Personalized Unit Mark

tenbears · 05-09-2011, 12:22 PM

In closed are pictures of a S71 dress bayonet with an personalized unit mark. I'm not sure what it is possibly Reserve Ersatz or Reserve Eisenbahn?

George Anderson · 05-09-2011, 06:31 PM

Walkenhorst. Einjahrfreiwilliger: 75. Regiment 1st Company. His name was Walkenhorst. He was a one year volunteer in the 75th Regiment(1st Hanseatic from Bremen) and was in the first company.
One year volunteers were typically fellows from well-to-do families who had to buy all their own uniforms and equipment for one year of active service versus two years for ordinary guys. Upon completion of their one year of active service most EJFW would be on the fast track for officer rank in the reserves.

Walkenhorst is a strange name for a German and may be a German of Dutch heritage. I looked in the 1909 and 1914 Ranglisten and there is no one with that name. In Dutch I would expect Valkenhorst and in German Falkenhorst. I can try some deeper sources to track him when I have more time but right now the voices are calling me; I'm late for the cocktail hour.

tenbears · 05-09-2011, 06:47 PM

Thanks George.

05-09-2011, 12:22 PM	#1
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	Personalized Unit Mark In closed are pictures of a S71 dress bayonet with an personalized unit mark. I'm not sure what it is possibly Reserve Ersatz or Reserve Eisenbahn? Attached Thumbnails

05-09-2011, 06:31 PM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Walkenhorst. Einjahrfreiwilliger: 75. Regiment 1st Company. His name was Walkenhorst. He was a one year volunteer in the 75th Regiment(1st Hanseatic from Bremen) and was in the first company. One year volunteers were typically fellows from well-to-do families who had to buy all their own uniforms and equipment for one year of active service versus two years for ordinary guys. Upon completion of their one year of active service most EJFW would be on the fast track for officer rank in the reserves. Walkenhorst is a strange name for a German and may be a German of Dutch heritage. I looked in the 1909 and 1914 Ranglisten and there is no one with that name. In Dutch I would expect Valkenhorst and in German Falkenhorst. I can try some deeper sources to track him when I have more time but right now the voices are calling me; I'm late for the cocktail hour.

05-09-2011, 06:47 PM	#3
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	Thanks George.