IrishGunner

Andy, thanks for the translation. I was thinking the "absender" name was Knapp... Hardy, guess it was too much to hope that this post card either had a photo of your grandfather or even better...was sent by him! But when I get to writing my short history of the RFAR 52, now I know where to come for help.

Offizier Kasino (Officer's Club) of Feld-Artillerie-Regiment von Clausewitz (1. Oberschlesisches) Nr.21in Neisse (then Silesia, now Poland - Nysa).

Andy, good questions. I went with FAR 19 since there is not an "R" on the pickelhaube cover with the 19. I am a bit confused as to why the mixture of uniforms and a reserve unit or a munitions column would make sense... Perhaps a munitions column for FAR 19? Didn't artillery firing batteries also have the carbine? Here's a shot of the shoulder strap of the old guy lying in front... Looks like embroidery to me...not metal.

Hardy, RFAR card posted in new thread... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/60010-reserve-feld-artillerie-regt-nr-52-translation-needed/

Here's a group of RFAR 52 soldiers; a couple Gefreiter, an Unteroffizier, and two Kanonier. Nice shots of the shortened Gewehr 98s and of the swords. Views of Schützenschnur and what I believe to be a Dienstauszeichen on the Unteroffizier. Interestingly, the post card was sent from Paderborn to Schwetzingen (Baden) on 7 October 1914, a month after the war began. However, the photo and post card were made in Jüterbog in Brandenburg, a well-known artillery barracks and training area. The Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 52 was mobilized as part of the 52. Reserve-Division, recruited primarily in Baden; so, that part makes sense. The Unteroffizier who sent the card was probably from Baden. I find it curious, however, that the unit went to Jüterbog in Brandenburg for some training in 1914 - or at least this group of NCOs went there. The 52. Reserve-Division entered combat in mid-October 1914 in the Race to Sea; so, this card probably was sent from their assembly area near Paderborn. Perhaps a translation of the reverse of the card will provide some additional interesting clues...

Hardy, I have a "gelaufen" post card from the RFAR 52...shows several NCOs. I'll scan it next...

Originally identified as FAR 19: This is really... Kgl. Sächs. 2. Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr.19

A good look at the dunkelblau of the 1.Thüringisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr.19. Can't see the shoulder strap details, but the black collar, Swedish cuffs, and the dark color of the shoulder straps suggesting the red for FAR 19, along with the regimental stempel and Erfurt postmark (date 31 May 1915) on the back of the postcard all point to FAR 19.

Thank you, Hardy.

Another common postcard is a view of the regimental barracks. I'm sure some of these buildings still exist and would make great Then/Now collages. This one is in Frankfurt a. Oder; Kaserne des Feld-Artillerie-Regiments General-Feldzeugmeister (2. Brandenburgisches) Nr.18

A Kanonier of the 2. Pommersches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr.17 with his wife and daughter. I really like these family portraits. The little girl looks so serious... Can anyone identify the model/type of sword he's wearing?

Nice tunic, dante. And I really like the photo of the guy at his locker...(Chris and Hardy will enjoy seeing a gunner polishing his boots).

Gentlemen, envy does not become you... Now be good boys and give me some help with the ranks.

Bernhard, thank you for the name. I was hoping there would be a family name as well to help narrow down the unit... I think they all must have been in the same regiment, but that's a guess.

The guy on the left has what appears to be officer's shoulder boards, but he also has NCO collar lace... What rank is this? Aspirant? Also difficult to make out unit...

The standing guy has a different strap... What appears to be only a "bomb" or a cypher of sorts... NCO lace and a button suggests a Feldwebel.

I'm a bit perplexed on the shoulder straps, however...as always. The guy on the left appears to be an Offizier-Stellvertreter. You can clearly see his flaming bomb and what looks like a "5"...possibly in metal. There is a center line down the middle of the strap as well, leading me to believe there is another number on the other side (I think it's a "1", but can't tell for sure). Thoughts on this one?

There's a lot going on in this one - not least of which are the brand new EK2's and the mustaches, two of Chris' favorites. Three new "heroes" in early 1915 it would seem by the inscription on the reverse. Any help with the name is appreciated.

Haven't heard "flippies" in a long time, G.I. My favorite was always Flensburger from the north. A lot of small breweries still use the flip top bottle.

More beer drinkers...from Sachsen FAR 12.

Always worthwhile re-newing a "Rick" thread...especially one about beer. Cheers to the Master. We miss ya...

Here's a Bavarian artillery crew sitting on a 7.7 cm Feldkanone C/96 alter/Art (FK 96 a/A) of the Kgl. Bayer. 10. Feldartillerie-Regiment. They have "10" on their dunkelblau shoulder straps, but without a flaming bomb as usual for Bavarians. I think they are wearing "drillich" trousers. The kanonier at the top also has the Artillerie schützenschnur (artillery shell on the cord end) and the signaller's arm badge. I find interesting the white belt with probably a Kartusche in back worn by the Unteroffizier on the left.

I've been meaning to start scanning my collection of artillery postcards, now is as good as time as any. While the uniforms aren't unique from other branches, if others will add their photos of artillerymen, we'll continue to keep this nice thread going... Starting with my lowest number Feldartillerie regiment: Feld-Artillerie-Regiment General-Feldzeugmeister (1. Brandenburgisches) Nr.3 it's a good photo of a what I believe to be an Offizier-Stellvertreter in feldgrau with a metal number 3 on shoulder strap; EK2 ribbon.

Carbon dating... Just in case anyone needs the formula... Although, I suspect the linguistic translation formula already offered by native speakers is much simpler and you won't have to turn a scrap of the board into ash to do the test...