Chip

Well, "MW" wasn't part of the official insignia for helmet covers. Many covers were marked with paint and other materials. That's a cool photo.

Hello Kammi, Welcome to the forum. Yes, the centennial medal is a nice one. Originally, it would have been suspended from another ring and a ribbon with a pin for attaching to clothing. MfG, Chip

Bingo!

It kinda looks like a Draeger Selbstretter.

Chris, Some units just pulled off the numbers when the orders came out to remove them, others just covered them up, perhaps thinking that the war would be short and they could just take the patch off. Anyway, it was not all that uncommon to see. Colonel J's site has had some photo examples posted for quite a while.

The shoulder strap in the first picture is a M15 Kraftfahrer enlisted example. No idea why they would be wearing Tschakos. There were Kraftfahr troops assigned to various units, but they normally wore their branch clothing and not that of the unit they served. Chip

Chris, No, they are not Leibers. None have collar Litzen. The crown is that of Inf.Rgt.53. Could you post some close-ups just so I can confirm? Chip

Chris, I would very much like to see the other state examples when you have time to post them. Chip

Given that the Bluse is being worn, the photo would have to be of 1916 vintage or later. Chip

It looks like he worked in an officer's Kasino, perhaps as an enlisted waiter? I can't make out the white handwriting on the second photo. The third photo looks like field training (2.Corporalschaft, 5.Komp., I.R,165). Chip

Hello Stefan, Thanks for showing your photos. My grandfather was in WWI and I only have two pictures of him during the war. You are very fortunate to have this many. Regards, Chip

Andy, I wasn't questioning that the piping was correct for a M1907, but rather that it looked narrow, like a M15, which would have had white piping. As said, it's probably just the angle that makes it look that way and therefore, everything is OK. Chip

This soldier looks quite young and so I was wondering how he could have been in this division in 1915. The shoulder strap is interesting too. It looks to be the width of a M1915 (4,5cm) but it has piping and it appears to be sewn into the shoulder seam. Perhaps it is just the angle and it is actually the width of a M1907 (5,5cm) and perhaps they are removable straps. That would be the logical explanation. Chip

Andy, This last photo has probably been discussed before, but did we ever get an answer as to what this collar button is? Is there a date on this photo? Thanks, Chip

Too tough for me. I can't really see any of the suggested possibilities.

Mannschaft, Soldat. Basic soldier. The shoulder strap is not clear enough to determine the unit.

Looks like he is a carnival goer.

The collar insignia reminds me more of the later Sonderführer collar tabs. The shoulder cords should identify this as some sort of postwar official. Chip

I don't think it is a military cap. It should at least have an extra ring of piping around the bottom of the band. It must be for some official. Perhaps someone else can give you a better explanation.

Very nice....and that Winkerabzeichen would be on graugrün cloth. Love to find one of those.

Absolutely a wonderful shot of this type of Tschako. I saw it on the Ebay.de and copied it immediately. Chip

So, now you know the unit! I have a M07 example from the other cyphered regiment, the b.FAR.7, but only a M15 of the b.FAR.1. Chip

Thanks Glenn. I thought that might be the case, like their NCO bayonet knots, but I have never seen the Borte, so I wasn't sure what it would look like. Chip

It looks like it might be watercolor paint.

It's impossible to say, based on the photo. The other guy could be a Jäger or a Luftschiffer or a Telegraph man. All had units with a "1". Bavarian Jäger used company style bayonet knots, so that is no help.