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Claudio, "I would be interested to know the exact award date of his hessian Ludewig-Order, knight cross 1st class..." 11 June 1909. Taken from the "Großherzoglich Hessische Ordensliste 1914", page 12. Andy

Heiko, I just responded to your question on SDA Forum. There was indeed an Artur Bensieg (1914 in Fußart. R. 20), and he received the PHOvH3mschw on 09.08.1917. Andy

David, You are very welcome. My apologies for using a term and not explaining it. Mike is right on the money. This was purely an honorary position and granted mainly to royals (and lesser nobility, too) within Germany and to retired officers, mostly General officers. Obviously, members of Europen royalty were also granted this honor. Andy

Prince Philipp was the Chef from 27.02.1883-17.11.1905. Albert was the Regimental Chef from 27.08.1907 until sometime after the outbreak of the war. Unfortunately, I don't have that exact date. Prince Albert was placed à la suite of DR 16 on 30.05.1895, so, he had a lengthy association with this particular regiment. Andy

From 22.02.1878 until his death on 17.12.1909. Andy

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Christer, Always happy to help. I think the certificate (#3) was issued at Newport News while the ship made a port call in that city. I do not believe that he took any training there. NEvertheless, it's not something you see every day. Andy

Christer, #1 is the envelope in which the EK 2 was sent to "Ob. Heiz." (Ober Heizer- stoker) Otto Merten #2 is the temporary award certificate for the EK 2 #3 is his “Certificate of Conduct, which basically states Certificate for stoker Otto Friedrich Merten, Stoker Otto Friedrich Merten has served aboard the SMS Bremen since 27 May 1906. He successfully learned and maintained the boilers. He conducted himself very well. Newport News (Virginia, USA- still a large US naval base today) 23 May 1908. #4 is the more formal and final certificate of conduct- Otto Merten was born 13 Aug 1886 in Grünfeld, Osthavelland (Potsdam district). He served from 01 Feb 1906 to 10 Juy 1908 with the 2. company of the I. (First) Werftdivision. He had no charges or serious disciplinary actions taken against him. Signed by Kapt.Lt. Paschen at Kiel on 10 Juli 1908 This document was required by most employers after a man left the service. Without receiving at least a “good”, it was difficult to get a good job. Andy

From "Handbuch der Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Heeres 1914-1918, Teil IX; Feldartillerie, Band 1 (page 180) 02.08.1914-25.07.1916 18. Feldart. Brig. (FAB) 18. Inf. Div. (ID) 26.07.1916-13.08.1916 18. ID 14.08.1916-14.02.1917 18. Feldart. Brig. (FAB) 18. Inf. Div. (ID) 15.02.1917-22.02.1917 18. ID 23.02.1917-02.06.1917 Arko 18 (18. ID) 03.06.1917-Nov. 1918 Arko 146 (3. Marine Division) This is an outstanding series. Oddly, they have published two volumes of field artillery and only one on infantry so far. The author of the series Jürgen Kraus but Hartwig Busche put together these two. They are published by Verlag Militaria, Vienna 2007. If you like German WWI arty (and can handle German), then these two volumes are just what you need. Andy

The Marine Ranglisten for the years 1910-1914 do show a "Maschinist" Riediger, although the spelling of the name changes in 1913 to Ridger, but it also includes "Otto" as his first name. Otto entered naval service on 01.04.1900 and became a "Maschinist" on 01.11.1909, serving with the II. Werftdivision aboard the S.M.S. Leipzig, althought by 1913 he is no longer on sea duty but still with the II. Werftdivision. Despite the change is spelling, there is no doubt that the "Riediger" found in the 1910 Rangliste is the same as the one seen on page 42 of the 1914 appendix for "Deckoffiziere." Now, he is listed as having only one single decoration and that is the FW3 (1914 now shown as D1).

Bob was on the right track. The honorary "Chef" of the IR 31 and for whom it was named was Julius von Bose (12.09.1809-22.07.1894) Here are his major commands: Chef IR 31 02.09.1873 Kom. Gen. d. XI. AK 18.07.1870-06.04.1880 Kom.d. 20. Div. 30.10.1866-18.07.1870 Kom. d. 15. Inf. Brig. 25.06.1864-30.10.1866 Chef. d. Armee Abtl. i. Kr. Min. 20.09.1861-25.06.1864 Kom. d. FR 40 08.05.1860-20.09.1861 Chef d. Gen. St. IV. AK 08.05.1858-08.05.1860 Andy

Komtur, I believe that this medal bar belonged to Dr. K A R L Rudolf August Oelker. In 1866 he was an Oberarzt with the hannoverian medical corps. In 1867 he was taken into the Prussian army in Feldart. R. 10. During the 1870/71 war he was the regimental doctor in Inf. R. 57. He eventually retired a Gen.Arzt. In the 1871 Rangliste there is only one other officer who had the only the EK2w and HG4. This was Major Marcard (1866 Rittm. in the Königin Hus. R., Reg. Quartiermeister) He is shown with an EK2w and HG4, but in the 1872 Rangliste his EK2 is now for combatants. Also, he is not listed in the 1877 EK award roll uneartherd by Glenn. So, I think there is a strong chance Dr. Oelker is your man. Andy

I was dimayed to see that twice Terry has visited this site since I and Glenn provided him information as requested regarding his post. For the life of me, I simply can not fathom why he could not make the effort to acknowledge the postings. Perhaps he has the information and was just looking to determine whether others could confirm his information. While highly unlikely, I must consider it a possibility. Far too often members will provide information in response to postings. Often they may have that information readily at hand, other times they choose to spend time researching the question in an effort to provide a meaningful and informative response. Speaking just for myself, I do not believe it is too much to expect acknowledgement of that effort. While I have used Terry's post to make this point, he is certainly not alone in simply taking the information without a word of thanks. Perhaps some of us have been too free with our information. I for one intend to be more selective in providing response in the future.

Terry, This cutlery belonged to the first Bavarian field artillery regiment (1. BFAR) (Prinz Regent Luitpold, Munich). Although I don't have many Bavarian Ranglisten, I believe the year engraved on each is the year in which that particular officer joined the regiment. With a little effort, it would not be difficult to find first names for the officers, as the Bavarians, unlike the Prussians, always included first names in their Ranglisten. Of particular note is Johann Streck. He commanded the 1. BFAR from 22.02.1900-01.10.1901 and then the 5. Field Art. Brig. from 01.10.01-20.08.05. He was reactivated in 1914 and commanded the bavarian 6th Reserve Division from 16.11.1914-02.12.14, when he was wounded. He subsequently died of his wounds on 12.12.1914 So, at least you now have a starting point, and who knows what else you can find out. Andy

Komtur, The good doctor's first name was Moritz. I found it in the 7th Nachtrag to the 1905 Ordensliste on page 634. In 1914 he was the Chefarzt Garnison Lazarett Mörchingen. Andy

Rick, I think this is Hptm. (3 stars on the collar indicate Hptm.) and Flügeladjutant (aiguillette) Otto Frhr. von Dungern (*Wiesbaden 01.06.1831 †Freiburg 01.03.1911, Freiherr auf Henriettenthal.) Gotha Freiherr Handbuch 1913 Andy

Friedrich Karl Cunow was commissioned a Sek.Lt. in Gren. R. 6 on 09.03.1872. He remained in that regiment through 1899 and in 1900 was transferred to Inf. R. 18 as a batallion commander. On 17.02.1903 he became the commander of Landwehr Bezirk Stolp. He was given the "Charakter" of Oberstlt. on 14.06.1903. He died on 10.03.1907 while commander of Landw. Bez. Stolp. Andy

Vince, what is the time frame??? Andy

In Laurenz Demps' "Zwischen Mars und Minerva- Wegweiser Invalidenfriedhof", there is an entry regarding Ernst Böhmer. The only information it contains not already provided by Glenn is that he died 03. February 1939 in Berlin. It also lists his last rank as Oberst der Reichswehr. Andy

Christer, z.V. = zur Verwendung. Loosely translated "at the disposal of", normally, but not always, followed by a unit, such as a division, army corps and the like. Andy

Georg Naegelsbach. *28.04.1876 in Zweibrücken +00.00.1945. He was a Bavarian infantry officer. In 1939 he was on the staff of the "Wehrersatz Inspektion München." He was promoted Gen.Maj. with a date of rank of 01..04.1942. He did not command any field units during the war. Andy

Just a minor addition: Stechow was commander of the Garde Pion. Batl. 18.10.1903-29.03.1908†

Anyone else notice who signed the document awarding the 25 year long service cross? Sure looks like GFM Helmuth Gr. von Moltke, Chief of the General staff himself put pen to paper for this one. Andy

Hans Henning von Gersdorff *07.08.1886 Frankfurt a.O. †08.05.1965 Vater: Landrat und Rittergutbesitzer. - Mutter: geb. Collenbusch Eintritt in 3. Garde Regiment zu Fuß (Berlin) als charakterisierter Fähnrich 18.11.1905 Fähnrich 18.08.1906 Leutnant 1907-01.10.1912 Kompanie Offizier im 3. Garde Regt. zu Fuß 01.10.12-00.05.1913 kommandiert b. Garde Schloß Garde Kompanie 00.05.1913 kommandiert zur Dienstleistung b. 4. Garde Feldartillerie Regiment 01.10.13-1914 Kompanie Offizier b. Garde Maschinengewehr Abteilung Nr. 2 (zugeteilt d. II./Garde Grenadier Regiment 3) 18.08.1906 Patent als Leutnant 27.01.1916 Patent als Hauptmann Unfortunately, I have nothing about his 1914-1918 service record. In 1939 he was a Major serving as on the Staff of the II. Armee Korps als der 2. Adj. b. GFM Mackensen Andy

Rick, Even though Hptm. Wolff was placed z.D. on 01.04.1892 and went off to Trier as a Landw. Bezirksoffizier, he still continued to gain service credit until he finally retired on 18.08.1903. He received his PDK between April 94 and Apr 95- as the 1895 Rangliste entry at Landw. Bez. I Trier shows him having it. Now that we've begun pulling you back into the 19th century, where there is a great deal of enjoyment to be had, the sources will begin to make more sense and become easier to read. Andy