egbert Posted 10 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2005 With reference to the top paper depicted in the last photo (which was added to wallet probably by Grandmother after her husband's death): Do you think death is for free?? If you thought so, you are utterly wrong. The bill from bureaucracy for processing the testament is 7Mark, 10 Pfennig. No, even servicemen who die for their country are not protected from official piracy. 7,10Mark then was a lot of money for a young women with 2 little children and being a house maker solely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 10 November , 2005 Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Egbert - this thread is a veritable 'Box Of Delights' - are there more things to come? Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveuk6 Posted 10 November , 2005 Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Brilliant thread. Very moving Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunners dream Posted 10 November , 2005 Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Yes i will tell the story ; just wait for the appropriate trunk item which comes later <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Egbert, I can't wait for the tale to unfold! You are such a good story teller. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Egbert. Have you had any ideas as to what the 3 D's on the cufflinks could stand for? One (or all) of them might be for 'Deutschland' although I did wonder if they might date back to his university days (did he go to university)? Neil <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't think these are "D"s; just some ornaments; I believe he had the equivalent of High School and than became a professional soldier in NCO corps Is there more to come? You bet ya! We want to surpass the 10000 hit mark, don't we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyford Posted 10 November , 2005 Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Egbert I realise that the account/bill for your grandfather's death has a lot of text and I am not asking you to translate it all but - What are the items against the charges? Are they engraving charges? Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2005 It just states the different fees for opening of the testament; the value of the heritage is 1000Mark, which was only the value of used furniture, household goods etc; you see they were not rich at all - poor Grandson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2005 The testament bill is dated 25 Nov 1918. My Grandmother was so naive and wanted to pay her "debt" to the state immediately - as a good citizen. She should have waited couple of more days: I just read her diary and it says that 28 Dec 1918 Polish hordes occupied the town and started their reign of terror against the women and children (their husbands were mostly dead {IR 49 mourned 108 officers and 4822 NCOs and men lost in the Great War, more casualties than such a town could bear}); and 15 Feb 1919 the women fled to the West with their children under some protection from remnants of IR 49... and the German province of Posen was history P.S. Moral of the story: never pay the state debts on the spot! Always wait 6 weeks- who knows what happens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 10 November , 2005 Share Posted 10 November , 2005 Egbert, what a sad story. Your poor grandma. What a stuggle she must have endured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveBrigg Posted 11 November , 2005 Share Posted 11 November , 2005 so the Germans loved their children too... your trunk is the strongest argument I've seen for making sure it never happens again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 11 November , 2005 Share Posted 11 November , 2005 wholeheartedly agree. susan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Compo Posted 11 November , 2005 Share Posted 11 November , 2005 Nearly six thousand people looking over your shoulder into this trunk egbert. Fascinating. Thanks for sharing. I was waiting for someone more knowledgeable but here is what I suggest for that piece of light chain with the sraight bit. It is not Catholic, I am and that is nothing I can recognise. I suggest that if you look at the straight bit, it has taken on a shape that looks like a circle if you pinch the part near the ball with the base of the straight bit. I think it will create a circle which is the shape of the object it must have been wrapped around. Now I suggest you measure the diameter of this circle and if it is the size of a monocle glass. Can you hold it in your eye? Then that is what it must have surrounded and there would be a piece, or a binding thread, missing which would hold the circle closed. The light weight would support a monocle theory, I think the thing was you peered at someone through it then opened your eye and let it drop in a sort of appraising gesture. I remember very old plays where, particularly German officers, would do this. I do not think you had to necessarily need glasses to correct eyesight, it was a sort of affectation of the times like swagger sticks and moustaches. Does anyone have a picture of a German Officer, or maybe The Kaiser wearing a monocle we could all examine? I hope this was not some sort of caricature of a German officer, I am just guessing and trying to project into a time well before I was born. If I offend, I appologise in advance. Regds Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 11 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 11 November , 2005 Bill, I replicated your idea ; it is way tooooo small for the described purpose; sorry see picture: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Compo Posted 11 November , 2005 Share Posted 11 November , 2005 I will take your word for it egbert. Looks like we made you miss your ship with this thread! Regds and happy holidays. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelley Posted 11 November , 2005 Share Posted 11 November , 2005 Egbert, I have been away from the forum for some time, due to health issues. I managed to come to this site on this special day.........and I found your thread. Thank You so very much for sharing your grandfather's trunk with us. It brought home to me that so many of these men who never returned home had wives and children, and lives. My great grandfather was KIA in 1917, leaving a widow and two children. The child's shoe really touched my heart. Thank You again. Shelley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malte Znaniecki Posted 14 November , 2005 Share Posted 14 November , 2005 So it's time to go on Egbert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 14 November , 2005 Share Posted 14 November , 2005 I am having a thought for your grandfather today, Egbert, on the day he was severely injured. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 14 November , 2005 Share Posted 14 November , 2005 Happy hols egbert, we all await further revelations when you return refreshed so the Germans loved their children too... your trunk is the strongest argument I've seen for making sure it never happens again I think so Dave, this German family loved each other very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 14 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2005 I am having a thought for your grandfather today, Egbert, on the day he was severely injured. Gwyn <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Monday, 14th November 1914: Granddad was seriously wounded at Chateau Herenthage/Gheluvelt and was transported back home; he recovered until mid 1917 Thanks for remembering Gwyn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 14 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2005 Ok -I think its time to continue with the revelations of the secrets. This is an interesting one: another watch but completely destroyed, most likely by the shell splinter that killed Grandfather. It is a Swiss watch from Geneve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 14 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2005 And this is the hit: when I turned the watch face, I was amazed to realize an etching in order to identify the owner of the watch. The etching dates back to pre war, because the printed rank of Unteroffizier was held by Grandfather ca 1912, definitely pre war! Also the unit membership is depicted: 10. Kompanie , Infanterieregiment 49 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunners dream Posted 15 November , 2005 Share Posted 15 November , 2005 Good to see you back Egbert! I can't wait for more stories! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fuller Posted 15 November , 2005 Share Posted 15 November , 2005 Egbert Theres nothing I can say that hasnt been said already, but I cant keep silnet any more!! This is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I became really emotional when I was handed the Compass, so I cant imagine what Grandad's trunk must make you feel like? Just incredible. I was in a small village called Panrod (an hour north of Frankfurt) last week and paid my respects to their Memorial and graves but this brings it home in a massive way how the soldiers from Germany, France, Belgium, Britain (etc) were all humans who though the same things and were basically decent human beings. I bow my head to you and your Grandfather Sir. An incredible collection that I think its safe to say we're all unbelievably proud to be sharing with you. Beautiful and moving stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 15 November , 2005 Share Posted 15 November , 2005 More amazing revelations and the story comes out piece by piece. Have you ever thought of doing a book on this trunk egbert? The things it can tell........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malte Znaniecki Posted 15 November , 2005 Share Posted 15 November , 2005 Getting quiet, regarding the watch. I know what I see ... Malte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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