An interesting casaulty group RIR242 Ypres

[Chris Boonzaier]

This is an interesting little group... a man who served in one of the divisions that were volunteered in August 1914 as untrained soldiers and were already fighting 6 weeks later.

He was wounded at Zonnebeke on the 5th of May 1915 and his war was over.... the most interesting part is the EK doc, sent from the regiment to him after he was invalided out.... The "Diese Mitteilung gilt zugleich als ausweis!" means "this notifications doubles as your award document"... it is also a Generic document which can be used for any award from any state, but is a special print for the regiment...

[Dave Danner]

The signature is Oberstleutnant z.D. Wilhelm Lüddecke, *9.12.1861, who commanded Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 25 and Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 242, and was then a Kreischef in Belgium. He was promoted to Oberst in 1917 and was a char. Generalmajor a.D.

And in case anyone didn't notice the rue crown on the stamp, RIR 242 was a Royal Saxon regiment.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Thanks Dave.

I must admit that I was surprised when I realised that the Saxons were there in Ypres that early.