dwmosher

westfront Very nice! Are there any "specialized interest or interests" that you are going to focus on? (i.e. officer stuff, trench items, feldgrau, french stuff, medals, swords etc.) Regards Dave

Hey Gents: Thanks for your kind comments. Alex: I'm with you...I'm not sure what the distinction was for swords vs w/o swords for these awards. I would presume that this gentleman was truly an administrator (Chief of Supply) so maybe he didn't warrant swords. Perhaps some of the imperial awards gurus can shed some light on this. Here is picture of Galhnbeck's parade tunic as a colonel of the 2nd Frontier Guard Cavalry. I believe this is the same tunic shown in the cabinet photo above. This tunic is in the collection of Mr. Brad LeMay.

And last, Galhnbeck's kitel and pagoni. The boards are that of a full colonel with the 2nd Polk of the Frontier Guard Cavalry. The garrison badge, although not his, would be proper for the tunic. Again, although original, the medal bar and visor cap are not Galhnbecks. The tunic is made of a fine melton wool and the interior is almost mint in condition. Note the pointed "Polish cuffs" which were used on the kitel of mounted units.

Here is Galhnbeck's firiskya for senior officers (lt. colonel and colonel). Lace on the top

A postcard-size picture of Galhnbeck ?going native?, presumably before the war. A postcard-size picture of a much older-looking Galhnbeck with I would presume, some young ex-pats

Galhnbeck as a full colonel with his family in Manchuria in 1915. Note the St. Anne 2 at his throat. The family man...

A large picture of Galhnbeck on horse (pony) in Manchuria. A close-up

Still as a lt. colonel, Galhnbeck is attending a staff training course. The picture is approximately 12?x18?, is dated October 10,1910, and all of the attendee?s names and units are written on the back. Note that he is wearing a St. Anne 2 w/o swords on his service tunic. A close-up

Galhnbeck as a lt. colonel with a St. Stan 2 w/o swords, a St. Anne 3 w/o swords, Alex III and a Russo-Japanese medal. Writing on the back is translated to: Lt. Colonel Chief of Supply Territorial Administration of the Zaamurski Region Corps of Border Detachment Adolf Edwardich Galhnbeck September 3rd, 1910

Galhnbeck as a captain with a St. Stan 3 w/o swords and an Alexander III commemeration medal dated 1881-1894

Colonel Adolf Edwardich Galhnbeck of the Frontier Guard Cavalry was stationed in Harbin, Manchuria prior to and during the initial stages of the war. At some point in 1915, he was transferred to the Polish front and subsequently was promoted to general. Following to the Tsar?s abdication, the army collapsed and he was forced to disguise himself as a cobbler to make his way back to his family in Manchuria, and then to emigrate to Southern California, during the revolution. In 1923, he contacted the Red Cross in Harbin to have his family?s personal belongings hidden in the basement of a church, shipped to the US. Several of the family?s personal belongings (including several uniforms, medals, swords and his wife?s wedding dress) were sold at the Butterfield auction by the general?s daughter in early 1998. Later, in September 1998, I attended the OVMS Drawbridge Show and one of the Russian dealers had a service tunic (kitel) and a senior officer fur cap (firiskya) for sale. Based on funds, I was only able to purchase the tunic. The dealer showed me the auction catalog, along with some information on the initial owner of the tunic. Fast forward about five years later, I visit a militaria shop in Covington, KY and I see the fir cap, along with all of the military photos for Galhnbeck that had also been sold in the Butterfield auction. It took another year to finally come up with a trade/cash deal in order to reunite these items. Here is the fruit of my labor?

Daniel Does this look familiar? I picked this up from Manions of all places back in the early 1990s. The devices had been removed, but it looked like an interesting bar!! There are holes for devices on the second and sixth awards. I would presume the device for the iron crown order was a wreath... Regards Dave

So the long bar belonged to the biggest Bullsh@ter in the whole Wurttemberg army!! I don't if this makes it clearer or not, but here is a closer shot of the Bavarian bar. The crown and sword device are a single piece, but appears that they were separate pieces which have been attached together. Also, the device may have been gilded and has worn off (look between the crown and swords). I'm not sure how the two pieces were initially attached, so perhaps its not gilding but braizing??? Dave

Chip: Based on the size and shape (no pebbling or outer rim) of the buttons, I think they would be for either overcoat buttons or used as rear belt ramps on the bluse. Here is a standard M-15 "Prussian" belt ramp and button/shoulder strap button for comparison. As far as buttons for tropical tunics other than marine infantry and colonial troops, I would think that regular Prussian or Bavarian buttons would be utilized? What is your take? Dave

Most know that the reich's crown was used on buttons for pre-war and M-1907/10 feldgrau uniforms for colonial troops and marine infantry. However, I had never seen reich's crown buttons for M-1915 bluses and overcoats until recently, when I found a couple of these larger-sized elisted man's buttons (approx. 23 mm in diam). Regards Dave back

Here are a few ribbon combinations for discussion that seem a bit odd to me. From top l to r: 1) EK2, Hamburg Cross, ? 2) Bavarian MVO 4th w/ crown and swords, EK2, Bulgarian Balkan Wars Commemorative Medal 1912-13?? 3) EK2, Saxe-Meiningen War Merit Cross, Hindenburg w/ swords, ? 4) Russian St. Stan??, Prussian long service, centennial medal 5) EK2, Wurtt. gold or silver Military Merit Medal, Nazi Merit Cross 2nd Cross, a cornicopia of vet ribbons Regards Dave backs

Robert: It may seem a little confusing, but the "sergent rank and above" tresse was used for imperial tunics and an additional state trim (Borte) was used on Bavarian tunics (officer and other ranks) starting in mid-1916. The rank tresse was in silver or gild tape on the pre-war and early M1907 tunics. Later, for field tunics, this tresse was changed to a muted gray tape and was often shortened into a "L" shaped piece on the leading edge and portions of the bottom edge of the collar (not all the way around the bottom of the collar). In your latest family picture (with the boy) I can't tell whether the bottom lace on the NCO is the Bavarian Borte or its NCO rank tresse. From the appearace of the size of the rank button on the collar, I would presume it is the Bavarian Borte and his rank is that of a gefreiter, which would not wear the rank tresse. In regards to the officer, he was wearing the Bavarian M-1916 bluse in the first picture, the Bavarian M-1916 kleinerrock in the second picture and the M-1910 officer's waffenrock in the last picture. Dave

Another interesting fashion statement is the heightened collar of the younger brother sporting 1916 bavarian borte on his M-1907 waffenrock.

Chip I stick by my original observation. There are a few similar areas to look at, but most noticeably the wrinkles and shading of the bottom hem in both pics. Also, the location of the top of the rolled cuffs stay the same in relation to the hip pockets in both pics. For the lad, the bottom of the sleeve was rolled under for his shorter arms. Even if you discount the tunic being the same, the visor cap and the bayonet and knot are the same. Dave

Robert I think the older lad was actually a soldier, and for whatever reason has provided his tunic, cap, belt and bayonet to the youngster (possibly a younger brother) for a photo op. I think the rolled up cuffs and lighter bars on the collar of the younger lad are added at the time of the photo. As stated before, no national cockade and no shoulder straps would seem to date the picture to 1919. The shared belt has a Prussian buckle, so perhaps they were from either Baden or the city of Bremen, based on the cockade. As an aside, the bayonet hilt seems to sit too high for the frog and the troddel is attached improperly. Dave

Daniel Although this chap could very well be a train officer (Rittmeister), you reversed your piping combination: Blue would be on the collar and cuffs; red on the front flap and rear scallops. Prussian artillery officers used the P-guard while this basket hilt sword pattern was used for Bavarian artillery, train and veterinarian officers. As previously stated, the lack of a reservist cross on the lower cockade is the problematic issue for identifying him as a reserve artillery officer. BTW the Bavarian FAR 1 (Prince Regent Luitpold) was also garrisoned in Munich. Dave

Robert Based on the curved sabre and basket shape of the sword, your Bavarian officer was either in the artillery, train or perhaps a veterinarian. Looking at the dark colors of the piping on the tunic and cap, I would presume he was artillery. With the numeral 1 on his boards vs the cypher for FAR 1, I would also presume he was a reservist. The muted cording on the boards indicate the picture was taken post 1915. Dave

I'm with you Chip. An Oberjager with a Hirschfanger. The shooting awards shown were authorized for infantry, jagers and schutzen; not artillery. Additionally, although artillery officers and unteroffizier mit portepee were allowed to use the lion head sword, this chap is using an Oberjager troddel and does not have the senior NCO rank button on the collar. Also, I don't see where a hilt goes into the eagle (or lion...) head to make it a sword.

Paul The second line indicates his rank as a Vizewachtmeister (equivilent to a Vizefeldwebel in the infantry) which would be correct for the field artillery. Other than the three abreviated letters most likely indicating some kind of artillery unit (Art.) on the fourth line, I haven't got a clue. Dave

Paul Post 16 is a little more problematic. Your picture shows at least a Sergeant (collar tresse and rank button) but more likely a Vizefeldwebel, based on the writing on the back of the photo, who had been awarded an EK2. Now, with the dark shoulder straps and light insignia could be many types of units (dragoon, train, some ulans, etc) but with your info you provided, I would presume the straps were red with yellow insignia and he was with the field artillery. It also appears that the insignia is for one of the few cyphered field artillery regiments... Dave