IrishGunner

Tony/Bayern, as you both state the photos are not the clearest.  However, there are many photos of both sides with captured POWs.  I am not familiar with British headgear to say either way, but it is very possible that this is a photo of German soldiers with British POWs.

GreyC/Bayern, I also noticed the rolled-up shoulder straps and thought it odd.  Grey's theory of recruits rolling them up as a way of celebrating obligatory service makes sense.  Although, it's the first time I've seen it in one of these Rekrutenzeit photos.

Nice.  Have you researched the Silver Star citation? (I couldn't find anything online)

GreyC, great photo of the artillerymen with the Kaiser Wilhelm Zentenarmedaille!  I agree they must have recently received the medals.

Just received this one in the mail!  It's a great history from what I've already read.  Fantastic photos.

Alex, the Automobilcorps was a group of civilians, who privately owned motor vehicles and then volunteered the use of those vehicles to the Army.  They had a club uniform - clearly that looked very much like a military uniform.

Here is a link on GMIC that has a discussion about the dagger worn with the uniform - and it includes images of this exact same photo, as well as others: http://gmic.co.uk/topic/4473-german-imperial-automobil-corps-dagger/

Here is another link that gives a concise description of the use of motor vehicles by the German Army: http://www.kaiserscross.com/76001/85601.html

Just now, Farkas said:

apologies...  I had a few too many last night!

No worries!

Your photo of Batterie Wilhelm II is actually a very well known naval gun: 30.5 cm SK L/50 gun.  Mostly mounted on warships, there were a few mounted as coastal defense.  This particular battery was to defend the port of Zeebrugge.  These were manned by Matrosen Artillerie Regiments.  A nice photo.

1 hour ago, Farkas said:

i’d rather post my stuff and ask about it here than google search it. It must seem lazy sometimes when the answer is ‘obvious’ but when you gents have questions too I don’t feel so bad!

Tony, my approach usually is to research as much as I can about an object before asking questions in a post here on GMIC.  So, I will at least see what I can find with Google before posting questions.  Doing the research yourself is part of the fun.  That said, Google searches can be tricky things and take some practice (at least in my opinion) to get the phrases that return the best results.  Of course, frequently the "experts" here on GMIC do not need to search for an answer as they have the resources readily to hand; in many cases, those resources are print books or years of experience that Google just can't replicate.

33 minutes ago, ccj said:

Interesting, I’m no expert but thought red cloth straps were artillery. 

Often the case.  However, Bavarian infantry was also red.

A great document - if I only could read Romanian!

I just looked up at the photos again; the one with the shell alongside the lady's arm clearly shows this was not a 75mm shell.  So, your 55mm measurement is likely correct.

And as your document shows, most Romanian artillery of the period came from the German Krupp works in the 75mm bore diameter.  I see mention of a 57mm field piece model 1880, but I didn't see a factory name associated.  The French works Schneider-Creusot produced a 57mm quick fire gun for fortress employment and I believe this also saw an anti-aircraft employment.  France did export pieces as well; so, it's possible the shell is related to these French guns.  Unfortunately, the base of the shell does not provide me any particular clues. 

10 minutes ago, Chris Boonzaier said:

I have his Leib Regt honor ring and Militärpass as well ;-)

So, you could verschenk me the photo then

Are you sure about that 55mm?  I don't know of any WWI gun that had a 55mm bore diameter.  The length of the shell casing makes me think French 75mm.  The German 77mm was shorter.

Indeed, a great photo.  I have to confess I was unfamiliar with Schörner (I really don't know most of the personalities on the German side), but after reading a short bio, I am envious of your photo.

Thanks for sharing.

Hi, I couldn't zoom to get a clear enough look at the medal in question.  And, unfortunately, I can't identify it further.  However, I really doubt it's a regiment medal.  I have several regiment medals for field artillery; they are for commemoration of the regiment's founding - these all date pre-WWI.  I would think his MVK3X is for war service; so, I doubt this other medal is one of those commemorative regiment medals. (Besides he's pretty young to have both a pre-war regiment medal and a war time MVK3X)  So, hopefully, a Bavarian expert will have better clues.

Tony, there couldn't be a country wide system since police forces are controlled by local, county, and state governments.  There are almost 18000 police departments in US; from 1 officer to the largest the New York PD with almost 40000 officers.  There is no national level police (well there is the FBI, but they have a very different mission than day-to-day law enforcement).  This is due to our federal system of government and "state's rights" under the Constitution.

It looks like the Sanford debacle came to light in 2013 during the well-known case of a neighborhood watch member being tried for second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old black youth; Treyvon Martin.  From reading the article (and the SPD website and Chief photo) they have since rectified the situation.

34 minutes ago, Farkas said:

 

Would you mind translating for me please?

 

Tony,

"Schützengraben d. Ers. Bat. Landw. Inf. Regt. 71, Arnstadt, Thür. 1916"

Trench of the Ersatz Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment 71, Arnstadt, Thüringen 1916

A bit of Google research reveals: In 1916, Landwehr Inf. Rgt. 71 was part of 13th Landwehr Division; according to my info, that division was in static defensive positions in Lothringen (or the French Lorraine).  Arnstadt, Thüringen is just south of Erfurt in eastern Germany.  And since Ersatz Battalions were replacement battalions, this was certainly a training scenario.

Farksas, interesting trench photo from the Landwehr; I wonder if this is a training scenario given the inscription "Arnstadt, Thür. 1916"

Wasps, what is the source of your image?  Curious that those those service ribbons do not appear on the LAPD's own site.

The photo on the Sanford PD website of their chief has ribbons similar to the ones on Officer Walsh's obituary photo.

http://www.sanfordfl.gov/departments/police-department/message-from-the-chief

As for Singleton, the ribbon set she is wearing couldn't even be one she earned in the military; that combination is improbable, let alone out of precedent order.  Reading the article, I am amazed that someone in authority with the SFD thought it was a good idea to re-purpose official DoD decorations.  I am even more amazed that someone who had served in the military - Singleton - would actually wear the re-purposed ribbons knowing that they are not authorized to wear said ribbons.  Borders on stolen valor.  The excuse given by the SFD is even more incredulous; we didn't think anyone would notice since most of those authorized to wear the ribbons are dead.  I guess I must be dead, because I've been awarded the WW2 Army of Occupation Medal for service in West Berlin 1983-1986.  The AOM was awarded to all who served in Berlin up until unification in 1991.

#4 Navy Unit Commendation

#5 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (stars multiple awards)

#6 Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (star multiple award)

#7 Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (stars multiple awards)

#11  Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (stars multiple awards)

#12 Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (stars multiple awards)

#13 Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon (He served as a US Embassy Marine Security Guard)

#14 Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hourglass = 20 Years in the reserves; M = Mobilized; 2 = 2x Mobilized)

So, this LAPD officer has a lot of time in the US Marine Corps Reserve, with multiple deployments; based on the MSG Ribbon, he likely had active duty time as well.  I am not familiar with police department decorations; however, the LAPD website lists only a "Reserve Service Ribbon" for 4000 hours as a reserve officer.  I am guessing that our fellow is a reserve Marine, but a regular duty police offer; thus no police service ribbon.

http://www.lapdonline.org/history_of_the_lapd/content_basic_view/1127

I wonder if he can wear his LAPD decorations on his USMC uniform.

Chris, I would think anything Bavarian would garner some interest, but do you think the entire Bavarian infantry might not be too broad?  It seems to me that the Alpenkorps alone would seem to be an area you could really drill down and focus and actually might have a wider audience.  Alpenkorps would attract Bavarian, infantry, Jäger, and mountain interests.  The mountain interest would even attract non-infantry guys like me that have a side interest in mountain troops.  I've followed your posts/comments on the Alpenkorps with considerable interest.  You could maybe even do two volumes.  One on Bavarian Inf/Res Inf and one on Alpenkorps Jäger.  I really think the two volume approach would broaden appeal to other groups.

11 hours ago, scottplen said:

Did you see documentary on task for Faith on Amazon prime ?? it’s very sad !

No, I'll have to look for it...

This is a very nice one.  I served in the same brigade in 10th Mountain Division with 1-32 Infantry, always in awe when we would hear a recount of the battalion's lineage at brigade events.

Link didn't work, Ed.

Indeed, a very nice one to have.  Rangers Lead the Way!