German Colonial the only pre-war-award of BrH4x to Oberveterinär Wilhelm Bertram

[Leutwein]

Hello members,

I think it could be interesting for you to see the only pre-war-award of BrH4x. The recipient was Oberveterinär Wilhelm Bertram.

He served form 1905-1908 in German-Southwestafrica and was member of the "2. Ersatzbatterie" of the "II. Feld-Artillerie-Abteilung".

In 1907 he received the following decorations:

DSWA-Denkm.

KO4Xw

BrH4x (the only pre-war-award!)

In 1914 is Bertram listed as a "Veterinäroffizier der Reserve" in "Landwehrbezirk Sangerhausen".

Best wishes

Karsten

Edited September 9, 2013 by Leutwein

[Claudius]

Great photo of an Army Veterinarian!

I can’t recall ever seeing one before.

Thanks.

Btw: would those be w/swords for vet work on housecats? Goodness knows my vet should earn a KO4X for “combat with a hostile enemy”.

[Dave Danner]

Wilhelm Bertram was born on 7 September 1876 in Ahlshausen, Kreis Gandersheim, Herzogtum Braunschweig. The BrH4X was awarded on 1 July 1908.

He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Braunschweig War Merit Cross in 1915 as Oberveterinär d.R., Magazin-Fuhrpark-Kolonne 7.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Dave Danner

[Leutwein]

Hello Claudius,

some veterinarians came in contact with the enemy. I will post soon the interesting history of Stabsveterinär aD Paul Tuche =)

Hello Dave,

thanks a lot for those infos and the correction of the award-date.

Best wihes

Karsten

[Glenn J]

At the time of his pre-war awards, he was still a military official; veterinarians not being accorded the status of officers until 1 April 1910. And in fact as a reservist at this time, Herr Bertram did not convert to officer status until 16 June 1911 with a Patent as an Oberveterinär of 22.11.04

Glenn

[Claudius]

Hello Claudius,

some veterinarians came in contact with the enemy. I will post soon the interesting history of Stabsveterinär aD Paul Tuche =)

My cat comment was in no way a slight against veterinarians or the work they do. Especially during wartime, caring for horses that have no idea why their otherwise kind masters have lead them to these harsh areas.

[Leutwein]

My cat comment was in no way a slight against veterinarians or the work they do. Especially during wartime, caring for horses that have no idea why their otherwise kind masters have lead them to these harsh areas.

I also did not understand that.

As you know, it was normally that a veterinarian serves in the back area and does not take part on campaigns. But there were always exceptions and one of them was Stabsveterinär Paul Tuche. Please follow the Link:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/59827-oberstabsveterinaer-ad-paul-tuche/

Best wishes

Karsten