Portrait of an Unknown Soldier

[argonne]

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Hi Bruno,

I´m confused...

Hello Philippe,
If you are confused, I am impressed! Fantastic how you managed to track poor Josef.
I looked again at the original and it looks like 25 but I may be wrong. Perhaps it is indeed 29. Which should make sense; Trier, where JR29 was stationed, is even closer to Klotten than Aachen.
Regarding the date I do not know. The artist most likely painted the picture after a photograph, after Josef's death, but why would have he written the date in such a prominent way, if it was not that of the death?
Simply a mistake, perhaps?
Anyway thank you so much. That's great.
Bruno

Bruno,

Another solution could be this one:
Josef was during his 2 years of active duty in the JR25. The artist could have paint this oil canvas using a pict of this pre war period.
At the mobilisation, Josef was then mobilised in the JR29. It was not so common that reservists were strictly mobilised in the same unit where they did their active time.
One thing is 100% sure: Josef did not die Juni 1915, but February. There is only one Josef Adams in Clotten and the Verlustlisten are very exact. I really believe that the date 17 Juni 1915 is the date of the pict achievment.

Philippe

 

[Magpie]

Arghh, why didn't my guy have more written on the back of his portrait? Sounds really exciting doing the research!

 

[poniatowski]

Arghh, why didn't my guy have more written on the back of his portrait? Sounds really exciting doing the research!

Pencils were difficult to come by in the trenches??? :wink: Seriously though, try black or UV light on it. Maybe something will show up... maybe not... Well, probably not, but it's worth a try.


Ron