webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Today is the 94th anniversary of the battle of Langemarck - famously known as the "Slaughter of the Innocents". I take this occasion to show you a piece I am very proud to own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) I came from a certain source in Massachusetts (thanks Stogie! ). I am heavily worn, some paint has gone. Nobody wanted me.... Edited November 10, 2008 by webr55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) My pin broke off, got resoldered, broke off again. Not a pretty sight...... BUT: I hold an engraving on my back.... Edited November 10, 2008 by webr55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) You think I belonged to some Vizefeldwebel dR Müller, never to be found... Well, my engraving is extremely difficult to read --- let's shed some light on it... Edited June 2, 2022 by webr55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 The third to fifth line read... Res Inf Reg 26Okt1914RIR 26 was one of the Langemarck regiments... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Those were the first lines I could make out - after some heavy cleaning. The last line (probably the location) seems unreadable - at least for me. But the second line is:Oberstlt u. KdrAn Oberstleutnant and commanding officer? Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 It took me some time.... and a look into the regimental history of RIR 26. After that, it became clear what the first line reads:G. v. Westernhagen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 This is the EK1 of a Prussian General:Generalmajor Gustav Udo Julius von Westernhagen (1868-1942)He was commander of RIR 26 during the battle of Langemarck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 This is the plate in the Langemarck Hall at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, commemorating the regiments at Langemarck, with RIR 26 among them: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Anyone seen my EK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naxos Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) Very nice !I believe that the last line of the inscription reads: Langemark Hardy Edited November 10, 2008 by Naxos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naxos Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Langemark was spelled by the German Army during the war without the ck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rick Research Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Prussian Crown Order 2X (KO2X) gazetted on 7.1.17Baden Z?hringen Lion Commander X (BZ2bX) awarded 11.12.16 as Oberst commanding Baden IR 169 :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) Many thanks Rick! Hardy --- that simply didn't occur to me! I just checked the cross itself - and you could be right indeed! Any idea whether this might have been personally handed out by the Kaiser?RegardsChris Edited November 10, 2008 by webr55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naxos Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) Chris, this the the published entry of Gustav von Westernhagen's award of the EKI Stand: Dezember 1914 Hardy Edited November 10, 2008 by Naxos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Congratulations on a very nice piece of history. :jumping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 Many thanks for posting that entry Hardy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nesredep Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Congratulations on a very nice piece of history. Hello!I agree. All the bestNesredep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Wow!!!!Hidden treasure there old man. Well done and congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike K Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Some great research on a nicely worn (early) WS marked EK1. A true piece of history!RegardsMike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve campbell Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 That's a great find. Makes you wonder who the original owners of the items in our collections were. Most pieces have no personalized markings, but someone owned them. Chances are some of the items that are held in collections of members here belonged to famous or infamous people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKeating Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 What a wonderful piece! Thank you for sharing it with us. PK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Many thanks to all for your kind comments! So that is a Wagner & Sohn piece - I didn't recognize that, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve campbell Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Many thanks to all for your kind comments! So that is a Wagner & Sohn piece - I didn't recognize that, thanks.Yes, it is hard to make out, but if you look to the right of the catch you can see a faint WS stamped on the rear. This faint stamping is not uncommon and is in the same spot that my own WS EK1 is stamped, which incidentally I bought from Mike K, who pointed it out originally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Congratulations on a nice researchable piece of historyAlex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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