Chip

Chris,

Is the document yours too? 

Hardy,

Where did our posts from yesterday go?! All of the posts on different threads that I made last evening are gone today? Wierd.

Eric,

Bavarian shoulder boards of the simplified M07 and M15 patterns were normally left unfinished at the bottom end (not sewn shut), as they were just going to be sewn into the shoulder seam. This was on issue tunics and was different from all other contingent's straps of these patterns, which were sewn on to the shoulder rather into it. It is confusing, in that private purchase straps are most often sewn into the seam.

I believe the tunics in the photos are issue ones that may have had the typical NCO collar alteration.

Chip

Eric,

That mark you asked about is Mecklenburg Jäger Bataillon No.14 (M.J.B.No.14). You had once asked me if I had any extra shirts and by the look of things, you didn't need any more! I don't think I have all of mine photographed. I may have some pictures of my Austrian issue set. They are similar, as you might expect, but have some very unique features.

Chip

It's amazing how much of Wilhelm II's stuff is showing up in private collections. I know he had tons of uniforms and not all of them would have ended up at Doorn, but where are these coming from? I have asked repeatedly if anyone knows if Doorn was thinning out the collection, perhaps to keep the museum open, but no one has revealed anything to this point. Perhaps the source is kept secret for good reason?

Chip

Well, he isn't in the casualty lists, so he must have survived the war.

Chip

Some examples from the Liebers. Simplified M07, M15, 1914 subdued, M15 Friedensuniform. 

Chip

A friend put up a stone mint one just a few weeks ago and didn't get any bites at a less than $900 starting price.

Andreas,

That makes more sense. I had thought that these badges were postwar, but now, I'm not so sure. I have three more of them and the other Bavarian foot troops example (K.B.13.I.R.) has the same Raupenhelm insignia. Thanks for putting more thought to it!

Chip

I suppose the price relates to the Demag stamp. These type daggers sell for less here. I just watched three beautiful condition stag grip knives sell for $100, $125 and $150. I'm sure the seller was disappointed.

Chip

Eric,

OK, yes the shirt is an issue one. I haven't looked at mine in so long I forgot how low down the placket went.

No Hosenträger and no socks. Not that I haven't been looking.....

Chip

Perhaps I was fooled by the shirt being tucked in. Does it unbutton all the way down or is it a pullover?

Chip

The badge/pin....

I'm sure you already have a copy of this photo, as it was widely distributed, but here is an autographed copy from my collection. It's from a photo album of a former member of Jasta 40, whose final commander was Carl Degelow. As far as I know he was the last person to ever win the military Pour le Merite.

Chip

Hello,

I have a post-WWI veteran's badge that has a unit bar on "K.B.4.Jäger Bat.". My question is, what is this unit? I am only aware of two wartime Bavarian Jäger battalions, so could this be referring to the 4th battalion of Jäger Regiment Nr.3, which was Bavarian?

I would have thought that they would have used, "Jäg.Rgt.3" or something like "K.B.IV/3.J.R."

Chip

mchapman,

Personally, I'd wait for a better condition example. Depending on what condition you are looking for, of course.

Eric,

When I mentioned inscriptions, I didn't mean anything postwar. Like you, the export examples don't interest me.

Chip

Eric,

Nice display. Is that a private purchase shirt? It's not the normal issue style, i.e. a pull-over.

Chip

There are plenty of the common varieties around. Prices vary widely, but in general, you can still get a decent one for $150 or less. Some models sell for hundreds, but they are the scarcer types. Logos, inscriptions and unit marks naturally bring the higher prices.

Chip

Hardy,

I'll have to check, but normally, the battery was attached to the Sturm-Batl.Nr.1.

Chip

Hardy,

Thanks for the photo of the Krupp gun. I have the wartime history of the bayr.I.G.Batterie Nr.2 and they did not get these guns until the summer of 1917. Before that, they had captured Russian guns. There is a picture of the gun in the book along with it's limber, but it is a side view and not as clear as yours.

The same photo of the destroyed British gun appears in the book. The caption reads, "Gesprengtes englisches Geschütz bei Cormicy 1918".

Chip

Hello,

I'm showing here the reverse side of three M15 shoulder straps from three different units (two are Krankenträger). Each has a similar loop configuration, which I can only guess is to keep something attached to the shoulder strap. I suppose it was added for the extra weight of the Labeflasche or perhaps might keep the stretcher carrying strap from slipping off the shoulder. What interests me, is why would you do this if the shoulder strap itself would keep things from sliding off of the shoulder? Also, the configuration with the split in the middle also has me stumped. Additional ideas are welcome.

Chip

My friend, you wouldn't surprise me if you had a fitting shoulder strap in your collection.

You should remain unsurprised....

My favorite regiment, Jäger Regt.3, had some serious casualties in the summer of 1916 at Verdun. Many were lost in June storming the J-Werkes and later in the fall at Fort Souville.

Chip

Don,

I like it too.

Eric,

Most enlisted man's "presentation" type swords are for decoration and not meant for combat. I have seen a few that were originally issue pieces that were later etched/engraved with the soldier's unit information, but that is just a handful compared to the private purchase examples. There were a number of what I will call, combat swords, that would have been carried by enlisted men and NCOs. I could list them if you are interested or I could post a page out of "Das Deutsche Heer" that shows most of them.

Chip