Chip

According to Pietsch's "Formations- und Uniformierungsgeschichte des Preu?ischen Heeres 1808 bis 1914", 1890 was the year of the introduction of the steel lance, but the AKO for the arming of the entire cavalry with the lance was dated June 2, 1889. I also cannot think of any insignia that was given out for proficiency with a sword. Chip

The shoulder strap in the photo is interesting, as this unpiped pattern with the tongue of the M07 is seldom seen. It was only in use (technically) from January 1915 until September of the same year. Normally, they were sewn into the shoulder, so I suspect this photo could be from very early in the year. Chip

Jens, Can it mean that they were shelled with 350 rounds? Chip

Jack, Unless your relative was an officer, it will be almost impossible to find out anything about him in regard to his military service. You will probably have more luck doing normal genealogical research. Perhaps there is information on wartime German prisoners in some Australian archive? Chip

Heiko, I have seen some of your Spange groupings and I suppose that you know as much or more about these as anyone on this forum. Perhaps you can help me with these. The top one is an example from the "Flandernkreuz". When the bars are enlarged to this size, you can see that rather than the crosshatched background of the Luftkrieg bar, the rest have dots (gekornt?). Any ideas as to what medals these belong with or is it anybody's guess? Thanks, Chip

Tom, I think this "BL" board has been discussed before. I think it was a Saxon doctor's board that was hijacked and used for some non-military purpose (Sch?tzenverein, etc.). Chip

Bob, The Patronentasche is the normal M09 that most troops would have worn. You are correct about the pioneers wearing a different style. It was the kidney shaped, so-called M87/88, which had been updated to hold two clips of ammo. The old square M88 and M95 pouches were mostly religated to reserve units during the war. The soldiers in the photo are not pioneers. Cuffs are the wrong style and I think the cap bands are too light to be the black band pioneers wore. Chip

Some time ago, I got a small grouping of bars from Germany. I had assumed that they were all bars from this medal, because the style was the same and all have the pebbled background to the words. Could someone please tell me then, what medal the Frankreich, Westfront and Champagne bars go with? Thanks, Chip

Hello, The bar Hardy has shown is not from the Flandern Kreuz, but some other interwar medal. There is a list of possible bars for this medal. I thought I saw it here at one time. I know there was a Luftkrieg and a Seekrieg bar. Also, Antwerpen, Durchbruchschlacht, Yser, Westfront, Frankreich, Flandernschlacht, Somme, Champagne, Ypern. Perhaps others. Chip

Bob, There were no black pioneer straps until 1915. The pioneers went to war with gray, red piped straps. Chip

All I can tell is that he is a Saxon NCO mit Portepee. Can you get that black stuff off of the cypher? It must be one of the infantry cyphers. They had four with crowns. Chip

Wouldn't the 21st have taken a Baden state cockade? Chip

Yes, that's silver content. Don't worry about not having seen this on before. There is a never ending list of them, encompassing everything from military related to the bowling club. I have a few regimental examples, but one could make a whole career collecting them. Chip

Daniel, It's F?silier Regiment 73. Sorry Hardy, I can't make it out. Chip

Nice clear photos Hardy. I don't think I have ever seen the additional items from the photographer before. It's a interesting grouping. Chip

It looks like it might have a hallmark on the back.

Joel, It appears you identification is correct then. This style of cap was very popular, especially with mounted troops, for walking out dress purposes. Chip

Joel, Congratulations for taking the plunge! I personally find varied collections more interesting than one dimensional ones. The newspaper is more of a "sizer" than a stiffener. It's a cheap way of adjusting the fit. Is the body of the cap power blue or gray? It is hard to tell from the pictures. This is a typical privately purchased cap. There were no issue caps that had this "Teller" (dinner plate) style. Chip

Bavarian Assistenz-Arzt

Leutnant, Bavarian Eisenbahn Battalion

Bavarian Landsturmpflichtige Arzt 1917

Bavarian Feuerwerks-Hauptmann

Leutnant, Bavarian Minenwerfer Company, M16 (for Kleiner Rock and Friedensuniform)

Leutnant, 7.b.F.A.R. Horn, M16

Oberleutnant, 10.b.I.R. K?nig, M16