IrishGunner

Of course, Oktoberfest was not held during the years 1914-1918 because of the War. However, I'm sure Hofbrauhaus was still open! Here's a post card showing Kgl. Hofbrauhaus Kneiphof during the period. On the right, you'll see a Musikanter in uniform. Unfortunately, the card is not dated or posted.

Since we're in the middle of Oktoberfest, I thought I'd post some München related items... First up... A soldier of the Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Leibregiment. This card was posted from München in June 1917.

I'll toss this one in here for fun... I think the shells are for the 6 inch howitzer. Too difficult to tell what medal the old guy is wearing...

Larry, I'll try again, but that seems to be the best I could get at the time.

A couple of Ordnance BL 9.2-inch howitzers...I believe Mark I models (Mk II had a longer barrel). The 9.2 inch howitzer was the primary weapon of the Royal Garrison Artillery Siege Batteries and often were used for counter-battery fire. These two pieces are on German post cards as they were captured.

Here's the Gun Badge discussed above with the chevrons of a Sergeant... Anyone have a guess as the shoulder tab? All the gunners in the photo appear to have it on their uniforms. (PS: Posted this in the Guns thread also reference the weapon.)

Used more in combat during the Second Boer War, this is a Ordnance BL 15 pounder field gun. I don't believe these ever saw action in France. This one appears as being used for training at a barracks in Britain. In this case, "15 pounder" refers to the weight of the shell being fired... Kitchener's Army was the "New Army" recruited immediately after the outbreak of the First World War in order to rapidly expand the British Army; named for then War Secretary, Horatio Kitchener.

Mervyn, no, the US artillery does not consider its guns as its regimental colors. Each US artillery regiment has its regimental flag and insignia. However, the US Field Artillery is considered "right of the line" - being the senior arm in the senior service (the Army being the oldest US military service dating from 1775). I hope the thread brings a lot of replies as well; I don't have as many photos of British guns as I do of German guns...

That's a great shot, Andy, of the FH 98/09

A very common British post card showing an artillery battery moving through the ruins of Ypres. It's difficult to tell, but I believe the artillery piece is an Ordnance QF 4.7 inch Gun.

We've a thread on the RA badges; so, I thought I'd start on on the guns of the First World War. Please, feel free to add your British WWI guns. The Colours of the Royal Regiment of Artillery are its Guns and when on parade the Guns are to be treated the same as the Colours of the Cavalry and Infantry regiments. In fact, the Royal Horse Artillery on parade with its Guns, takes precedence over all other Regiments and Corps of the British Army. I'll start with this un-posted card showing a RA captain with an Ordnance BL 6 inch 26cwt howitzer BL is for "breech loading". Six inch refers to the diameter of the barrel's bore; while the qualifier "26cwt" refers to the weight of the barrel and breech together which weighed 26 long hundred weights (1.3 t). (PS: I always find the British system of gun sizes to be more confusing; much prefer the simple bore measurement in centimeters of the German guns.)

Glenn, you are right; a website I've been using appears to make a difference between Etatsmäßige Feldwebel and Feldwebel as separate ranks. I just pulled out my "German Army Handbook, April 1918" and now see what you are saying. Thanks for setting me straight... Hopefully, this thread will help others. Now anyone have a shot at that "different" ribbon bar?

Another Gunner in parade dress... Named on the reverse: "Gunner C. Weaver; No. 38808; RGA; Joined 13 Feb 1913; photo taken 25 May 1913"

Arrgghh... Of course, you are right. Square shoulder straps. Thanks for the name.

I've been posting a lot of Imperial German artillery; thought I better pay homage to our host and revive this Royal Artillery thread... Here's the Royal Artillery cap badge in wear... An unidentified Gunner. Note the typical bandolier worn by RA gunners.

Glenn, thanks very much for the info. I've been turning that over in my head and thought this photo would help make some sense of the senior NCO ranks. But isn't a Feldwebel in the same category then as Vizefeldwebel and Sergeant? Collar lace, collar button, one sleeve stripe? And I always missed that Unteroffizier had a sleeve stripe also; I guess the M15 Bluse aspect is why it's not there in the other photos I have...

Another Italian artillery card...this time an art drawing for the 5° Reggimento Artiglieria da Campagna posted in 1917. I presume the cannon is the Cannone da 75/27 modello 11

This might be the first Italian card in the thread... An Italian Army field post card from the 3° Reggimento Alpini to Milan dated 27 June 1916

And the ribbon...

Here's the hat...

Claudio... Here's the collar

Glenn, so we really don't know the exact rank of these guys with or without sleeve lace; they could be either sergeants or vizewachtmeisters...

I've been posting a lot of WWI Imperial German artillery uniforms and guns; so, I thought I'd change it up a bit today and cover some other WWI combatant artillery I have in my collection. This one just arrived today; I believe a tenente (lieutenant) of the 36° Reggimento Artiglieria (see the hat on the stand at bottom left). I'm guessing his ribbon is for the "GUERRA ITALO-TURCA 1911-12" medal. I've seen another post card for sale commemorating the regiments part in that conflict; so, I'm thinking it's a good guess. The flames on his hat are horizontal indicating field artillery or "campagna artiglieria " in Italian. (Heavy artillery flames are vertical.) Anyone with more information on this regiment or Italian artillery uniforms...greatly appreciated.

We also have at least 8 EK2s... The Feldwebels on the left of the photo also have a second unidentified ribbon in their button holes. Now the Vizefeldwebel to the left of Der Spiess has an unusual ribbon. At first, I thought it was another EK2, but close up look shows a ribbon device in the center. Wonder what that is?