Hi Guys,
I had posted this rifle after finding it last year at the Baltimore show. It was a neat piece on its own, particularly due to the early date and unit marking.
www.k98kforum.com
Since then, I've built a pretty good grouping of items related to this regiment. They had a rather extensive history with the Prussian army, dating back to the 1600s. In 1814, they were re-named in honor of Tsar Alexander I of Russia due to his contributions to Prussia in the Napoleonic Wars. The regiment was identified by a crown/A cypher; the crown was the Imperial Russian one and the letter "A", naturally for Alexander. The regiment served with distinction in WW1 on both fronts.
wiki.genealogy.net
I'll try to walk through item by item for a little show and tell session and hopefully encourage a bit more collecting around regiments (I've got a bunch of similar groupings I'll share over time) I simply avoid full uniforms, but there's a lot to be collected without going that direction.
One big acquisition came during SOS. I was chatting about bayonets with Cyrus and it turned out that he had a 1900 1st Grenadier Guards SG 98 a/A he had semi-forgotten about. I traded him for a nice Bavarian marked bayonet I found at the show and we both walked away happy. Additionally, I found a set of pre-1907 shoulder straps and a wartime strap with a numbered button matching the same company (8th) as my rifle. I also found a lieutenant's epaulet. (All bear the crown/A cypher)
Another neat pick-up a while back was a reservist's pipe. Similar to beer steins, these were often purchased or gifted as a way to demonstrate pride of having served.
Next are two badges: One dating to 1914 and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the "Kaiser Alexander" naming. The second is a post WW1 veteran's association "tinny" Neither badge would be "officially" awarded, but would likely have been privately purchased or gifted.
This M95 pickelhaube from my collection does not have a unit marking inside of it, but has the proper Grenadier Guards wappen. It complements everything well.
This next item is also an important part of collecting specific regiments. This book is the wartime history (written postwar) and belonged to a researcher, as there are several old maps tucked inside with copious notes regarding the movements of the regiment.
This item is a pretty wild one that I literally stumbled on when looking through some old records- one side of this record contains an old recording the the regimental band playing. When I have some time I'll try to share a digitization of the music.
Finally, a few photos/postcards I've come across. Note the 2nd to last shows a "One Year Volunteer" based on the border on his shoulder straps. I particularly love the last one with the reservist stein sitting on his desk.
Forgot I also had a 71/84 too
Hope you enjoyed looking.
I had posted this rifle after finding it last year at the Baltimore show. It was a neat piece on its own, particularly due to the early date and unit marking.
1899 WMO 7128 (1st "Kaiser Alexander" Garde Grenadier Regiment)
Hi guys, This one came home with me from the Baltimore show back in March. Another member here gave me advance notice that he might be selling, so I asked him to hold it for me under his table. This one has seen its share of action, and many signs of reworking, but still presents well. The...
www.k98kforum.com
Since then, I've built a pretty good grouping of items related to this regiment. They had a rather extensive history with the Prussian army, dating back to the 1600s. In 1814, they were re-named in honor of Tsar Alexander I of Russia due to his contributions to Prussia in the Napoleonic Wars. The regiment was identified by a crown/A cypher; the crown was the Imperial Russian one and the letter "A", naturally for Alexander. The regiment served with distinction in WW1 on both fronts.
Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 1 – GenWiki
wiki.genealogy.net
I'll try to walk through item by item for a little show and tell session and hopefully encourage a bit more collecting around regiments (I've got a bunch of similar groupings I'll share over time) I simply avoid full uniforms, but there's a lot to be collected without going that direction.
One big acquisition came during SOS. I was chatting about bayonets with Cyrus and it turned out that he had a 1900 1st Grenadier Guards SG 98 a/A he had semi-forgotten about. I traded him for a nice Bavarian marked bayonet I found at the show and we both walked away happy. Additionally, I found a set of pre-1907 shoulder straps and a wartime strap with a numbered button matching the same company (8th) as my rifle. I also found a lieutenant's epaulet. (All bear the crown/A cypher)
Another neat pick-up a while back was a reservist's pipe. Similar to beer steins, these were often purchased or gifted as a way to demonstrate pride of having served.
Next are two badges: One dating to 1914 and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the "Kaiser Alexander" naming. The second is a post WW1 veteran's association "tinny" Neither badge would be "officially" awarded, but would likely have been privately purchased or gifted.
This M95 pickelhaube from my collection does not have a unit marking inside of it, but has the proper Grenadier Guards wappen. It complements everything well.
This next item is also an important part of collecting specific regiments. This book is the wartime history (written postwar) and belonged to a researcher, as there are several old maps tucked inside with copious notes regarding the movements of the regiment.
This item is a pretty wild one that I literally stumbled on when looking through some old records- one side of this record contains an old recording the the regimental band playing. When I have some time I'll try to share a digitization of the music.
Finally, a few photos/postcards I've come across. Note the 2nd to last shows a "One Year Volunteer" based on the border on his shoulder straps. I particularly love the last one with the reservist stein sitting on his desk.
Forgot I also had a 71/84 too
Hope you enjoyed looking.
