beautiful piece of history, sometimes we forget who or what experienced it in the battle of 14_18One pioneer helmet more...PB 16, garrison in Metz. Double named and tracked.
First worn by Vizefeldwebel der Reserve and Offizierstellvertreter Finck, 3/PB16, KIA on the 30.9.14 in the Argonne forest.
His mortal remains were buried by the side of a forest path with some fifteen of his men, and their helmets were returned to the Ersatz Bataillon in Metz. Interestingly, and quite uniquely, the visor bears the inscription of the second wearer who received the helmet two weeks later, Unteroffizier Gotthardt Mohs, 4/RJR236. The RJR36 was sent to Belgian Flanders (Ypres) in mid-October 1914. Unteroffizier Mohs was wounded and taken prisoner by the French at Langemark during a poorly coordinated German attack on November 7, 1914. The regimental history of RJR236 indeed mentions that the men of RJR236 had to be equipped with totally disparate helmets due to the great lack of equipment. They received pioneer helmets, dragoon helmets, guard helmets and even a hundred police helmets.
Philippe
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Verlustlisten 1. Weltkrieg, page 1835: Finck ()
des.genealogy.net
Verlustlisten 1. Weltkrieg, page 8151: Mohs Gotthard (Berlin)
Offizierstellvertreter Finck ( his grave shows the name Fink, name transcription error during post-war exhumation to the german cemetery of Servon-Melzicourt, near the Argonne forest).
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My Pioniere
- Thread starter Roudeleiw
- Start date
Grabenmaxx
Well-known member
Those are all amazing helmets and the history behind them really beings them to life! Thanks a lot for sharing them here.
PhilippeIt's a very emotional object for me, because since the age of 7, I've been walking with my father in the precise area of the Argonne forest where Vizefeldwebel Finck was killed and buried. In 2021, I specially returned to this area, which I know very well, and took this photo of the spot where Finck was buried on 30.9.14.
Philippe
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Finck was KIA at the Bagatelle Pavillon.
The 2 and 3/PB16 fought with the 3, 4 and 7/JR67. On the other side were 6 platoons of the french 120th and 128th infantry regiments...
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You have truly provided a fantastic history of the helmet’s owners service and fates in the Great War. You have provided a small glimpse price they and other of their generation paid. This included servicemen of all nations sacrifices in the first industrialized war. God Bless Them All! Thank you for posting the story.
Best Regards
John