Chip

The same back to you Greg and to all of our brother forumites. Chip

From the small portion of the photo that you have shown, one can only determine that it is indeed an officer wearing a Litewka, but that is about it. The collar button was standard on all Litewka of this patten. Chip

Charles, The name Kurhessen comes from the former Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (1803-1866), which Prussia annexed following the Austro-Prussian War to form part of the Province of Hesse-Nassau. From Wikipedia. Chip

Charles, If the unit was Kurhessen, then they would have worn Prussian insignia. Chip

Charles, Normally, they would change their boards, as this would be the only unit insignia that they would have worn. If an officer was transferred to another branch, especially during the war, he most likely would have continued to serve in the uniform of his previous unit. I know of one order which authorized officer's who were transferred out of cyphered grenadier regiments to continue to wear the cypher on the shoulder board with the new unit number superimposed. It made for a odd looking insignia, but it was done and I have an example in my collection. Regarding the state colored darts (Faden), I would think that would be a personal choice, influenced to a great degree by opportunity to get replacement articles. Chip

Thanks Rick.

I take it that "Crew" refers to a class, as in a graduation class? Chip

Charles, What size is the button you need? 18mm? Chip

Is that corrosion, a bad die or just a poor stamping? Also, is that paper backing it or is there a metal backing plate underneath? Chip

Wow Don, that's a new type that I have never seen before. Very nice! I suspect the initials are J.S.M or J.G.M. or J.G.N. Too hard to tell. I suppose we will not be able to match it up with the known Hersteller, because it is so different from anything else that we have seen. Is this one yours? Chip

I think you must have some knowledge of the dark arts to be able to read that!

One last question on this subject. Karl had two brothers who also served in the 4.G.G.R.. Robert von Barton Stedman (died 1884) and Franz Andreas von Barton Stedman (died 1938). Franz Andreas may have retired from the military in 1887. Any information available on either of these two brothers? Chip

OK, I didn't mean I could not see it at all, I just meant I could not make it out due to the faint and blurred writing. How about an enlargement of the first document's awardee section Chris?

Naxos, I agree with what Rick mioght be inferring....that this quite possibly might be a higher ranked officer's tunic. Regardless, you would never see this pattern of board (M15 for the Bluse) on a Dunkelblau tunic...well, at least not during the war. The insignia for this pattern board would have been subdued to match the gray subdued cords, but this pairing would happen occasionally. Dave got it right. What you need is a pair of the earlier pattern with a red underlay. The red/black came out in 1915. Even if this tunic continued to be worn for dress occasions until 1915, it would have had the old pattern or perhaps the new pattern with bright silver colored cords. Regarding the breast award possibilities, I will defer to the medal experts. Chip

Chris, You always find the good stuff! Thanks for the rest of the story.

I gave those documents my best squint and still could not see any middle name. Knowledge of it must come from some roll. Chip

Rick, Maybe I have misunderstood, but would not H?ne have been a native of Hannover, being born in Osnabr?ck? Chip

Any tailor's label inside the breast pocket? Chip

Don, Along with everything else on this latest attempt, the gray backing material is not right either. Chip

Richard, I do not think that Regal Uniforma Collector regularly visits this site anymore. I can perhaps answer your questions. First, the Tsar's shoulder boards are real. I have seen them in person and they are wonderful and could have belonged to no other person. Regarding the dragoon enlisted straps, it depends on what period you are talking about. A wartime example from this regiment would have had a shoulder strap in the same color as the tunic/Gymnastiorka with the regimental royal cypher in light blue (device color for dragoons). NCO status would have been indicated by the addition of horizontal or vertical stripes or a combination thereof. Chip

Gordon, It's a beautiful thing. I like the artwork and it has a interesting story as well. Congratulations. Chip

Chris, According to "200 Divisions.." the 407.IR was formed at the Altengrabow camp in October 1916 and became part of the 202.Division. As soon as it arrived in Russia, the 407.IR was sent to the 205.Division. It spent the rest of the war on the Eastern front. That makes it appear that the regiment was formed from recruits, but who knows about the NCO cadre and officers. Chip

Chris, It's the royal cypher of Ferdinand of Bulgaria, introduced in August of 1912. Chip

Rick, Where are they coming up with all of the mini devices for these bars? Are they being reproduced or has someone found a lost motherload of real ones? Chip

Chris, In the Prussian army, enlisted Train troops wore the Tschako until 1903, when they adopted the spiked helmet. The 1860 Tschako worn by the Landsturm was not that different than the normal Tschako... same basic shape, just taller. Chip