In memory of Xaver Lechner

R

Robert

New member
Having a few days off, I went to take a picture of a wayside cross halfway up a hill that I know since childhood. The paint is slowly chipping off and one day it might disappear completely.

It was arranged in memory of Xaver Lechner, member of the Bavarian Inf. Leibregiment, at the spot he was shot by a poacher on May 20th 1918 while on home leave. He had evidently just survived the spring offensive in which his regiment had participated with very heavy casualities.

Poaching was a common issue in the 19th century in the area and I could imagine that it flared up again during the war famine. Maybe he was a royal hunter in civil life because he is carries a rifle in the picture. These men also served as executives who enforced the law and not rarely got involved in fights.

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Very interesting, poaching is still a problem here, and poachers can be dangerous, although they are usually just stupid Poaching is not limited to wild game, cattle are often shot as well.
Best
Gus
 
A fascinating story! Thank you for sharing this. I know that Bavaria was pretty aggressive at trying to keep rural food inside of the kingdom. Poaching is a new angle to me.
 
To give some background information, back in the old days hunting was the privilege of royalty and the royal hunters as their representatives. Poaching was often committed by depressed and/or rebellious locals under threat of draconian punishment if they were caught. Therefore, the traditional image of poachers (Wilderer) was more that of a keen rebel and somewhat romanticized. In Bavaria some of this remains and there are many stories of famous poachers such as Georg Jennerwein.

Particularly in the Alps the terrain favors such activities and in earlier times there were some real feuds going on. For example, in the 1830s a hunter named Johann Mayr in the same town soon earned the nickname "Der wilde Jäger von Gmund" because he dealt with poachers in a battlesome way, arresting many and allegedly having killed 11 men. He died together with two other royal hunters in a shootout. A wayside cross reminding of this occasion is located only about a mile from the one I pictured.

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Intriguing stuff Robert, I'm pleased the monuments seem to be in good order which suggests to me they're afforded some degree of respect by the local wildlife (teenagers).

I'm afraid to say something like that around here would last only a week before it was vandalised - or stolen.

Thanks again.

- Brett
 
What is really interesting is that many of the signs with bullet holes are in populated areas, and when you look at the angle of the shot, you can often see a house or corral in the direct line of fire.

It is odd that I have never seen a road sign mounted on the wall of a hunter.
 
You should see the roadsigns on the island of Corsica !

That's Europe folks..... not the Wild West.....

Rgds,

Khukri
 
the island of Corsica !
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around here would last only a week before it was vandalised - or stolen.
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This may be a bit off topic but it is fascinating–I have never been to Corsica nor Australia–Brett I thought you were responsible for maintaining law and order on that continent!

Do you live in Dodge City?
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He might not live in Dodge city–it is an absolutely beautiful place–cleanest air I have ever experienced–but do not–do not trust Gus with directions. There is a reason why Moses wandered around the desert for 40 years–he was probably looking for Gus' house.
 
A late reaction, Robert. But I am really surprised by these old memorials and your pictures of it, accompanied with such an interesting background story. Thanks for sharing this!
 
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