Minenwerfer patch!

[The Prussian]

Hello!
 I just recieved this phantastic bavarian minesweeper!

Unfortunatley I don´t k now the unit. Any ideas?
The MWA stands for Minen-Werfer-Abteilung.

Probably there is a 4 upon the shoulder strap. That would indicate the bavarian 4th pioneer-bataillon, but I don´t know, which MWA was set-up by this bataillon

Reverse: blank

Edited January 17, 2015 by The Prussian

[Hoss]

Thats a nice photo love the mood of the soldier reflected in his face, I can never help on patches like this its way beyond me thanks for showing.

 

Eric

[Trajan]

Great photograph!

 

There is a great site on these units at: http://www.grensland-docs.nl/brondocumenten/formationsgeschichte-minenwerfer-1914-1918/

According to that site, if yours is Bayerische no. 4, then it was a Schwere Minenwerfer-Abteilungen

Edited August 3, 2015 by Trajan

[The Prussian]

That´s a great link! Thanks for showing!!!!!

[Chip]

According to that site, if yours is Bayerische no. 4, then it was a Schwere Minenwerfer-Abteilungen.

During the period that this type of unofficial sleeve patch was worn, the shoulder strap number would reflect the pioneer unit that the MWA came from. So, this would not be the 4th Bavarian Schwere Minenwerfer-Abteilung. If there was an Abteilung number at all, it was normally shown on the sleeve patch. Later in 1915, when the new Minenwerfer shoulder strap was introduced, the unit number was displayed on them and the sleeve patches were dropped.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I guess noone said "say cheese!" To him....nice pic indeed!

[The Prussian]

I´m not sure, if there is a 4.

It´s hard to see. Probably the "thing", looks like a 4, is just a crease, or a hand-written 4.

Another detail is the 9 upon the button!

Kraus says:

The bavarian Pio.Rgt.4 wore the 4 upon the shoulder-straps (KM from 24.11.1915), because it consists of companies of the 4th bavarian Pi.Btl.

Maybe this one wrote it on it, befor ehte shoulder-straps with a 4 were introduced...

But the 9 puzzles me. Kraus writes about bavarian minesweeper-companies 1-9

Other sources don´t mention a N°9. (only 1-6, 10-12, 14-16 and upper numbers).

 

Edited August 5, 2015 by The Prussian

[Trajan]

 

During the period that this type of unofficial sleeve patch was worn, the shoulder strap number would reflect the pioneer unit that the MWA came from. So, this would not be the 4th Bavarian Schwere Minenwerfer-Abteilung. If there was an Abteilung number at all, it was normally shown on the sleeve patch. Later in 1915, when the new Minenwerfer shoulder strap was introduced, the unit number was displayed on them and the sleeve patches were dropped.

Thanks for the correction - will bear that in mind. I am not too hot on unifoms and badges and its always good to learn

[Chip]

Andy,

Two things. First, if that is not a "4", then what is it? Only Garde units had no unit numbers and this fellow is not from a Garde unit. Also, the number on the shoulder strap is "6.". Look where the "punkt" is.

Chip

[The Prussian]

Chip!

You´re right with the 6. I didn´t recognize the Punkt. You might be a master in handstands...

So we can finish...

Bavarian Pi.Rgt.4 (constisted of two bataillons), 6th company.

Thanx a lot! One beer for you, matey!

[Chip]

Master of handstands? Is that good or bad? It must be a German saying, but it does convey the intended meaning.  I assume it means being good at something that no one cares about?

 

[The Prussian]

That only means, that you made a handstand to recognize the upside-down-company-button...

[Chip]

Ah, sometimes German humor flies right by me!

[Hoss]

Chip are those come as you are boards they look long and wide to me, just asking in fact they almost look like they have been made out of greatcoat back adjusting straps.

Eric

[Chip]

Eric,

The Bavarian's were pretty slap-dash with their manufacturing of straps. Their numbers were usually without serifs, the edges (as is the case here) were often mis-sewn so that they often opened easily. There must not have been any inspection, as they occasionally are seen with the edge sewing so far off that there is an open space between the two layers.