Chip

Rick, You mentioned having some records of wounded fliers? I guess I did not know that such a list existed. I have the photos of one Unteroff. Werner Hertel from Jasta 40. He came to the unit in the spring of 1918 and was never credited with any victories, though he flew with Carl Degelow (last winner of the PlM), Willy Rosenstein and some other notable pilots. Evidently, some time in mid to late 1918, he was wounded as evidenced by a black wound badge he is suddenly wearing in the photos. Could this just be an acknowledgement of an earlier wound or do the records show him having been wounded while flying? Just curious. Thanks, Chip

Thanks Rick and Glenn, I have sent them an e-mail and will let you know if I get a reply. By the way, a bronze Tapferkeitmedaille did come with the document, but who knows if it was the medal given to the soldier. One good sign is that the back of the trifold ribbon has had a safety pin sewn on. I would think if this medal would have been worn by an Austrian, there would have been no need for that. Also, the ribbon does not have the usual hook and eyelet. the folded ribbon is sewn together and the medal is suspended from the bottom, having been sewn on with red and white thread so it would "sort of" match the ribbon colors. All is very crudely done and the ribbon is much faded and worn. Best regards, Chip

Here is an interesting little Austrian Legitimation (actual size 2.5cm X 10cm) for the bronze bravery medal to a German Unteroffizier in one of the MG companies of the Pascha force. I had not realized that the Germans were getting medals not only from the Turks, but the Austrians as well. Chip

Marcin, Nice document. Compared to the other hand applied ink on the page, the v.Hoeppner signature looks like it might be printed. There is no age fading as there is with the penned ink. I like the winged dagger motif. I have the photo album of a Saxon NCO pilot, who had virtually the same insignia painted on the fuselage of his plane. There is a picture of it in Greg VanWyngarden's new Osprey book, "Pfalz Scout Aces of World War I". Chip

David, Interest noted. I knew I was setting myself up for a "smart" answer when I asked that question. Looks like an archival folder in a room with humidity control is the best answer. Chip

Rick, Arrived yesterday. With it came with a smaller Verordnung sheet, dated 25, July 1902. Chip By the way, what is the optimum way to store these?

And here's my little contribution, previously posted in another thread. Chip

For what it's worth (coming from the "German Forces in the Field, Oct. 1917"), the 302.Division is shown with the Garde J?ger Batl. (two cyclist companies) attached. Chip

Gordon, Thanks for that information. I like your display. I collect navy sleeve rates, but have never owned a loose cap tally (I have two that are on caps). I can't remember what the silver thread means as opposed to the gold. Does it have the same meaning as the silver vs gilt buttons on the Affenjacke? Chip

Vince, Maybe we could find something if you blew the picture up about 400%! Too small for my old eyes. Chip

Naxos, I checked to see if this could have been an artillery unit and I can find no artillery formations or munitions columns that carried this number or any number in the 450's. The 236. Division was not formed until December of 1916, well after the 1915 clothing regulations took effect, so if these are from the infantry regiment, the underlay should be white. Perhaps the officer was seconded from some other type of unit and just added the regimental numbers. From the haphazard look of the numbers, it would not be too surprising that they didn't bother finding some new boards. Chip

I have wanted one of these for years, but the glass and frame thing has dissuaded me. It's the period artwork more than anything that is so attactive. I love the art nouveau and realistic styles of the pre-1920s. Chip

Jens, Unfortunately, I have not seen enough of this type of equipment to know who this maker is. I am more familiar with the names of the firms that manufactured the standard army telephone equipment. Chip

Marcin, Given the dates, I would assume it was made in 1915. It looks great to me. Chip

Rick, So the rolls show assigned numbers, but no dates? I know that Beverloo was a big (closer to the front) training camp for German troops. I even have one of the special shoulder straps that they wore. Do you know if these troops just acted as replacements for units in the field or if they went into the field as a new unit? I'm just trying to understand why someone who apparently has a training job would get this combat award. I suppose there are all sorts of possibilities. Chip

Rick, Don't have the doument yet, but it is dated 17.1.18, to Unteroff.Heinrich Gebauer from Infanterie Ersatz Gruppe "Beverloo". Chip

This is a bit off subject, but an interesting tidbit. The 46.RIR was the only reserve regiment that I know of that unofficially added an "R" to their shoulder straps to differentiate themselves from the line regiment. Here are two M1915 examples. One has just had the "R" added, while the other was made with non-regulation hand stitching for both the 46 and the "R". Chip

Rick, I did not know that you were a subscriber/contributor back then. The last printer's name was Jerry Daub from New Jersey. He owes you, me and a lot of other people. I still have my membership card and my certificate of merit (both of which they made me design). I have to laugh today when I look at some of the artwork, complete with mistakes that I made. It is understandable, however, as I did not seriously start collecting imperial German items until 1974. Chip

Eduardo, I still can't tell you much. He is most likely a mounted artilleryman or supply soldier (Train), thus the tall boots. The collar and cuff braid identify him as most likely being an NCO. Interesting in that it appears that the horse does not have a saddle on. Chip

Eduardo, There is no unit information on the back of the card. An enlarged picture would be needed for any hope of an identification. Chip

dond, How many makers do you currently have? I contributed mine to the thread you started on the WA website. Chip

I have not seen any individual field gear marked in this way, but I have seen vehicles with this type of marking. Chip

Guys, Just from what I have seen, the M07 and M93 canteens came with a felt cover. Changes did not start being made until the shortages of early 1915. It was during this time that they started making the M07 screw cap canteen out of steel instead of aluminum. By late 1915 the pattern of issue had changed back to a variation of the M93 with the cork stopper, the so-called M1915. They were made first from tinned steel and then from enameled steel. Various materials were used to cover these canteens, as well as some of the other patterns (the medic's Labeflasche, for instance). I have seen wool, cotton canvas, papercloth and corduroy covers. Chip

Eduardo, You are correct. There is not much to go on from the photo. The soldiers are all wearing their Drillich jackets over their tunics, so no information can be gotten from that source. An Armierungs Batl. was a labor battalion. Their nickname was "Schipper", because they dug trenches and did other such work. Chip

Robert, That's a Gardestern in the center with a black eagle in the middle. Chip