Bernhard H.Holst

Hello.

Inscription that the Articles of War had been read to him in addition to the date he was sworn in is interesting.

In 1917 he was temporarily discharged from military service ( Dienstleistung unter der Waffe) until April, 1918 for civilian work in Papenburg . Construction of war vessels?

Bernhard H. Holst

​Hello Ian.

I am sorry but I do not want to take a wild guess. It seems that the signature consists of two words. Whether he signed with first name then last name or whether his last name was one of two names who knows?

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Ian.

Apparently addressed to Oberst Zuzzi.

The inscription reads:

Zur freundlichen Erinnerung an Deinen Vorgaenger beim Landsturm 11 or As cordial remembrance of you predecessor at Landsturm 11  then signed but I am unable to read signature.

Bernhard H. Holst

​Hello.

The initials are given as C.P.

Thank you.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Mike.

Thank you for the link.

My understanding of the Anglo-Boer War was shaped early on by the pre-1945 German sourced descriptions of this conflict which was of course pro-Boer. I have somewhere in the wreck of my "library" Pakenham's ( ? ) history of the war. I recall in particular also a movie "Ohm Krueger", very anti-British propaganda.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Mike.

I have admired your collection from afar. I do not have much time left to add to so far my single item.

But perhaps something comes my way??

P.S. I have previously received an Imperial Service Medal in a Royal Mint case and am impressed with the quality of the medal and the case. Nothing cheap there either.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello.

I have recently acquired my first British campaign medal and I was pleasantly surprised by the workmanship present in every aspect i.e. suspension, quality of ribbon and bars and of course the medal itself.

The rim lists " 8718 Pte Grindley Scots Gds". The latter was clarified on this forum to gds upon my request for clarification sometime back of the transcribed "Cds" given by the seller.

This purchase would certainly motivate further acquisitions should they come my way.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Paul.

Thank you for this information.

I will post a South Africa Campaign medal named to a Scotch Guards man soon. I had raised a question some time ago because the G seemed a C but on closer inspection it turned out to be a G.

Bernhard H. Holst

​Hello Dante.

I am unable to confirm that except to state that there was only one officer with the last name von Gerlach listed in the Rangliste der Deutschen Kriegsmarine  with date of 1.September 1944. So chances are that he is the officer.

Date of birth would put it right into that time frame with rank of Oblt.z.See.

Bernhard H. Holst

​Hello.

Thanks to Paul for the information. It is always nice to put a name with a medal. Here to me it also has additional meaning that she served during WW II. She must have experienced some German bombings with corresponding deaths, injuries and damages and certainly disruptions in the postal service.

While not very familiar with British customs regarding medalsI share Trooper's question about the bow.

Another thought occurred to me on how it made its way to Germany to be sold and now made at least a temporary pause in its travels again.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

I found this medal at a German dealer and acquired it because of its beauty and the case in which it came.The rim shows the recipient as Florence Edith Taylor.

In my opinion the quality of the case made for the Royal Mint  testifies to the importance put on presentation and overall appearance of this medal and not just on  higher ranking bestowals.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Dante.

I agree with Andreas on "Barthel".

I read the signature as von Gerlach, Oberleutnant zur See.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andi.

Cannot read everything but here is what I can:

Mooslette den 6.11.1916

Meinem lieben Frauchen und Soehnchen.

Ich bin der aelteste auf diesem Bild (?) und sehe am juengsten aus nicht war liebe (???) ?

Bin drei Jahre aelter (???) die beiden, die sind noch aktiv.

Mit besten Gruessen unserm gutes lieben Muetterchen

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andi.

I am unable to confirm the identity of the wearer of the PlM or that your person belonged to the unit.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andi.

It reads:

Laily den 14.8.1917.

Gefechtsstand der 81.Infantr.Brigade vor der Wohnung des Oberstleutnants.

Mit vielen Gruessen

Dein treuer ???

Bernhard H. Holst

BTW: saw a snippet on TV about ANZAC Day ceremonies in your country. Quite moving.

BHH

Hello Jock.

Thank you for showing this group. The wound badge in silver for one wound  indicates that he was severely wounded in early 1945. This could have been through air action but he he may have possibly been transferred to another unit which is indicated only by Feldpost Nr. for which I do not have the codes.

It seems he was specialized on horse riding and/or driving

so that he served at the Soltau based school for riding and driving ( horse drawn vehicles).

An unusual first name I have never encountered. He first served in Inf.Rgt. 65, a component of 22.Inf.Div. based on Bremen.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

The history of the Jg.Btl.10 ( Hann.) lists the following losses for the battalion's first deployment at the Verdun battle:

5 officers killed or died of wounds;

5 officers wounded;

all other ranks:

54 killed;

76 missing and considered dead;

251 wounded.

At the beginning of the deployment the companies had an average strength of 150 personnel  and at the end the entire battalion strength was about 100.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello, last page:

...Einmal schlaegt auf den Rand meines Trichters eine Granate ein. Da ich (mich??) aber unter Decke, Zeltbahn und Dachs war ( here two words I cannot decipher ) geschieht mir weiter nichts, ich muss nur als das Feuer einschlaeft ( ? ) die auf mir liegende Erde beseitigen. So vergeht der Tag. Nach dem Dunkelwerden koennen wir uns gegenseitig mehr verstaendigen und Horchposten nach vorn schicken. Kurz vordem meine Zeit gekommen war, kommt ein Befehl vom Kompanie Fuehrer, jede Gruppe stellt einen Mann zum Verflegungholen ( ? ) zum Fort. Ich werde bestimmt, haenge mir saemtliche Feldflaschen an den Brotbeutelriemen, lasse saemtliche andere Ausruestung in dem Granatloch zurueck, dazu auch meinen vollgepackten Dachs mit fuenf Paar Struempfen, zwei neuen Hemden, Unterhose und allerlei Liebesgaben aus der Heimat, alles hatte ich ein paar Tage vorher durch die Post erhalten. Ich habe nichts wiedergesehen. Auch von den Kameraden der Gruppe habe ich nichts mehr gehoert. 

End of transcription.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello , the continuation :

..nach dem Austritt aus dem Fort, dass es nicht immer moeglich ist den Befehl auszufuehren. Wir wurden durch schweres Granatfeuer auseinander gerissen und ich fand mich nach kurzer Zeit in finsterer Nacht im Trichtergelaende wieder, wobei mir jede Verbindung nach vorn und hinten verloren gegangen war. Wie ich spaeter erfuhr, hatte die Kompanie in diesem Augenblick schon schwere Verluste gehabt. Ich stolperte nun im Trichtergelaende herum und versuche mich an den aufsteigenden Leuchtraketen zu orientieren und hoere nach laengerer Zeit vor mir sprechen, ich horche, deutsche Laute und treffe auf die Stellung meiner Kompanie aber eines anderen Zuges. Da es zwecklos ist noch weiter herum zu suchen, bleibe ich bei der dort liegenden Gruppe, es ist nun schon hell geworden und da ich von dem Herumstolpern im Trichtergelaende muede geworden bin, mache ich es mir in einem Granatloch bequem. Den Tag ueber liegt schweres Feuer auf unserer Stellung. Eine Sicht nach vorne ist nicht moeglich, auch kann ich mich rechts und links nur durch Zuruf mit meinen Kameraden verstaendigen, da unsere Loecher einige Meter von einander entfernt sind. Laesst das Feuer etwas nach versuche ich zu schlafen. Auch das Essen wird nicht vergessen....

The last page later, this is harder than I thought even though the handwriting is very good.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Here is my reading. It will go slowly because of inability to really enlarge the script, at least for me.

 Meine Erinnerung an Verdun.

Am Morgen des 3.Juni wurden wir in Longuignon (??) ausgeladen und in Richtung Kronprinzenlager in Marsch gesetzt. Ich hatte das Glueck, meinen seit einem Jahre nicht gesehenen Bruder zu treffen. Am Nachmittag des 5. brachen wir in Richtung Ornes auf.Waren wir bis Ornes von der Art. verschont geblieben, so wurde dieses anders als wir ueber die Hoehe in die Brules Schlucht einstiegen. Wir mussten an unserer Art. vorbei und da die gerade im schwersten Kampfe mit der feindl. Art. war bekamen auch wir dann unseren Teil ab. In der Brules Schlucht dann kurzer Auenthalt und dann ging es den alten Verdunkaempfern bekannten Weg zum Fort Douaumont. War es uns auf dem Weg zum Fort schon unheimlich geworden so wurde dieses Gefuehl noch verstaerkt als wir im Fort ankamen. Die Gaenge und Kasematten sind ueberfuellt. Die Luft ist stickig und von Verbandsgeruechen erfuellt dazu das Droehnen der auf das Fort und der umliegenden Gegend liegenden schweren Einschlaege. Wir traten zum Ausgang ( ???) aus dem Fort wieder an und wurde der Befehl gegeben jeder fasst des Vordermanns Seitengewehr, doch hier zeigte es sich sofort...

I will continue soon.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

We should note that the EK document is signed by Hptm. Kirchheim, PlM and later during WW II Knightscross recipient. Made Gen.Lt. One of several Jg.Btl. 10 members who made outstanding military careers.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock.

I am always thinking of the poor gunners around the piece blowing up in their faces.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

One  sees the Gendarmerie at work during the TV clips which came with the news. There seem to be specialized mountain units.

Of course here in the states the idea of a national police force with the exception of the FBI is unthinkable.

The CRS ( Compagnies Republicaine de Securitee ) also come to mind, recruited from ex- military in the 1950/60' s and not much liked by certain people. Some of whom carry the MAS 4? semi-automatic rifle or a version thereof.

Perhaps you could also shed some light on the organization and function of this establishment.

I do not envy your deployment at this disaster site, which ever your responsibility.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

Tomorrow, April 8, 1945 is the anniversary of this Lancaster identified as NG440 and TL-C crash within the municipal boundaries of Rotenburg in the then so-called Waldstegen town area just off the main road leading to Hamburg.

I have long thought about my contradicting the location given by the son of the pilot, Squadron Leader Muller, Mr.Rod Muller which is based on official reports or statements and which can be found above together with other, additional information. I thank him for that. The crash site given as 5 miles north-west of Rotenburg must be incorrect because the German air force (  downed enemy aircraft listings) records in the summary indicate Rotenburg Waldstegen as the crash location and no other aircraft downed in the greater but local area. I can only think of a transcription error of some sort. The initial burial ground could well be the Rotenburg municipal cemetery because the  cemetery section then set aside for deceased allied personnel was and still is near a church even though no official records could be located in the town archives.

This post is meant to remind readers of the loss of practically the entire crew of this aircraft shortly before the end of hostilities in Europe. Reading about aircraft flying personnel from the opposing sides sheds some light on their accomplishments. The above is perhaps a little bit different and this writer certainly never expected an outcome such as this.

I thank Iain Webster for his most valuable contribution and the photos of the crew's final resting places. They flew together and now are still together. Iain Webster and Rod Muller  really put  human beings and their families into the blank spaces present in my first telling of an incident during the waning days of World War II now so many years ago.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Dave.

Yes, you did transcribe both correctly.

Bernhard H. Holst