Last Respects for a Fallen Storm Trooper

[Guest Rick Research]

From the late Tony Colson's collection.

Was this taken for the storm trooper's family back home, or for his two friends? There is no inscription on back, so I would guess it was kept by one of these two--for whom no added lines would have been needed.

[Guest Rick Research]

Grenadier Alb. Sensenbrenner, 3rd Company, Sturm Bataillon 2, died 12 October 1917:

[Chris Boonzaier]

A great pic indeed.

Can you do a close scan of the cross on the right?

[Chip]

Yes, and Rick could you do another close-up on that Sturmtrupp insignia on the sleeve?!

Chip

[Guest Rick Research]

It's off-camera and...

why you old slybootses, youse!

I hadn't even noticed.

[Chip]

What do you think? Are they inverted, crossed stick grenades or something else? I've never seen this patch before, especially with the dark border ring.

Chip

[Guest Rick Research]

300 dpi, just for you.

Can't do any better, because it's that bumpy "art finish" paper, so closer just looks like a 3-D topographical map:

Those are either hand grenades or paint brushes.

[Kev in Deva]

300 dpi, just for you.

Can't do any better, because it's that bumpy "art finish" paper, so closer just looks like a 3-D topographical map:

Those are either hand grenades or paint brushes.

Or Crossed Spades Kevin in Deva

Edited November 3, 2007 by Kev in Deva

[Chip]

Rick,

Thanks for the enlargements. I have seen other non-regulation Sturmtrupp patches, but normally the heads of the Stielhandgranaten are at the top. Always a pleasure to see previously unknown variations of insignia.

Chip

[Guest Rick Research]

Perhaps this was specific to Sturm Bn 2? And so any subsequent anonymous photos spotted by the Eagle Eyed can now be attributed to SB 2.

[Chip]

Vielleicht!

[bob lembke]

Looks like crossed guitars to me!

Bob Lembke

[Naxos]

Looks like crossed guitars to me!

Bob Lembke

Ricky, can you sharpen the scan a bit more - I can't tell if they are Gibson's or Fender's

[bob lembke]

Rick;

Can you make out the unit on the other cross? IR 152? That might help place where this was; references might give where that unit fought, if the whereabouts of S=B 2 at that time is not known.

Bob Lembke

[Guest Rick Research]

It might be IR 152. That is the one bit I can't read. I think the sign painter ran out of space and squished the numbers together.

If this had been printed on that lovely glossy pre-war paper, details might come out better, but this is the nubby-surfaced art paper finish kind that just looks like bumps up close.

[bob lembke]

Die Schlachten und Gefechte has no locations for IR 152 after December 1916, when it was fighting on the Western Front.

Bob Lembke

[Chris Boonzaier]

152 IR fought on the Eastern front until Feb of 1917, mid 1917 in the Champagne, then off to Flanders.

As this seems t be from October 1917 it is probably casualties at the Butte de Mesnil sector in the Champagne. listed as a quiet time for the Div.

[Trajan]

I have been trying to track down this burial with the help of friends on another forum, and all that they have come up with is Grenadier Johann Sensenbrenner who died 12th October 1917, buried at  Vouziers, block 3, grave 446...

 

The coincidence in service title (Grenadier) and DoD, along with the rarity of the name Sensenbrunner, makes it likely that he is the same man, and that his given name was Johann and his common name was Albrecht...

[Trajan]

Another step with this one - friends in Sweden and Holland have tied down the chap in the next grave (on the right) - probably  Gefreiter Franz Biell,  buried at Vouziers, block 3, grave 445 (= next to Sensenbrenner, in grave 446). It is probable that the grave on the left, name unreadable in the photograph, could be that of the next person to Sensenbrenner in grave 447 in the Vouziers cemetery, Fahrer Johann Picket,  died 17.10.1917. 

As for Alb.Sensenbrenner, he is listed - as Johann - on the war memorial at his home town of Meissenheim

I have been able to get this far feeding bits of what is on the original photograph to others, and now see that the original poster, Rick Research is no longer alive. I would appreciate it if one of the moderators could direct me to who can give permission to copy this photograph to help further discussion on this man and (more importantly) offer a correction to the entry in the VdK (German War Graves Commission), who list Sensenbrenner simply as 'Johann', and also send it to them for inclusion in their files in case a family member wishes to search these.

 

Trajan

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

I dont know who owns the Photo at the moment, but Rick owned his scan of it, and he was a key player in sharing, sharing and sharing again when it came to research. I am sure he will not haunt you for continuing that research!

[Trajan]

Thanks for the information. Uni. term has started and so I don't know when and if I can get any further with this man - but I'll keep you posted!

 

Trajan