Württemburg 123rd Grenadier Regiment - Puzzler

[Steve Nick]

As part of “the downsizing” a few years ago, I decided to keep one helmet that was representative of the Kingdom of Württemburg.

Württemburg had two premier Infantry Regiments; the 119th Queen Olga’s Grenadiers and the 123rd König Karl’s Grenadiers. This helmet is an enlisted ranks Clothing Depot issued item (marked BA XIII) which equates to Bekleidungsampt 13th Army Corps. I can also make out 123R. The issue date is hard to make out but I believe it to be 1914.

It’s always been a bit of a puzzler

These two Grenadier Regiments utilized silver fittings as per other “Life” regiments. In the pre-war period the fittings would have been made in German Silver or “Neu Silber”.

This helmet appears to be a 1915 pattern yet it has nickel plated steel fittings instead of feldgrau painted steel. I understand why the fittings would not be German Silver in war-time, and in the early days of the war the elite regiments such as the 123rd moved to the use of nickel-plated fittings. All good so far.

The helmet liner shows traces of Feldgrau paint which led me to go over the fittings under high magnification. I found very small traces of Feldgrau paint in the lion’s mouth of the Wappen from which I conclude the helmet fittings were painted either in the field or at the factory? Someone, likely post war, discovered that the helmet was marked to a Grenadier regiment and then proceeded to “Jazz it up” by removing the Feldgrau paint. They couldn’t remove it from the leather however.

The puzzling bit is that the top of the 1915 pattern spike base that should be visible when the bayonet mount spike is removed has been crudely cut off creating a considerably large hole open to the elements. (Probably not entirely open as the Helmet Cover would be over top of it)

Why does a 1891/95 pattern helmet (the rear spine is the 1891 model with no vent shutter) have a M1915 spike on it?

Any thoughts?

 

[aicusv]

My wife's Uncle Alfred served with IR 123, 1916-1918 and I spent hours talking to him about his service. His comment on the finish of the helmet was that they were grey. As to your spike - I would think that it was to conform to removable spike order and was retro fitted to the helmet while in service. I think the top was cut open to allow for better ventilation. Uncle Al also said they were never issued anything new unless the old item ws completely unusable. Three years in the same uniform.

 

[Steve Nick]

My wife's Uncle Alfred served with IR 123, 1916-1918 and I spent hours talking to him about his service. His comment on the finish of the helmet was that they were grey. As to your spike - I would think that it was to conform to removable spike order and was retro fitted to the helmet while in service. I think the top was cut open to allow for better ventilation. Uncle Al also said they were never issued anything new unless the old item ws completely unusable. Three years in the same uniform.

I think you're right about better ventilation being the incentive. I can't think of a more plausible reason, although being an issued helmet it was government property and damaging it deliberately would be frowned on at a minimum. Maybe for a guy in the front lines it would be the least of his concerns.

It must have been very interesting talking to Uncle Alfred.

Thanks for responding.

 

[911car]

My wife's Uncle Alfred served with IR 123, 1916-1918 and I spent hours talking to him about his service. His comment on the finish of the helmet was that they were grey. As to your spike - I would think that it was to conform to removable spike order and was retro fitted to the helmet while in service. I think the top was cut open to allow for better ventilation. Uncle Al also said they were never issued anything new unless the old item ws completely unusable. Three years in the same uniform.

I am not surprised by the removable spike on Steve's helmet. I have seen a few examples of Prussian EM Pickelhauben with all yellow metal fittings and detachable, M15 like spikes of the same metal. I even owned one a long time ago. This is with all respect due to Uncle Alfred, but does not necessarily contradict what he said since as you mentioned these spikes may have been retro fitted. However, these M95/15 helmets really seemed homogeneous and fitted together from scratch, and I cannot remember seeing anterior dates on these. Therefore, the hypothesis is that a few of these intermediate models were made before everything turned pewter gray...

 

[Steve Nick]

However, these M95/15 helmets really seemed homogeneous and fitted together from scratch, and I cannot remember seeing anterior dates on these. Therefore, the hypothesis is that a few of these intermediate models were made before everything turned pewter gray...

That's an interesting comment. I'm inclined to think that the M15 pattern spike is original to the helmet although that would seem to be non-regulation. The fittings are all nickel plated steel rather than Neu Silber in an effort to retain the Grenadier status of the helmet so, perhaps it makes sense that for a short period they complied with the removable spike directive but retained the "silver" look of a Grenadier regiment?

Thanks for your response.

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Everyone seems to forget about the 1916 Friedens-Uniform (Future Peacetime Uniform). The Friedens-Uniform Pickelhauben were made to look identical to the pre war helmets right up until 1918, with the exception that almost all units lost the chinscales. Silver plating wartime metal M15 fittings could have been a way to conserve critical war material like Neusilber as has been pointed out. As for the top of the spike base being cut off, that makes no sense. A soldier on a parade is not going to overheat more than a soldier in combat wearing an M15.

 

[Peter B]

Beautiful helmet and some cool history - love it!

 

[aicusv]

First - let me say that Uncle Al, was only talking about himself, his helmet had grey fittings. That's not to say others had something else. As to the top of the spike plug, there is no telling what soldiers will do. In 1918 the Kaiser Inspected this regiment, Uncle Al was given all new kit for this inspection, following the inspection the new kit was taken back and his old kit returned. UA did not say anything about what helmet he wore for this inspection. He did say they only wore the steel helmet while at the front, when in the rear areas they wore the spike.

It is a great helmet.