Saxony Saxon hat markings

[Tony]

Can anyone help me out with the markings inside this hat please?

I imagine 56 is the size and 16 is for 1916 but the others?

Thanks

Tony

[Chip]

Tony,

The original marks are the B.A.XIX.16 and the size stamp. The rest are re-issue stamps. "B.J.A.Chemnitz18" stands for Bekleidungs-Instandsetzungs-Amt Chemnitz 1918. This was the repair section of the clothing office in Chemnitz. Once repaired, the cap was given a new Garniture classification. The "g" and the "gb" indicate it was suitable for garrison wear, but in worse condition than normal. These stamps are in black, which indicates that they were made after January of 1917, when the color of the stamps were changed from green. Unfortunately, I cannot decipher the smudged regimental stamp.

Chip

[Tony]

Thanks very much Chip.

I thought a soldier would have sewn that repair himself but it was obviously sent back to Chemnitz for that, if it ever left the area in the first place.

Would soldiers in Thüringen units have worn the same colours?

Tony

[E Williams]

If I was to take a guess, it's 102 Regt.

[Tony]

Interesting.

Any particular reason why?

[E Williams]

Just looking at it closely, following the number lines vs the smudge lines.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I see "107" :-)

[E Williams]

I see "107" :-)

107. looks more acceptable. You'll have to excuse my age, I'm deaf and dumb in both eyes.

[Chip]

Would soldiers in Thüringen units have worn the same colours?

The states of Thüringen had several different cockades. Reuß, Sachsen-Weimar, the Sächsische-Herzogtümer (three states), Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen all had their own distinctive cockades.

Regarding the regimental number, I'd say it's 107 too, with a period between that and the "R.".

[Tony]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, I've had this hat for so long and never knew that, until now I didn't have a clue about the markings.

I'd best check where they were during the second half of the war, perhaps the hat saw a bit of France and Belgium.

Tony

[Chip]

I'd best check where they were during the second half of the war, perhaps the hat saw a bit of France and Belgium.

Tony

Tony,

If it was only rated for garrison duty after the repair in 1918, it probably would not have left Germany again.

[Tony]

Tony,

If it was only rated for garrison duty after the repair in 1918, it probably would not have left Germany again.

They were at Cambrai in Nov. 17 but the condition is probably far too good for anything that went near a frontline so perhaps it never left Chemnitz at all.

Tony

Edited December 30, 2013 by Tony