Deciphering a German WW1 Postmark

[AndyMacdonald]

Hi all,

I am conducting some research into a particular German soldier of IR180 who was killed on 3 July 1916. It appears from the post marks in the picture that he was in 11 Kompanie IR180, which was in the 26th Reserve Division. Can anyone shed any light on what 'SB' means in the purple postmark? Also, can anyone decipher what the handwritten text is at the top of the picture? We know the soldier was in the front line trenches on 1 July from various snips of correspondence, and I am happy to present my full research here on the forum in due course. I don't know if there are any 26th Reserve Division experts here, but I would love to know if I can narrow down the soldier's platoon. His company commander's name would help with the research as well. His name was Friedrich Bauer. Can anyone suggest where I might apply for his and his brother's service papers, if they still exist? Both were Wurttembergers.

Best

AndyM

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Hi,

SB = Soldaten Brief, soldiers letter 11 J R 180 = 11 Company III Battalion Infantry Regt 180.

The writing is his unit details, See The other side of the Wire by Ralph J Whitehead deals with the Divisuion in great detail.

regards

John

[purley]

The picture of the postmark is a beautiful example of how the allies worked out the German's order of battle from captured mail and what caused the British authorities to disguise brigade numbers in postmarks from Field Post Offices after 18th June 1916.

John

[apwright]

Also, can anyone decipher what the handwritten text is at the top of the picture?

The top line reads: Abs[ender] Reservist Fr[iedrich] Bauer 11/180

His capital letters aren't standard Kurrent and the 'B' of Bauer looks more like a G at first sight, but examining the penstrokes (resembles 'J3' rather than 'oJ') it's clearly meant to be a 'B'.

AFAIK most Kriegsstammrollen of Württemberg regiments are held at the Hauptstaatsarchiv in Stuttgart

https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs21/olb/struktur.php?archiv=1&klassi=1.11.001.004&anzeigeKlassi=1.11.001.004.001.%&inhaltHauptframe=naeheres&anzeigeId=5792&letztesLimit=&syssuche=&logik=

but I gather they don't "do" research, so you would have to go there yourself or find someone to go for you (by appointment!).

Adrian