A Naval Iron Cross For JUTLAND

[Guest Rick Research]

What, no stickpin minis????

Iron Cross 2nd Class to Torpedo-Obermaschinistenmaat (2nd Class Petty Officer, insignia of a crown over anchor with torpedo and gear, equivalent of the Imperial army rank "Sergeant") Paul Schmidt of His Majesty's Torpedo Boat "S24" of the VIIth Torpedoboat Flotilla.

Awarded on 8 September 1916 per order of 2 July (!!!) and signed by Flotilla Commander "v Koch."

"S24" was Flotilla Leader of the 10 torpedo boats of VIIth Flotilla (XIII and XIV Half-Flotillas)under Scouting Group IV of the High Seas Fleet. Scouting Group IV lost BOTH its major capital ships-- the cruiser "Frauenlob" and the flagship of the torpedoboats, the light cruiser "Rostock." None of the ten torpedoboats in the Flotilla were lost at Jutland, though 5 of them were lost to mines along the Belgian and Danish coasts 1917-18.

"S24" was launched 28 June 1913. 234.5 feet long, displacing 588 tons, she had a crew of 73, with 4 20 inch torpedo tubes, 2 3.4 inch guns, and 18 mines. "S24" was surrendered to Great Britain 28 April 1920 and was wrecked on the south coast of England in December of that year.

Gottlieb von Koch was born in 1875. He served in the Imperial navy 1894-1919, final rank Fregattenkapit?n zS aD.

The Executive Officer on "S24" was the later Generaladmiral Otto Schniewind (1887-1964), a WW2 Knight's Cross winner, and Chief of the German fleet 1941-44.

[Guest Rick Research]

Honor Cross for Frontfighters to Paul Schmidt as a lathe operator in Flensburg, 23 March 1935.

Prussian/Imperial Navy Cross for XV Years Service to Torp. Ob. Mschmt. Paul Schmidt as in 8th Company, IInd Torpedo Division, issued at Wilhelmshaven 16 September 1920 with an UNaltered Imperial stamp (!) and signed by Korvkapt zS aD Kurt von "Falkenried."

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Wartime service for REGULARS was counted as double for these long service awards and pensions. Because the Weimar government wanted former NCOs and POs to be beholden to them, either category with "18" pension years was discharged as a Leutnant. Since Schmidt was not, he must have joined no earlier than 1909 or later than 1912, since service outside home waters befoe the war also counted double and most training cruises were such long distance trips. He was thus likely born between 1889 and 1893.

It was standard operating procedure to hand out long service awards to enlisted ranks on their birthday falling qualification, so 16 September was likely the date he was born in F?rstenwalde, Brandenburg.

As a curiosity of autographs-- "von Falkenried" had been "von Jastrzembski" up to the final pre-war Naval Rank List of May 1914. He and his older brother changed their family names (!) subsequent to that and before 1918!!! Boring old Kurt here had commanded the Special Command for Heavy Direct Fire Guns on the Western Front 1915-17-- the famous "Paris gun." You never know who'll you'll find in some routine desk job.