Open season on identification

Mike,

I think you are dead right. Do you have an e-mail connection with this commander?? He might be able to identify the very individual. Great job and thank you.
 
joerookery said:
Mike,

I think you are dead right. Do you have an e-mail connection with this commander?? He might be able to identify the very individual. Great job and thank you.
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Joe,

I don't have any contact with anyone personally, I just happened to find the regimental web page. I only found two e-mail addresses on the web page, one for the Life Guard Regiment, [email protected], and one for the Guard Company, [email protected]. I don't know if there would get much response or not, but it wouldn't hurt to try I guess.
 
Joe,

The older fellow on the left may be King George V of Hanover, the last reigning king; but I'm thinking it may be his father, King Ernst August I (mainly because of the large mutton chop sideburns). If the one on the left is Ernst August I then the fellow on the right side is the last reigning king of Hanover, George V. The young man at the top should be Crown Prince Ernst August, George V's son, but he looks more like Prince Ernst August, later duke of Brunswick, who married the Kaiser's daughter Princess Victoria.
 
Mike,

I am working on something with this–this could be the older brother of Ernst–but the women are throwing me off.

Okay I am having a brain freeze– clears shoulder strap–what unit? Too much coffee–no litzen–


ps578 by joerookery, on Flickr
 
joerookery said:
Thanks! Was there a change in the shoulder strap at some time?
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Infanterie-Leib Regt. Großherzogin (3. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr.117
(Mainz) XVIII Armee Korps awarded VM cypher of Grand Duchess Victoria Melitta of Hesse 04 Sept 1897. Ludwig of Hesse divorced her (git!) and changed it to his mother's cypher Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse 15 Jan 1902.
 
Grand Duchess Victoria Melitta of Hesse
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Now that makes tremendous sense–I always thought–that the old wife maintained her position as the honorary chief of the Regiment?!?

Do you know if that changed? Thanks a lot!
 
Can't see how.
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This may be apocryphal but my understanding was she would not give it up. She did that just to spite him–their marital quarrels were legendary. I just read an article on her–let me see if I can find it.

vicmel.jpg
 
Joe,

The negative has been reversed on that last photo. Notice that their coats all button up the wrong way? I believe that's a 7 on the helmet covers and shoulder straps. Also the NCO in the middle is wearing his sword on the right side of his body instead of the left!
 
Joe,

Further to Mike's explanation, notice the rifle bolts are all on the left side as opposed to their correct position on the right. Definitely a reversed photo.

Cheers,

Brett
 
Mike,

It can't be that simple.–Is it? My goodness why did I not think of this? I am getting too old. I was looking up shoulder straps and just could not find a reversed seven. No wonder. Thank you for your sensible approach!
 
joerookery said:
Mike,

It can't be that simple.–Is it? My goodness why did I not think of this? I am getting too old. I was looking up shoulder straps and just could not find a reversed seven. No wonder. Thank you for your sensible approach!
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Joe,

Yes, I'm afraid it is! Not being much of a weapons man I didn't even notice the rifle bolts that Brett points out, but I very quickly spotted the reversed 7 and the fact that the jackets were all buttoned up female style. :D
 
This may be apocryphal but my understanding was she would not give it up. She did that just to spite him–their marital quarrels were legendary. I just read an article on her–let me see if I can find it.
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Found the article in the European royalty magazine–does not say anything about her relationship with the Regiment. However, it does say that she gave up her Hessian house order after the funeral of her daughter… Of plot she thickened! :sad1: :sad1:

I finally found a nice picture of her in her uniform. It is on the way.
 
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