Mike Dwyer

According to the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry and a few other web sites I located, the Tiroler Adelsmatrikel is an association of Tirolean nobles that has been in existance since the late 1300's and still exists today.

Chip, You know a lot more about this than I do, so I don't make any claim to being necessarily correct. I agree with you about the one Litzen with NCO collar lace. On the uniform collar peeking out of the greatcoat, I don't see any NCO lace at all, but perhaps I'm missing it, it just looks like plain collar fabric to me.

You're absolutely correct! I was stuck on the train troops track (no pun intended) though, I wasn't thinking about the Kragenpatten colors. Sorry. If it is train, then the buttons should be tombak.

I'm no expert, but he may be onto something. If he was a Garde Dragoon he'd have double litzen on his collar and I would think it would come up high enough that you'd see them, and you can't see any litzen on the little bit of collar that's peeking out of his greatcoat. The Preu?en Landgendarmerie did wear the Garde star on their helmets, so he could be one of them because a single litzen wouldn't show in the photo because it's down more towards the middle of the collar and is hidden by the greatcoat collar, plus he only has a single litzen on his greatcoat too.

In his first posting Chip mentioned the buttons should be tombak, which are kind of a brass/copper color.

I bought a CD of the 1914 German Ranklist from Paul Chepurko. He has several that he sells. I thought they were listed somewhere here on GMIC but all I could find was some from WW2. His e-mail is ranglisteoncd@optonline.net he can tell you what he has available and the prices.

Bob, That would be Infanterie-Regiment Alt-W?rttemberg (3. W?rttembergisches) Nr.121, raised in 1716 and based in Ludwigsburg.

I can't help at all with the 1870's fellow, but there is a Captain von Schramm listed in the 1914 Ranklist. He was in Feld-Artillerie-Regiment von Puecker (1. Schlesisches) Nr.6 based in Breslau.

As always, Sandro, you have some of the most beautiful items!

Kev, Unfortunately for that period in history you would be correct. I don't know about the UDC but the SCV does have black members who are descendants of black Confederate soldiers. There aren't many, but they do exist. Today, at least as far as the SCV goes, there would be no such racial distinction and the award could be given to any qualifying person.

Chris, The UDC http://www.hqudc.org/ is a patriotic historical group of women that honors the memory of those who fought in defense of their Southern homeland during the War Between the States (called by some the Civil War, although it wasn't). Membership is open to women no less than 16 years of age who are blood descendants, lineal or collateral, of men and women who served honorably in the Army, Navy or Civil Service of the Confederate States of America, or gave material aid to the cause. There is also a counterpart organization for males, the Sons of Confederate Veterans (of which I am a member). There are also organizations for the descendants of Union veterans too. Both the UDC and the SCV issue commemorative medals to persons who are currently serving in the US military.

Sorry, Naxos, you're right but I never got past the medal, I wasn't even looking at the ribbon!

Actually I was looking for the propeller on top!

You know they almost pull it off.....the cross, the W and the 1870 don't look that horrible, and then.............you come to that thing at the top (I hesitate to call it a crown!!!)

Wow! I wasn't wrong afterall!!!!

I am probably totally wrong, but that doesn't look like any US Army patch I've ever seen, medical or otherwise. By it's construction it looks more to me like the type of patches the US Air Force wears on the chest pockets of their fatigues.

Could this possibly be post-empire and no use for any imperial helmets anymore?

Unfortunately, the army ranklists don't list first names or any other information. Perhaps Glenn J or someone that can always find out a person's entire life history can add more.

The only thing I can add is there is only one Nobach listed in the 1914 Prussian army ranklist. He is a Hauptmann d. Reserve in Gro?herzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr.89.

I was thinking in the same area as Kev and Wild Card. I believe that isn't a ladies bow, it appears to be a regular lapel ribbon bow that would be worn by a man on the lapel of his suit coat.

Not of any real help, Rick, but I ran a Google inquiry on the regiment and I found a website, in German, that just appears to be a looonnngggg list of German army units from WW1 (no informative text, just a list) and it has Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 98 on the list. No other info though.

Robert, I'm not anywhere near being an expert, so there are many others more qualified than I to speak on the matter, but I do not agree with you that he is Navy. If he was Navy his hat would only have the Reichskokarde, the Navy did not wear a state kokarde. He is an Offizierstellvertreter.

Glenn, A little but I find it interesting that his mother's birth name is the same as her married name!

That's Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich (1856-1929), a first cousin of Czar Nicholas II. He was commander in chief of the Russian armies on the main front line during the first year of the war and was later commander of Russian forces in the Caucusus. He was very, very tall and towered over the Czar.

It's most definitely an 87.