Engl. Flieger-Bomb, Blindgänger

An unexploded 20 lb Hales bomb. These were dropped by hand by the pilot or observer of the airplane.

German Discus Grenade

Here is a dismantled German M1915 Discushandgranate . Referred to as a discus or turtle grenade because of the shape. A pencil is included for scale.

Amerik. Fliegerbombe Blindgänger

American day bombardment started in June 1918. On the 12th of June the 96th Aero Squadron bombed the railroad yards at Dommary-Baroncourt. This photo showing to German soldiers and an unexploded American is updated and could be from any raid.

The Aces of Cormier

A number of this group have the specialty insignia of Grenadiers on thier collar. They are also heavy on the mascots with 2 dogs and a cat. A field telephone can be seen with the 2 soldier lower left.

German POWs taken at Dricourt

A group of German prisoners with their French guard near Dricourt. Still near the front as there are plenty of gas mask canister being carried by both sides.

Grooming Horses

Touch up

This photograph of a French soldier in his work fatigues needed a little touch. The Photographer went in and added the buttons and pocket of the jacket. 

Schreibstube 13/6

Members of Grenadier-Regiment Graf Kleist von Nollendorf (1. Westpreußisches) Nr. 6 outside of the orderly room.

German Mule

Picture here is a group from the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 16 with a mule. In early 1915 they would have been on the line in the Aisne region of France.

US Engineer

An engineer of Company B while in service in France.

Three Sergeants in Vienna

Three sergeants (Zugsführer) in the Austro-Hungarian Army in Vienna before the war. The one on the left wears what looks like a Franz Joseph Bronze Jubilee Medal. This medal was given to all members of the armed forces in 1898 in celebration of the of the 50year of the Emperor's reign.

Swallows Nest

This soldier wears the swallows nest (Schwalbennester) of an army musician on his shoulders.

Chers Parents

"I've taken advantage of the rest to send you a small souvenir from the front. Good health and a quick recovery, and good luck. Tonight the canons fire loudly. Nothing new. The regiment is still at rest, we're told it's for 2 months. Waiting to see you and get a strong handshake."

With best love from Edgar

Two of the same

A couple of British dispatch riders in France.
At times I lose track of what I have in my collection. The 2nd card was purchased about 6 months after the 1st.  Not often can you find multiple prints of the same studio portraits. Either each subject purchased one or one of them bought two.

Royal Flying Corps

A common motif for photographs during the war was posing the tallest and shortest members of a unit together. Here are two members of the Royal Flying Corps somewhere in Great Britain.

Blainville

A couple of soldiers from the 12e Regiment in Blainville. The only reference I can find about Blainville is about the detrainment of the American 28th Division there in 1918.

Breteuil near Montdidier

A damaged hospital train in Breteuil, France. About 30 miles from the front at the time of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The Germans did capture Montdidier in June of 1918 about 13 miles away. They held on to it until August when a combine Allied assault retook it.

Russian Prisoners

A card from a member of the 84th Infantry Division showing some Russian prisoners in 1916. There are two German soldiers in amongst the group. A medical orderly and a guard in the center looking quite relaxed.

Belgian Card Players

Nothing on the back of this card to help with the where or when of this photo.  The dark pants lead me to believe that this was taken before the war. In 1915 the army was supplied with Khaki uniforms modeled after those worn by the French Army.

Bersagliere Ciclista

A similar picture of this Italian cyclist can be found in the Oprey book The Italian Army of World War I. The difference is that in this picture he chose to pose with his Carcano Model 1891 infantry rifle.

Beverloo Camp

A group of Belgium soldiers at Camp Beverloo in Leopoldsburg, Belgium after the armistice.

Russians in Sweden

Picture here is a group of Russian soldier in Haparanda, Sweden in 1916.  Prisoner exchange between Germany and Russia went through neutral Sweden. This would have been their last stop before going on to Finland, a Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire at the time. Photograph by Mia Green.

Kraftfahrer in Bucharest

Another motor driver this time wearing the shorter leather tunic. This photo was taken by W. Oppelt of Bucharest. Falkenhayn's cavalry captured Bucharest in December 1916 so this picture was most likely taken in 1917 or 1918.

Kraftfahrer in München

 

Motor drivers for the German Army wore leather tunics and pants to protect them from the weather. This driver has on a leather greatcoat for addition warmth in the winter months. On his belt he has a Model 1912 Map Case and Model 1909 Ammunition Pouches. Photographed by Max Höfele in München.

British Wounded

A group of British wounded with some hospital staff. There are two members of the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service(2nd row), one from the Voluntary Aid Detachment (3rd row left) and a Red Cross Nurse (3rd row right). This picture by Viner & Co., Bath.

WAAC

A member of the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps.

WIth Love From Your Loving Cousin

Alfred was very fond of his cousin.

Sincerelry Yours Bernard

Bernard was with the Army Service Corps. He is wearing Khaki Drill which would place him away from the Western Front.

HMS New Zealand

Three sailors from the HMS New Zealand. An Indefatigable class battlecruiser, she was part of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet. This card has a French back so this may have been taken when the ship visited Brest in February 1914.

Chas

Chas in the Rapid Electric Studio Co. in Chatham. At the time of this photo the HMS Trent, renamed the HMS Pembroke, was serving at the shore barracks at Chatham.

British Army Entering Cologne

The British Army entered Cologne in December 1918. These three images were taken at that time. The Royal Scots and the British Calvary marching through the city and finally the Calvary in formation outside of the Cologne Cathedral. The British Army of the Rhine was established in March 1919 and was headquartered in Cologne.

Cairo

A nice portrait of A Royal Engineer in Cairo. Taken at Shoucair & Co.

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Some members of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment with a cat and small child somewhere in England. They could possibly be from the 2nd Battalion. Written on either side of the doors behind them is "Transport TRWR 2".

West Yorkshire Regiment

13 members of the The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). The soldier on the far right was lucky or unlucky depending on how you look at it. He was wounded twice (unlucky) but is still fit for duty (lucky).

Ross Rifle

At the start of the war the Canadian Infantryman was equipped with the Ross Rifle. It did not do well in the trenches, frequently jamming because of the dirt and mud. By 1916 it was replaced in combat by the Lee-Enfield and used for training in Canada and England.