purpose of finding the hole - you can't miss it - but maybe they didn't take the chance! Can anyone know of a further purpose for it? It is in great nick with original paint and just a bit of wear. It's nothing Too special I suppose but I think it's worth sharing with you.,.. hope you like it tony

Hi. Gents cant be sure if it is the case but this CDV is apparently the above award on the recipient.... sadly I could not get a name to go with it. tony

Hi Gents Some additional pics.... tony

Hi Gents Mismatched pair....j Crowns differ so assume one old one new. ? Both very stiff metal. Backs different too... I think these are 'Army' collar insignia..... tony

Hi Gents some better photos... tony

Thanks Demir I do..... and will.... ! Tony

Hi Gents a talented man took time to make this - perhaps a Pow? hope you like it.... tony