Chip

That's a nice 37mm Maxim. I'm always intrigued by those large rounds in a cloth feed belt. Chip

He's everywhere, he's everywhere!

I've only seen one from the regiment in the flesh and it was the very late Bluse with the collar patches, metal "S's" and Bavarian blue/white Rautenborte. Still, very cool. Photos of regimental members in Blusen are quite scarce. Chip

Depends on what your jacket is. Do we know for sure yet? By the way, what is "bog standard"? Chip

Chris, Supposedly, before the enlisted visored caps were authorized in 1915, these were worn on the Feldmütze as Unteroffizier Kokarden. I doubt the veracity of that. I have a mint Hessian cap that was issued with a sewn-on national cockade and a split brad Hessian version. I think as the sewn-on ones got pulled off, the split brad ones were just easier to replace (no sewing required). Also, I think that caps that show up in collector's hands without cockades often just get the split brad type as replacements, as they are easier to find and attach. Getting the correct old thread (thickness and no glow cotton) is also no easy task. Chip

Joe, That's a super looking tunic. I have a similar Bavarian issue FAR tunic dated 1915. It too looks like it was never worn. Too bad I didn't know you had this tunic. I just recently sold a pioneer Mütze marked to B.A.II to Advanced Guard Militaria.

Chris, Have you considered that this might not be an infantry tunic? In examining your photos, the shoulder boards do not seem to match the condition of the tunic. One has moth holes and the other appears to have a staining of the Unterlage. This also might explain why they were sewn in rather than just buttoned on using the loops. I believe that Beamten wore red piped Swedish cuffs. Anyway, something to think about. I don't think these cuffs are connected to the adoption of red piped barrel cuffs on the Bavarian Bluse. The cuffs shown are not barrel cuffs, but rather normal sized Swedish cuffs with buttons. Chip

This is one reason why I am not a fan of officer's and private purchase NCO's tunics. During the war there was a lot of liberty taken with the regulations, especially in the area of hybrid mixes of M10 and M15/16 tunic features. Chip

Hoss, Just so you won't feel alone, I'll agree with you. :)

Chris, Please send it to me and I will investigate to see if there are any hidden Beamtenwappen. :)

Chris, I saw those two and tipped off a friend in Poland that collects items from PB.2. Yours was already sold, but he got the other one. Chip

Chris, That said, I don't think that lessens York's achievements on that day. If the German unit's sentiment at that time turns you off, I'd be happy to have that document! :)

Just to add a little tactile something to the thread, here is an M07 "pair" from the R.I.R.202.

I can't see the backs of them, but I think they may be Fußschoner. They were pretty commonly issued in the Saxon army. They tightened around the ankle to keep the foot from sliding too much in the boot (thus helping to prevent blisters) and they also helped to keep the boot on when one was in muddy conditions where the suction might tend to pull the boot off. Chip

Too many Otto's for a Rangliste to be of any help. :(

I'd have to agree with you in this case. Chip

Hardy, Thanks for looking that up. He sure does look like a kid in the photo. Yes, that abbreviation has been a mystery to me. Not only that, however, as I have not been able to find out anything about the unit mentioned either. The date on the card is only four months after his induction. Chip

I think there were such Saxon artillery cards.

Bavarian artillerist. Chip

My 79er.

Printers did make spelling mistakes and in at least one case I know of, reprinted the card with the correct letter superimposed over the wrong one. Another thing I have noticed is that the death dates in the unit Ehrentafeln often do not match those on the Sterbebilder. In just one regiment alone, I have run into this situation about once in every ten cards. Usually, they are only a day apart, but it certainly makes you wonder who is getting the information wrong, the family or the unit. Chip

The simple answer to that problem is to get some friends in Europe! I exchange favors with many European bidders, who can't get American sellers to ship to Europe. It's a bit of an imposition, but you know you can ask the same of the other person. Chip

I haven't been able to use the emoticons or anything else on the tool bar for months. I tried to figure out how to turn it back on to no avail. Chip

Nice original Gaede signature.

I have this one too. This is for volunteer medical aides. These are the guys that transport and attended the wounded once they are removed from the field first aid stations. They are not in the military. Chip