Mission Impossible: Assistance providing soldiers details.

[aussiesoldier]

I have recently had some success chasing down a soldier's details from a very meagre beginning and I have a a faint hope that the site might be able to help me again.

I have a;  

Kavallerie-Degen M.1889,  2 Hannover Dragoon Regt Nr16,  Lüneburg;  a "Eigentuems Stuecken" or "Owned Pieces" with the o

wner’s name engraved on bottom of guard = GEFR BONIG.  

The regiment's story is 

The 16th (2nd Hannover) Dragoons : On mobilization, the 16th Dragoons, was raised to a strength of 6 squadrons before being split into two half-regiments of 3 squadrons each. The half-regiments were assigned as divisional cavalry to 17th and 18th Divisions.

On mobilisation, IX Corps was assigned to the 1st Army on the right wing of the forces for the Schlieffen Plan offensive in August 1914 on the Western Front. It participated in the Battle of Mons and the First Battle of the Marne which marked the end of the German advances in 1914. Later it saw action in the Battle of Pozières and Battle of Amiens (1918). It was still in existence at the end of the war.

And that is the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.  

I would be very grateful for any assistance anyone can offer.

George 

[aussiesoldier]

Dear GMIC members,

Maybe an answer to my challenge from across the Channel.  I registered on the Feldgrau site and one possibility arose. 

 

Corporal Wilhelm Bonig was from the small rural town of  Dohnsen, in the district of Holzminden, to the south of Hannover He was listed as wounded in the 7 December, 1917 casualty list.     Rural towns would have provided the horsemen necessary for a cavalry regiment and it is at least a logical solution.

 

Considering the destruction of Prussian military records in April, 1945 air raids, I suspect this is almost as good as it is going to get.

 

Putting even a small story to a named sword is always a moment of great joy.

 

Thanx

 

George  

[Tony]

George,

He the only Bonig from Dohnsen on the casualty lists. His unit isn't mentioned so it can't be confirmed he was still with the Dragoons in late 1917, perhaps that really is as good as it'll get?

It doesn't appear to be a common name, only 9 listed on the German war graves site, 8 of them being WWII casualties.

Tony