Chip

I guess they didn't even have their own unit stamp and so had to use that of the Inf.Leib Rgt.

It's the M1866 pattern for Hauptleute. In this case, it's a Prussian Leutnant, but without a unit number, I'm not sure what it could be. I believe these were worn up until 1888, when the patterns for these ranks (Leutnant, Oberleutnant, Hauptmann) that we are more familiar with began. Chip

Baschlik is the German spelling of Russian name for this type of headgear. It was normal winter issue for the Russian army. I have a Russian example. Hoss, Are you sure that is a WWI photo? Whatever he is wearing is nothing I have ever seen in WWI and it appears he is wearing it over a visored cap with stitching on the cloth brim. The Russians had no such cap in 1914 that I know of.

An interesting personal history. It seems he was in the hospital at least once each year and ended up in a factory in 1918 (I assume due to his inability to return to combat). Fought in many interesting places. A nice pass to a relatively small unit.

I like it. Where's the photo of the maker mark?

I really like these documents that mention the action that led to the awards. In a way, this is like an award document for 8 EKs. Very cool.

Andy, I'm glad you mentioned your source, as I did not know these new books were out and available. I still need to get the artillery volumes!

Cool item Brian. It must have cost a fortune to ship!

I find these shoulder boards interesting in that when he became a Hauptmann he had no battalion number. Would this be because he was some sort of unassigned officer or was this common for reserve officers? Normally, only Bavarian officers had this style "T" (until later in the war) with no number. He must have continued to use his pre-1911 (red Unterlage) shoulder boards even by 1914! By the time he becomes a Major he has the correct hellgrau color. I am also not familiar with the Roman numerals on such a board. Could this indicate a corps level association or is it just another way to show 2nd battalion? Chip

Thanks for the photos! I had thought that I had seen SA slouch hats. I just was not sure of the period. Thanks for clearing that up. Chip

Andy, Where was this Hill 1114 located? Ah, OK I found this report from the 12.Isonzo battle. "Der linke Flügel der Gruppe Stein greift nach Überrennung der vordersten Talstellung südwestlich Tolmein zusammen mit der Gruppe Berrer die feindliche Hauptstellung auf dem Kolovrat-Rücken an. Stürmende Infanterie klettert von der 160 m hohen Talsohle im feindlichen Feuer die steilen Hänge bis über 1000 m empor. Die Gipfel des Kolovrat bilden in dem stark befestigten Stellungsknoten bei Höhe 1114 den Schlüsselpunkt dieses ganzen Systems. Bereits am Nachmittag kann der Sturm gegen Punkt 1114 und das benachbarte Massiv des Haefnik angesetzt werden. Weiter südlich bricht die Stellung des Jeza-Blockes im Angriff der Gruppe Berrer zusammen. Unablässig drückt der Südflügel der Armee (Gruppe Scotti) über den Hrad Vrh gegen die Kette des Globocak vor. Eiserne Meißel hat General v. Below angesetzt gegen die Felsblöcke der Julischen Alpen. Teutonenkräfte bohren und schlagen, Löcher werden zu klaffenden Lücken. Wie eine eherne Maschine arbeitet die Armee an den Granitwällen der Berge, frißt sich tief hinein durch Hindernis und Beton. Sie arbeitet genau nach Überlegung und Plan."

Super pass! Many units, fronts, actions. Really interesting historical timeline. I found it particularly interesting that Gebirgs-Artillerie-Abteilung Nr.5 and Nr.6 shared the same Ersatz Abteilung. I think these units were a mixture of troops from Bavaria, Württemberg and Prussia.

Chris, Did some South African units wear them too?

Here is my 1928 dated Australian slouch hat, part of a complete uniform from a private Australian military museum in the 1980s.

Chris, Not the wrong ones at all. The Leibers had two gray uniforms prior to the war, One, the "Friedensgarniture" had the Litzen on collar and cuffs. The second, the "Kriegsgarniture" had no Litzen. This one appears to be a hybrid of the two, circa early 1915 to early 1916. It has the Kriegsgarniture cuffs with the simplified shoulder straps (no piping, no tongue) and the shortened collar Litzen. There were lots of uniform changes in throughout 1915 and early 1916, so I'm not surprised to see this mish-mash. As we have seen with the Bavarian (and I am sure with the other contingents) the shortages caused everything to be used. New items were added to uniforms when they came available. So, you would have an older stock tunic like this one getting the upgraded insignia when it was issued. Chip

Andy, #1- I'm pretty sure that is an Abzeichentuch collar (look at the smooth surface as compared to the body of the tunic. #2 - I know the Bavarians used the crown buttons on the Bluse, but that button is not a M15 button, but is rather a white metal example as would have been worn on the previous model Waffenröcke. I'm attaching a picture of a comparison of the two. These are the smaller, shoulder strap, hip pocket size buttons. The M15 has a larger crown that covers the button side to side, is painted feldgrau and has no raised rim. The M07 button is the opposite, that is, with smaller crown, with rim and in this case, most likely in white metal (pioneers). It's not regulation, but it is what it is.

You got it. Bavarian Telegraph Battalion.

Chris, It could be a three, but that doesn't make sense with this state cockade. If I saw the cockade by itself, I would say it was Baden, but that doesn't appear to be correct either. The cockade looks like an officer or Portepee NCO type, yet this fellow is not even a Gefreiter. If the strap truly only has the number "3", then the only other possibility I can think of is that he is Bavarian. But then, how to explain the crown shoulder button? Lots of questions with this one.

Robin, That barrel cuff us unusually shallow. I think the insignia is low because it is nearly the same height as the cuff. In order to keep it on the cuff, it had to be in that position.

Hello bolewts58, The Hubertus stag head is not a Jäger Kaiserabzeichen. They had the year of the award on the skull. They were also on a green backing wool (though this is easily changed). This one, I suggest, is a postwar version, worn variously by hunting associations, etc.

Chris, I have never seen one of these before either! Very nice indeed. Chip

Andy, Any idea what Sturmabteilung 27 was? A divisional detachment for the 27th Division? Chip

Andy, Well, it was certainly a lucky find and absolutely the best bargain of the year. Chip

Chris, It looks like the captions to the photos are inked originals. Do you think each booklet was hand captioned at the time it was presented, or did this owner do it himself or was this just a one-off booklet, that is, only one produced? Chip

Thanks Uwe, I could not get "Schwindel". It appeared to be two words that I could not make sense out of. I looked up the word Schwin and found nothing. Chip