IrishGunner

The term in German is "Richtkanonier" - the cannoneer who aims the weapon. (Kanonier, der das Geschütz in die zum Treffen eines Ziels erforderliche Richtung bringt.)  In English, simply the gunner or gun-layer as you note.

However, that is not the Richtkanonier abzeichen, which is sort of a bomb with wings for Feld-Artillierie and just a bomb for Fuss-Artillerie.  They look similar to the shoulder strap bomb, but just a little more ornate.  I verified in my my copy of the Leitfaden für den Unterricht der Kanoniere und Fahrer der Feldartillerie. Ausgabe 1915.  The reference and CDV are dunkelblau, but I don't think there was a change.  I believe the Wehrmacht abzeichen was similar.

I don't think I've seen your sleeve abzeichen before.

Here's a photo of a Richtkanonier from FAR 18.

Thanks, Chip, I would appreciate reading what the books have to say since I have nothing to reference.

Wife found a couple antique stores not too far away that we had never visited; so, with a nice warm day for February on the Bay, we put the top down on her convertible and went to check them out.  Overall, pretty much uninteresting stuff, but I did find a Model 1871 bayonet hidden among a bunch of fraternal Knights of Columbus swords.  It was in great condition, including the leather on the scabbard.  Unfortunately, I was unable to snap any photos. 

It was marked W74 with crown on the spine and Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co Solingen on the blade.  The bayonet itself had no unit marking.  However, on the scabbard was "L.E. 5.161"  My guess is Landwehr Ersatz Regiment Nr. 5, Gewehr 161.  But shouldn't there be a company number too? 

Any ideas?

These images are from the internet, but are exactly the one's on the subject bayonet:

How about some Württemberg

Very nice topic and ribbon bar.  I wish I had something to add other than admiration.

Labors with a personal connection are always worth the long effort.  Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing the photos!

This is the crest of the US Army V Corps.  A corps with a long and storied history from WWI onwards.  V Corps was headquartered for decades in Frankfurt, Germany, and was one of two Corps assigned to US Army Europe and NATO.  It later moved to Wiesbaden where it was inactivated in 2013.

A history of V Corps up until 2001 published by the V Corps historian.

Andy is correct, this is the Quartermaster Corps Distinctive Corps (Regimental) Insignia.  Combat Service Support branches have a single insignia worn as a corps/regimental insignia rather than a unique regimental Distinctive Unit Insignia like Combat Arms branches (example is my avatar = 6th Field Artillery regimental insignia).

Thanks for bringing back some memories!  I remember these fellows as gate guards at the barracks during my tour in Berlin during the early 1980s.

Interestingly, when you click on the link it goes to xfinity.com vice comcast.net.  (Comcast is a major television cable and internet provider here in the US.  xfinity is Comcast's latest version of high speed internet.) I suspect the account did not migrate to the new domain and server. 

Or the owner discontinued his account.

Rob, you have an impressive collection - with a great theme - for a young man!  You are an inspiration to we Old Contemptibles!

Bill, your link to BMF still does not work without having to join the alternate forum.  Rather than a link to BMF, I suggest you try either copying or saving the image as a new file then attaching it here. (Of course, you should then add the source reference as a note.)

If you browse the sellers linked through Google books, you'll find one seller (not me or anyone I know - it's a national book retailer) offering the book at $49.95.  That seems reasonable to me for an excellent reference of over 600 pages, but then again, my budget right now couldn't even handle $4.95.  Cheers.

All that by 1941?  He must have been bored for the remainder of the war.  Out of curiosity, what is the citation for Pte. Butters' MM?  Is this related to his escapes?

I found a reference specifically about the QM disc.  It states this domed type with an "unauthorized buff enamel edge" was popular late in the Korean War and immediately afterwards. The reference is "Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms" By William K. Emerson. A "preview" with many of the pages visible online at Google books.

The infantry blue disc was authorized specifically in 1952 and that same reference suggests other branches began to wear unofficial brass with their branch colors. 

Curiously though, Tank Destroyer as a branch ended in 1947.  I saw somewhere else that "green" was for the Armor Center; although "yellow" - the cavalry's color - became the Armor branch color at some point.

George, these are Army branch insignia (worn on service jacket lapels) from WW2 and post-WW2 era.

From left to right: Women's Army Corps (WAC), Quartermaster Corps, Tank Destroyer Corps.

The colored discs are similar to the infantry blue (branch color) disc worn by enlisted infantry soldiers behind their cross-rifles branch insignia.  I know the infantry got their blue discs in the 1950s; so, other branches could have as well.  However, only the infantry are now authorized to wear branch color discs behind their insignia as an authorized distinction to honor the unique role of the infantryman. (Similar to the blue shoulder cord worn by all infantrymen.)

I don't know if the other branches were actually authorized and lost the privilege of wearing branch colored discs or if these are "unofficial".

The QM disc is definitely post-WW2 50s vintage due to its domed shape.  The TD units were disbanded in 1945-46; so, that disc is probably WW2 vintage.  WAC lasted until 1970s; so, not sure about that disc, but probably 40s/50s.

I Googled branch colors and those on your discs do not match what came up for those branches:

WAC: Old Gold and Moss Green - the one in your post appears "red"

QM: Buff (sort of a tan) - the one in your post appears "yellow"

TD: Gold and black - the one in your post appears "green"

PS: And yes, these colors would be the same for the piping on the overseas cap.

That is indeed a nice little bar.

8 hours ago, The Prussian said:

Schrippen  is Berlin dialect.  Here it's called Brötchen.  I'll have a Wurst for lunch today. ..☺

I know Schrippen is Berliner. I was being posh for a Prussian's benefit!   (At least I didn't say Semmel )

I am having Linseneintopf mit Wiener Würstchen (made by my very own Hausfrau).  Unfortunately, no echte Brötchen, Schrippen, or even a Flesserl in the area.

That Purple Heart/American Defense/ETO with Arrowhead is worth way more than scrap in my opinion!  Fantastic find!  I would be excited seeing that one in the bargain bin.

More books.  Well, if you start charging for your research help...    We might be able to afford a wurst or two to go with the schrippen und wasser.

2 hours ago, The Prussian said:

The seller was a friendly  over 80years old gentleman.  Each year I buy something from him! 

At that age, maybe his prices will be coming down soon to liquidate stock before he is liquidated 

3 hours ago, The Prussian said:

But next week I'll only get water and bread. ..

Just remember, thanks to the Reinheitsgebot, bread and beer are essentially the same...just add some hops.  And more refreshing than water.

Mike, nice ID on the medals.  The top brooch device kind of threw me off from the starting gun.  I didn't look further.

Hermann, I am fairly certain this is a diplomatic variant of the Court Uniform.  My guess is a member of the Consular Service.  As to medals, I really don't know, but they aren't official British decorations.  I wonder if they are not temperance medals?

(Source of image: Wikipedia)

If you do a search, I also believe there are a couple threads about this type uniform already on GMIC.

Well, there could be a German connection... but colors are slightly different (yellow vice blue beak and claws).

Duchy of Pomerania: The House of Griffins or House of Pomerania (German: Greifen; Polish: Gryfici), also known as House of Greifen.  However, dates from 12th Century to 1637.  Can't find 1563 as a significant date.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Pomerania

Now the Polish West Pomeranian Voivodeship or West Pomerania Province with Szczecin (Stettin) as capital.

Then there are the Wappen of Greifswald in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; but again yellow vice blue beak/claws.