4thGordons Posted 30 July , 2021 Author Share Posted 30 July , 2021 (edited) This one appears to show a German unit with a Lewis Gun set up on an Anti-Aircraft mount: Unidentified MG section what is the cylindrical object under the right arm of the man on the right of the picture (as we look)? The shoulder number here appears to be: 133 nice view of the carts but I cannot make out any unit identifiers here The helmet covers appear to show 13 reasonably clearly but the chalboard indicates Bayr 18 inf Rgt I believe Varvinay is NE of St Mihiel. Edited 30 July , 2021 by 4thGordons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittinganddeath Posted 30 July , 2021 Share Posted 30 July , 2021 1 hour ago, 4thGordons said: Seem to be Russian Wheeled Maxims (1910?) This card dated August 1915 has an incredible amount of writing in the reverse. The letter says they are Russian machine guns that arrived on 15 August and that he wanted to record their arrival, so seized the opportunity to do so at once with this photograph. He also says the guns were converted for their cover (I think) ("Es sind russischen Maschinengewehr für unsere Zudecke umgebaut"). The writer, Bruno, was in Anizy-Pinon and mentions that "Margival was bombarded yesterday" before going on to talk about the weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 30 July , 2021 Author Share Posted 30 July , 2021 1 minute ago, knittinganddeath said: The letter says they are Russian machine guns that arrived on 15 August and that he wanted to record their arrival, so seized the opportunity to do so at once with this photograph. He also says the guns were converted for their cover (I think) ("Es sind russischen Maschinengewehr für unsere Zudecke umgebaut"). The writer, Bruno, was in Anizy-Pinon and mentions that "Margival was bombarded yesterday" before going on to talk about the weather. Thank you very much -- I was struggling through sentence by sentence and often word by word! - despite the fact that Bruno has clearer penmanship than many! Thanks! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittinganddeath Posted 2 August , 2021 Share Posted 2 August , 2021 (edited) On 31/07/2021 at 01:15, 4thGordons said: Thank you very much You're welcome, glad I could help. I didn't know that the Germans took Russian guns to the Western front. Also learned a lot about sausages from the first part of the letter Edited 2 August , 2021 by knittinganddeath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 2 August , 2021 Share Posted 2 August , 2021 (edited) On 31/07/2021 at 00:15, 4thGordons said: Thank you very much -- I was struggling through sentence by sentence and often word by word! - despite the fact that Bruno has clearer penmanship than many! Thanks! Chris "Unidentified MG section what is the cylindrical object under the right arm of the man on the right of the picture (as we look)?" - It is the muzzle cover for protection in transit. Not all types of MG used these, but they were intended to prevent the ingress of mud and provide general protection (to the exposed muzzle) when on the move. Edited 2 August , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 2 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2021 2 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: "Unidentified MG section what is the cylindrical object under the right arm of the man on the right of the picture (as we look)?" - It is the muzzle cover for protection in transit. Not all types of MG used these, but they were intended to prevent the ingress of mud and provide general protection when on the move. Thank you, @FROGSMILE Here is another one showing a feature I don't recall before large number badge (in this case 229) on a sleeve patch. I assume this indicates a unit? There are no shoulder-boards I can make out - the two that are slightly visible (centre and right of centre with a cane over arm) appear to show a roughly T shaped symbol. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 2 August , 2021 Share Posted 2 August , 2021 On 30/07/2021 at 23:05, 4thGordons said: Unidentified MG section what is the cylindrical object under the right arm of the man on the right of the picture (as we look)? Despite what you've just been told Chris, that is not a muzzle cover but the pre/early war cylindrical water can for the Maxim. It's even in the correct position to the gunners left, where it normally would be. See "The Devil's Paintbrush", Goldsmith, 2002: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 2 August , 2021 Share Posted 2 August , 2021 (edited) Entirely content to be corrected with interesting information. For 4th Gordons: my apologies if I’ve caused any inconvenience. My response to your query was as ever well meant. Edited 2 August , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 2 August , 2021 Share Posted 2 August , 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, 4thGordons said: I assume this indicates a unit? Fliegerabt. Artillerie or its predecessor Artillerie Flieger Abt. of that number. Ground crew. Can´t make the number out, looks like 229. The pilots and observers led the fire of the artillery and gave feedback on how effective the artillery worked. GreyC Edited 2 August , 2021 by GreyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 2 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2021 Many thanks for the redirect @Andrew Upton . I really should get a copy of Lundgren - I have been meaning to for years! @GreyC and yes the number is 229 I will continue to scan in pics from this latest batch and post any that might be of interest. Thanks Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 2 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2021 2 hours ago, GreyC said: Fliegerabt. Artillerie or its predecessor Artillerie Flieger Abt. of that number. Ground crew. Can´t make the number out, looks like 229. The pilots and observers led the fire of the artillery and gave feedback on how effective the artillery worked. GreyC I have found another with clearer views of the shoulder boards and badge: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 3 August , 2021 Share Posted 3 August , 2021 Fliegerersatzabteilung 2 from which the Feldfliegerabt. 46 was formed. GreyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 On 14/02/2020 at 22:50, themonsstar said: What with one thing and another (called work!) I seem to have missed out on this thread since February last year! Anyway, top photograph, musuicians, yes, with an NCO with a ?Sharpshooters badge on his sleeve? Second - is that a Kar 98 there? Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 On 20/02/2020 at 15:05, shippingsteel said: Interesting to see the Gewehr 88/05 (M1888 Kommissions Rifle) in use in this parade shot. This weapon had been superseded to a degree by the Gewehr 98 as the premier Infantry rifle at this time. Presumably the Gewehr 88 was retained by this Garde regiment to allow the use of the more distinguished looking Seitengewehr 71 (M1871 Bayonet) with its nicely polished brass grips. Just to add a little extra parade ground flair.! Cheers, SS That was indeed the case SS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 (edited) On 22/03/2020 at 15:05, themonsstar said: Top one, father and son? The man standing is Landsturm and has 1915+ collar badge style Below, two brothers, I guess, both with silver wound badges, so after 3rd March 1918. Edited 5 August , 2021 by trajan spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 On 25/06/2021 at 05:52, 4thGordons said: These lads look very young to me.... Again appears to have a partial list of names On 25/06/2021 at 06:50, GreyC said: 2nd coy, 2nd Bavarian Jäger Bataillon (Ersatz-Btl) Aschaffenburg. GreyC BUT, why do they have S.98/05? These were restricted to Pionier, Eisenbahn, telegraph, etc, units until after the date of the picture, 'Feldzug 1914 15 10'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 38 minutes ago, trajan said: with a ?Sharpshooters badge on his sleeve? No, it is not an individual shooting award but one for the company with the best shooting results within their Armeekorps. Given out yearly, called Kaiserabzeichen. GreyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 On 27/06/2021 at 11:50, FROGSMILE said: It’s an interesting photo and the aura of highly trained competence is palpable. On appearance alone I would rate them as formidable young soldiers. I assume that the cloth bags slung around their necks are the hand grenade carriers that I’ve seen before in artworks? And they have the Kar 98 and at least one has the S.84/98 used by storm units. Note on the last photograph what seems to be a nasty looking screwdrive or similar tucked into the belt for use in trench fighting? Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 3 minutes ago, trajan said: screwdrive or similar tucked into the belt for use in trench fighting? Do you mean the pliers to cut the wire? GreyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 On 27/06/2021 at 17:17, Cnock said: Uhlans exchanged their horses for bicycles. Cnock Hussar 1915. Cnock Officers and MG 08 in lowest position Cnock A really lovely set, especially the chappie on the horse! And the MG shield! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 23 minutes ago, GreyC said: Do you mean the pliers to cut the wire? GreyC Yes, now I see what they are! Thanks! (bangs head against table....) Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 5 August , 2021 Share Posted 5 August , 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 27 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2021 Couple of interesting leather? jackets and what I think are members of the MatrosenRegiment ? (with a line of young lads including one who appears barefoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 28 August , 2021 Share Posted 28 August , 2021 Hello, last picture shows members of Matrosen Rgt in Flanders. The numbers on the doors are the numbers of the billets. Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie2 Posted 28 August , 2021 Share Posted 28 August , 2021 There is also at least one Artilleryman among them - front row in shirt sleeves. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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