GOTTFRIED SANDROCK
From the moment I started this website it was always my intention to include stories that showed the wars from a German view. I have tried to find any German story connected to the Merseyside area, but as yet with no luck. I will however continue to search for and add to the website any that I find.
On 1st November 2005 a thread appeared on The Great War Forum titled ' This is The Secret of Granddads Trunk ' Egbert Sandrock had started the thread to tell the story of his Grandfather Gottfried Sandrock who had served and was killed in action during WW1 while serving with the German Army. The story became a very emotional read as Egbert produced Gottfried's personal items from within the trunk, thus allowing us to learn about him, his war and his life.
The story moved so many members of this mainly British forum as Egbert produced items over a 2 month period. It was an incredible insight into Gottfried's life. All men fighting this terrible war were so alike. They all had family and loved one's back home, they all had their fears. Only a uniform separated them.
You can read the thread in full on The Great War Forum. Use the link below then scroll down to Classic threads.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?
I decided to ask Egbert for permission to include the story of his Grandfather on this website. Gottfried has no connection to Liverpool or Merseyside at all, but I wanted to include it as it shows the events from a German soldier's life. As you will see his experiences and fears were the same as those serving on the opposite side.
Egbert has agreed to allow the story to be told on this website, I thank him for his gesture and his help. I am honored to include Gottfried Sandrock here and feel certain that people will benefit a great deal from reading about him. Our ancestors had to fight as enemies; today I am happy to have a friend like Egbert.
I thought ' How am I going to show this story here? How will I lay it out and tell it? ' Then I realized, there really was only one way.........So it's over to Egbert.
THIS IS THE SECRET OF GRANDAD'S TRUNK
Gottfried was killed by a large shell fragment on May 1st,1918 in front of the Bois de Nieppe at 15:00 hrs (14:00 British army time); his direct opponent was the 1st Bn DCLI (Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry). One or several splinters through the chest killed him instantly and his aide was submerged by tons of earth and dug out by his comrades severely injured but alive.
This is Grandads officer trunk from 1918; it was sent back to Grandma when her husband left her, my 3 year old father and his brother forever, May 1st, 1918 on the battlefield between Merville and Bois de Nieppe.
Before I go on, I think I need to explain some things: All shown artifacts are truly from Grandad, mostly from the sober “return” mail to Grandmother after he was killed; so they are genuine showpieces of a time long gone; I show these personal and family artifacts because they are historic and should be made known to you. I do not believe that this is an intrusion into Grandads or Grandmothers privacy.
Before I go on, I think I need to explain some things: All shown artifacts are truly from Grandad, mostly from the sober “return” mail to Grandmother after he was killed; so they are genuine showpieces of a time long gone; I show these personal and family artifacts because they are historic and should be made known to you. I do not believe that this is an intrusion into Grandads or Grandmothers privacy.
The box opens, and here is the first artifact: a pair of binoculars
Since such glasses were pretty much of value in those days, I'd think the owners took good care of them. I bet this is combat damage.
A nice harmonica, he surely used in the foxholes
A Pocket Watch
Inscription
Watch Face
After the death of Grandad 1918, my Grandmother never married again, she died 1975 ish; through all the years she kept her husband’s memorabilia like a treasure; she never had the chance to visit his grave, nor the place of death (which is known on 10 meter accuracy due to the exact hand drawn map of Grandad’s aide).
After 1975 the trunk was stored in my parental home; reflecting back it looks like a prevision, that I simply decided in younger years to take possession of Grandads belongings –with full consensus of my father; I remember selling a beautiful hand carved meerschaum pipe with Neptune’s head from the treasure, but other than that I kept all things together. Today these artifacts are an important part of my kind of family tradition and are sacrosanct.
I will not show the field letters, which by the way took enormous time to translate them Suetterlin German into today’s German script. I also think the fieldpost letters will not be suitable for the general public as Grandad weaved his letters with expressions of his unconditional love towards wife and children. Some very few though I will display as the are vital in the context of this story.
Anyway here are remarkable pieces of personal artifacts, some artifacts that definitely have been worn at time of death;
Grandad was killed May 1st,1918 in French Flanders in front of Bois de Nieppe at 14:00 hrs; his direct opponent was the 1st Bn DCLI and he was killed by a grenade exploding next to him and his aide – one or several splinters through the chest killed him instantly; his aide was submerged by tons of earth and comrades could dig him out alive, but severely injured…
A beautiful "Meerschaum"(sepiolite)- pipe
As you can see, the original amber mouth piece is broken probably due to enemy action; I had the amber replaced by artificial amber.
This pipe was last smoked by Grandad on the premises of the small French farm at point 2 (arrow 2) when he wrote home in his second last field letter dated 26 April 1918 "...this morning some of my men wounded....we had to bear 3 times drum fire last night at 22:00hrs, 01:00hrs, 05:00 for 30 minutes each....1 man dead, 2 NCOs and 5 men wounded out of my 50...smoked my pipe in the piggery...now again unbelievable shelling...So far the actual hint that the pipe was indeed smoked in the piggery of the depicted ferme; arrow 1 points to his provisional grave.
Ok, lets give my Grandad Gottfried a real face. This one dates from 1914.
There is a chest in the trunk. Do you even see the dust on the top? Is it from 1918?
The inside of the chest
A Belgian Map, and below the map unfolded
I will now post the first really personal artifact:
Obviously Grandad had space available to carry a baby shoe from his son, my father, with him into the war zone. I would suggest the baby shoe is from a 2 year old. My father was 3 years old when Grandad was killed. In all his field letters he was so proud of his son; I had the chance to read the testament exclusively written for his 2 sons "only to be opened when i am killed" I can tell you it is a heartbreaking text with apologies of being killed and not available to care and see them grow up; and emotional advices to the sons and future generation to survive in life and how to take care for mother when they are grown!!!!
Was this his mascot in times of separation from family? It is just one single shoe.
The shoe was probably from my father's first pair, my grandmother probably kept the other amongst her treasured possessions.
The shoe was probably from my father's first pair, my grandmother probably kept the other amongst her treasured possessions.
Long after I had finished the thread in The Great War Forun I discovered a photograph which actually shows the shoe that accompanied Grandfather into harms way.
Well this is an interesting and complementing by product: there is this ugly oil on canvas from 1918 which shows my father (Grandads then 3 year old son). Nobody wants to hang it up , but it was always kept in good storage by me. A lot of my family members said "throw this ugly piece in the trash" - an inner voice said and will say in the future NO.
You see a picture, painted in Grandparents home about 1918. Do you see the shoes??? Shoes were very expensive in those days -these are most likely the "successors" of the mascot taken onto the battlegrounds. Again the painting is ugly and of low value -but high emotional value to me.
His 3 year old son from ca 1918, last seen fall 1917
Obviously his son proudly sent him a self made Father Christmas (Weihnachtsmann) mask for Christmas 1917, made out of glassine paper (paper was very rare to get); he kept it as a memory from far away. You may even recognize the original folding pattern from being sent by small sized fieldletter mail.
I am very sure that this mask has been totally unfolded for picturetaking this Sunday first time since tons of years - it even smells damn old.
I am very sure that this mask has been totally unfolded for picturetaking this Sunday first time since tons of years - it even smells damn old.
Another chest inside the chest
The following artifact is an excerpt from his last wish to his two 3 year and 1 year old sons:
difficult to translate to English and catch the right emotional words. Also the thinking and expressions from that time needs to be considered!!!
My dear sons!
You hardly did not know me (You almost did not know me), but your good mother will often tell you about how much I loved you. You have been my pride. I wish you so much luck/fortune for your path of life, be always ambitious but decent and never leave your good mother. Who will leave your mother in hardship, is not worth that the sun will shine on him. My last wish is that you two learn a good profession and that you honor our family name.
Farewell my dearest sons.
Your father
Addendum to above mentioned testament, here is the fatal sentence: "Only to be mailed after death of sender"
The letter with the seal of Infanterieregiment 49
Although in Grandads trunk, I suspect Grandmothers memorabilia
A pocket watch chain sent back to Grandmother after Gottfried's death (watch to follow later); amazing how honest his comrades have been by sending all the pieces back to Grandmother some 2000km far away.
Believe me I continued showing Grandads items only because of the overwhelming support I received. That's what drives me, and despite personal fear that I might go too far with privacy revelations - now I see it more through a "mission" glass, to give an almost forgotten warrior of the great war a chance - at least for some days - the possibility to break out and tell the public that ALL soldiers friend and foe had a private life that was catastrophically destroyed. This is the story of Granddads trunk in lieu of all the soldiers who serve now in the Great Army together!!!
Believe me I continued showing Grandads items only because of the overwhelming support I received. That's what drives me, and despite personal fear that I might go too far with privacy revelations - now I see it more through a "mission" glass, to give an almost forgotten warrior of the great war a chance - at least for some days - the possibility to break out and tell the public that ALL soldiers friend and foe had a private life that was catastrophically destroyed. This is the story of Granddads trunk in lieu of all the soldiers who serve now in the Great Army together!!!
The secrets call for further revelations. Grandad wants to present his cuff-links. Always be aware that this stuff could easily be stolen after his death or the return of items simply neglected in this raging hell. But his Kompanie did a hell of a great job. Here is the box for the cuff-links; it shows the name and location of the jewelry store in the peacetime garrison town of Gnesen, province Pose.
This is Grandads last known photo portrait, which I name "The Ghost from Bois de Nieppe". It is so much faded from daylight exposurethat one can see only- a ghostly person.
Now here is the original text my Grandfather wrote on the reverse side of the picture:
"Roubaix, d.27.I.18.
My dearest back home this is me as a twilight (dawn) phantom, hope that there is also dawn of peace soon.
Thinking always of you, your father
I like these sudden coincidents, don't you?
Now here is the original text my Grandfather wrote on the reverse side of the picture:
"Roubaix, d.27.I.18.
My dearest back home this is me as a twilight (dawn) phantom, hope that there is also dawn of peace soon.
Thinking always of you, your father
I like these sudden coincidents, don't you?
The ghost of Nieppe: this is a collage of the original and what today's techniques can reveil from the faded picture.
I was asked if Grandad was a wealthy man after showing some of his items. His rank was Offizierstellvertreter; today you would possibly address this rank as Warrant Officer; Wealthy: I wish he were; when he died, there was no money to feed Grandmother and the two children. G'mother educated and raised the children in poverty; the only income source was sewing cloth, repairing clothes etc, not much to live; later when the 2 sons were adults and had their own salary they supported her with their money until G'mothers death; exactly according to Grandfathers will explained earlier in this thread!!! So she took the burden of raising the kids without their father - she COULD NOT go to work!!!
P.S. I remember very well that my father paid her a steady sum of monetary support until her death in 1975.
This is one of Gottfried's two wallets
And the wallet open
With reference to the top paper depicted in the last photo (which was added to the wallet probably by Grandmother after her husband's death): Do you think death is for free?? If you thought so, you are utterly wrong.
The bill from bureaucracy for processing the testament is 7 Mark, 10 Pfennig. No, even servicemen who die for their country are not protected from official piracy. 7,10 Mark then was a lot of money for a young women with 2 little children and being a house maker solely.
The testament bill is dated 25 Nov 1918. My Grandmother was so naive and wanted to pay her "debt" to the state immediately - as a good citizen. She should have waited couple of more days.
I read her diary and it says that 28 Dec 1918 Polish hordes occupied the home town of Gnesen and started their reign of terror against the women and children (their husbands were mostly dead {IR 49 mourned 108 officers and 4822 NCOs and men lost in the Great War, more casualties than such a town could bear}); and 15 Feb 1919 the women were chased off and fled to the West with their children under some protection from remnants of IR 49... and due to the Versailles treaty the proud German province of Posen was history.
P.S. Moral of the story: never pay the state debts on the spot! Always wait 6 weeks- who knows what happens?
The bill from bureaucracy for processing the testament is 7 Mark, 10 Pfennig. No, even servicemen who die for their country are not protected from official piracy. 7,10 Mark then was a lot of money for a young women with 2 little children and being a house maker solely.
The testament bill is dated 25 Nov 1918. My Grandmother was so naive and wanted to pay her "debt" to the state immediately - as a good citizen. She should have waited couple of more days.
I read her diary and it says that 28 Dec 1918 Polish hordes occupied the home town of Gnesen and started their reign of terror against the women and children (their husbands were mostly dead {IR 49 mourned 108 officers and 4822 NCOs and men lost in the Great War, more casualties than such a town could bear}); and 15 Feb 1919 the women were chased off and fled to the West with their children under some protection from remnants of IR 49... and due to the Versailles treaty the proud German province of Posen was history.
P.S. Moral of the story: never pay the state debts on the spot! Always wait 6 weeks- who knows what happens?
A contemporary oil picture of the Polish displacing the German population in Posen
This is an interesting one: another watch but completely destroyed, most likely by the shell splinter that killed Grandfather. It is a Swiss watch from Geneve.
And this is the hit: when I turned the watch face, I was amazed to realize an etching in order to identify the owner of the watch. The etching dates back to pre-war, because the printed rank of Unteroffizier was held by Grandfather ca 1912, definitely pre war! Also the unit membership is depicted: 10. Kompanie , Infanterieregiment 49.
There were several watches in the trunk and there was speculation that one or more of them were souvenirs “given” to Gottfried by opposing troops. Unfortunately there were no markings on them to prove this conclusively.
There were several watches in the trunk and there was speculation that one or more of them were souvenirs “given” to Gottfried by opposing troops. Unfortunately there were no markings on them to prove this conclusively.
Grandfather sure loved the harmonica - here is another one; there was no IPod or CD player in the trenches; imagine somebody playing his harmonica in the trenches and friend and foe listened to the tunes, maybe in the evening when all got more quiet; I bet everybody turned sentimental and thought of better times....I bet the hardest nut shell had a soft core.
Nice box "Heimatklaenge" = Tunes from home
The other side of the harmonica is badly damaged, but I assure you it is fully functional and still sounds sweet; reflecting what it might be out there in the dirt, mud, lice invested life, I cannot imagine an instrument with more overwhelming power to let these soldiers fade away into another world so far away, so unreachable....as long as the tune is played.
Here we go with something that might be of your interest. I call it a manicure set. I also guarantee you that it was last used 1918. The unidentified painting probably is from one of my Grandads kids.
And now comes the sad part of the set. The set most likely was in one of Granddad's chest pockets - the shell splinter must have crushed the mirror part with brutal force when penetrating through the uniform into the body of Grandad. A very meaningful artifact of what a soldier carried with him even in the heat of the battle in order to meet the minimunm of personal hygiene in the dirt.
View from another angle. I can imagine the children asking their mother later: "Mother why is the mirror broken, why do you keep that?"
Monday, 14th November 1914: Grandad was seriously wounded at Chateau Herenthage/Gheluvelt/Flanders by a bullet from opposing 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and was transported back home; he recovered until mid 1917 . This picture shows him later in a hospital, ca end of 1914. Interesting to recognize the pocket watch chain under his tunic as already shown earlier.
I bought the missing Centenar Medal at an auction -its the same medal as you can see Grandfather wearing in the portrait picture above.
Here is the Iron Cross II, he was awarded and was so proud of for actions in the battle of Les Loges/Crapeumesnil, 7/8. October 1914. You also see his original I.D. tag.
The trunk reveals lots of secrets, and there are some more to come until it will be closed again for coming family generations. But it also reveals the very evil side of war. Originally I did not want to make it public, but I think it belongs to the context of the secret trunk. Although under German Military Law absolutely legal and justified it is kind of strange for me -being myself a senior staff officer in its third generation:
The situation:
A coy in the heat of a terrible battle, already decimated to less than half of original strength holds out a vital position which is important for the survival of the whole regiment/brigade. Every rifleman counts! Suddenly the first own men panic in the bloodshed and are about to run and capitulate to the enemy – thus about to endanger the diminishing rest of own troops. Desperate moments. The commanding officer ( Grandad ) threatens his men to be shot immediately if deserting. Nevertheless some are off to the enemy; the officer kills the first soldier on the run. The other men turn back and all continue fighting, giving all they have. Later it is recognized by the brigade that the action saved the regiment from certain disaster = is this a criminal act or somehow acceptable for 1914 standards?
Another word on how he lived with that: nobody knows today anything about it, but considering I have a couple of genes from Grandfather - I think I can imagine how he felt.
He must have had an emotional scar until he died and I bet he battled his battle and his deeds each night until he was killed in action. I can feel his inner fights and also something tells me now "Grandson, I stand to what happened, and its ok that you tell your pals about it. Tell them that the war was total bullshit and that we have total peace up here now in the Great Army."
October 7th, 1914, the Commanding General II. Army Corps von Linsingen, ordered another attack on Les Loges. Artillery shelling started late due to thick fog and is not effective. Nevertheless the infantry started its attack on time with III.Bn IR 49 in first wave, followed by I.Bn. The first wave with 10./49 advanced towards Les Loges but in front of the French barricades was mostly annihilated. 9. and 11./49 penetrate the positions but with very heavy own losses.
The French counterattacked! On the left flank, from Bois de Loges, the Germans were mowed down from enfilading French fire. Death was prevailing everywhere. The enfilading MG- and shrapnel fire dominated the whole field between both villages (Les Loges and Crapeaumesnil). Artillery fire hit the men and only very few reached the safety of the trenches south of Crapeaumesnil from where their attack started. IR 49 encountered terrible losses this day – a disaster! In the evening the positions south of Crapeaumesnil were only held by weak forces of the former so strong regiment. A field artillery battery advanced next to the remnant forces of the infantry to help repel the expected night attack by the French.
The trunk reveals lots of secrets, and there are some more to come until it will be closed again for coming family generations. But it also reveals the very evil side of war. Originally I did not want to make it public, but I think it belongs to the context of the secret trunk. Although under German Military Law absolutely legal and justified it is kind of strange for me -being myself a senior staff officer in its third generation:
The situation:
A coy in the heat of a terrible battle, already decimated to less than half of original strength holds out a vital position which is important for the survival of the whole regiment/brigade. Every rifleman counts! Suddenly the first own men panic in the bloodshed and are about to run and capitulate to the enemy – thus about to endanger the diminishing rest of own troops. Desperate moments. The commanding officer ( Grandad ) threatens his men to be shot immediately if deserting. Nevertheless some are off to the enemy; the officer kills the first soldier on the run. The other men turn back and all continue fighting, giving all they have. Later it is recognized by the brigade that the action saved the regiment from certain disaster = is this a criminal act or somehow acceptable for 1914 standards?
Another word on how he lived with that: nobody knows today anything about it, but considering I have a couple of genes from Grandfather - I think I can imagine how he felt.
He must have had an emotional scar until he died and I bet he battled his battle and his deeds each night until he was killed in action. I can feel his inner fights and also something tells me now "Grandson, I stand to what happened, and its ok that you tell your pals about it. Tell them that the war was total bullshit and that we have total peace up here now in the Great Army."
October 7th, 1914, the Commanding General II. Army Corps von Linsingen, ordered another attack on Les Loges. Artillery shelling started late due to thick fog and is not effective. Nevertheless the infantry started its attack on time with III.Bn IR 49 in first wave, followed by I.Bn. The first wave with 10./49 advanced towards Les Loges but in front of the French barricades was mostly annihilated. 9. and 11./49 penetrate the positions but with very heavy own losses.
The French counterattacked! On the left flank, from Bois de Loges, the Germans were mowed down from enfilading French fire. Death was prevailing everywhere. The enfilading MG- and shrapnel fire dominated the whole field between both villages (Les Loges and Crapeaumesnil). Artillery fire hit the men and only very few reached the safety of the trenches south of Crapeaumesnil from where their attack started. IR 49 encountered terrible losses this day – a disaster! In the evening the positions south of Crapeaumesnil were only held by weak forces of the former so strong regiment. A field artillery battery advanced next to the remnant forces of the infantry to help repel the expected night attack by the French.
Aerial photo of the Les Loges area showing positions of Ir49 and opposing forces. X marks the battleground.
All the wounded laid close to the French lines, some 700m away from us. Rescue and recovery operations were not possible due to the deadly, enfilading fire. Than came the night.
We could hear the faint cries for help from the wounded. It broke our hearts, but we could not help. The counterattack did not happen that night. The next morning we saw with our trench telescopes that the French recovered some of those who were directly in front of their positions; other wounded on the field crawled to the dead and frantically looked for water in the canteens. We counted 700 dead on the visible parts of the field, the other dead in Les Loges up to the railway line could not be seen. At some places the dead laid concentrated in heaps. Some, who had still moved yesterday, were silent by now, dead. During the day the wounded in the battle zone silenced one by one. Only one man managed to come back to our own lines.
Six days after the first battle, a German doctor and his assistant with Red Cross flag walked around in no mans land, followed by stretcher bearers: (Account from assistant doctor, Dr. Hibben) “I had orders from the regiment –after several failures due to firing the days before – to try to obtain a local truce to recover the wounded and dead of the previous days. I advanced with the Geneva flag across the lupine field, and negotiated with a French officer. He gave me a note, which said “Stop- until decision is made by commanding general”. Despite the forbiddance we could recover one of our wounded from the previous fights. Further efforts failed due to the threats of the French officer to open fire. 50 m from us, another wounded raised his head from the lupines and begged for help. We promised him to recover within the hour and had to retreat to own lines. After we reached own trenches, the French opened a lively fire –that was the answer of the French general. Late in the evening we managed to get the wounded comrade back. He crawled three preceding nights in circles because he was disorientated. Unfortunately he died shortly thereafter in the field hospital.
Half of the men of IR 49 were wiped out and almost all officers, the first day of the battle.”
Sergeant Ahrend from 10./49: “….at nightfall only 3 Sgts and 20 men from 10./49 returned to own lines. The attack on the enemy positions was a complete failure. The losses were horrendous. 4 officers and 250 men wounded. 7 officers and 585 men dead or missing. The regiment had been melted to only 7 officers and 705 men. A continuation of the attack was not possible. In front of us the whimpering wounded laid for several days. As soon as we advanced to help and recover them we were fired at. Thanks to the “humanity” of the French, the poor wounded men had to die. The number of casualties we retrieved with own patrols in the darkness of the nights was neglectable in comparison to the numbers that stayed close to the French line.
The French also ceased activities and the front got silent. General v.Linsingen visited our positions October 22nd, and was shaken by the amount of dead bodies lying in the fields. October 26th, the regiment was withdrawn to reserve status”.
This was the battle where Gottfried received his Iron Cross due to bravery in a critical situation…..
Slipping back into the year 1914, here is his first impression report home (always excuse my incompetent, imperfect English translation):
France, 9 October 1914
My Dearest! Do you see me? The Commanding Officer of the Regiment just pinned the Iron Cross to my chest. My Dear, I shall have saved the honor of the regiment, because –in times of crisis, when some Poles ( Ethnic Poles from Posen fought as an integral part of IR 49 formation ) who were about to capitulate to the enemy - I shot the first and by that our weak position could withstand. My Dear, keep this letter in case I will stay in the field of honor, and read it often to my child. 30 men from my squadron killed and God saved me. Thousand kisses and greetings, your ...
P.S. I am now Commanding Officer of 9. Kompanie
5 field letters later:
"My Dearest,
By my actions at the occasion of the deadly assault of our Battalion, October 7th, I am highly distinguished now; as soon as an officer sees me, be it the CO Regiment or a captain, they ask for my well-being. But amongst the NCOs I have quite a few enviers. Listen, they state if I had not acted like I did, holding a difficult position with few men, it would have been a bad mess (for the Bn)
Now - lets continue; what's that? A wallet: What's inside?
There is a letter from the coy, dated 4.5.1918, 3 days after his death with an enumeration of items to be sent to the widow. One of the items supposed to be the wallet but EMPTY, no money! bad guys? comrades/buddies taking the money?
Hold it, stop! No buddy, no own troops pick over the bones of their own! There is a field letter to Grandmother from a close friend still entrenched near Merville, what does it say?
Hold it, stop! No buddy, no own troops pick over the bones of their own! There is a field letter to Grandmother from a close friend still entrenched near Merville, what does it say?
Ah there it is. I knew it- they took care of their buddies, because they knew that hard and difficult times will come for the surviving dependents:
My dear Mrs. S.……..! Please accept my sincere condolences at the occasion of your husband’s death, our good comrade. We will all hold him in high esteem.
Also I inform you that I am in possession of the following cash from your husband:
50,00 Mark given to me for safeguarding
20,17 Mark taken from corpse,
33,33 Mark last salary
103,50 Summary {will be sent to you with next mail.
Accept my deepest sympathy.
My dear Mrs. S.……..! Please accept my sincere condolences at the occasion of your husband’s death, our good comrade. We will all hold him in high esteem.
Also I inform you that I am in possession of the following cash from your husband:
50,00 Mark given to me for safeguarding
20,17 Mark taken from corpse,
33,33 Mark last salary
103,50 Summary {will be sent to you with next mail.
Accept my deepest sympathy.
Now, I/we understand that the depicted money is not actually the money which was stored in Granddads wallet when kia. A money transfer was pretty easy, safe and reliable in those times with the postal system. As we all know now, Feldwebel Woellerth sent the 103 Mark to Grandmother from France. How it works? Simple:
Feldwebel W. went to his regimental post officer/official in Infanterieregiment 49 which operates a so called Feldpostamt. He deposited the sum at the post office - that was it. The postal system either telegraphed the recipient post office (Gnesen, Grandmothers hometown) the amount payable to Grandmother, or sent a postal note to the Gnesen Hauptpostamt (main post office). Grandmother would than receive the money in cash from the daily mailman run. Could be done within 1 day!
Here is the actual postal slip (sorry for the low quality, stamp and signature not visible) from Feldwebel W. on which the regimental post office documented that the sum was properly deposited. He deposited on 14.5.1918 when the regiment was relieved from trenches and transported to quarters south of Lille:
Feldwebel W. went to his regimental post officer/official in Infanterieregiment 49 which operates a so called Feldpostamt. He deposited the sum at the post office - that was it. The postal system either telegraphed the recipient post office (Gnesen, Grandmothers hometown) the amount payable to Grandmother, or sent a postal note to the Gnesen Hauptpostamt (main post office). Grandmother would than receive the money in cash from the daily mailman run. Could be done within 1 day!
Here is the actual postal slip (sorry for the low quality, stamp and signature not visible) from Feldwebel W. on which the regimental post office documented that the sum was properly deposited. He deposited on 14.5.1918 when the regiment was relieved from trenches and transported to quarters south of Lille:
Total contents of wallet
This is a close up of his civilian hunters licence
I removed the money again from inside the wallet and found in a niche pocket, way down in a crease, something I have overlooked: a quill! Is this the original quill Grandad wrote all his letters home with? Amazing.
These are the 2 bullets found inside the wallet. Why should he keep these simple, ordinary bullets, considering he was "surrounded" by thousands of bullets day by day? May these be connected to his injury from 14 November 1914 near Gheluvelt and kept as a talisman?
Another revelation! Very obviously from Grandmother but closely connected to Grandad. It's a little box in the trunk and comes with an accompanying note from Grandmother " My dear sons, these, my wedding myrtles, please lay in my coffin". The contents are dried remnants from the actual wedding myrtles and nobody put them in her coffin, probably because the box was forgotten.
Wedding pic is from 1912, and has been coloured lately. Grandad was 30 years old and Grandmother 22 years young
Another pocket watch "Remontoir" not functional
The Back
Maybe this watch was "borrowed" from a Poilu?
Inside of watch
Another sober reminder that all these soldiers had a private life next to their deadly soldier's life. This is an envelope, text written by Grandmother.
Text in English says:
Our dearest …. Dad sent this first message of spring to his “Golden Three”, 1918 from the battlefield in France
A ringlet, from our Dad’s beautiful hair
(Sent from battlefield)
Text in English says:
Our dearest …. Dad sent this first message of spring to his “Golden Three”, 1918 from the battlefield in France
A ringlet, from our Dad’s beautiful hair
(Sent from battlefield)
The dried flowers almost flew away a couple of minutes ago, when i took the pictures outside; i think I lost some = Gone with the wind! You see the small red band? = Attached is a small batch of Granddads actual hair from 1918!
Why do you send own pieces of hair to your Next of Kin? Because you may have a foreboding that you will not make it back home?
Why do you send own pieces of hair to your Next of Kin? Because you may have a foreboding that you will not make it back home?
The last pocket watch in the trunk. It's a Swiss watch
Here are 20 Goldmark, and reverse side
Grandad and his comrades were desperate for smoke! Here is an excerpt of field letters from 1914 sent back home, as well as letters to him hinting to the question of the questions: where are the cigars? The logistic situation for the troops was not favorable; I guess one of the great joys in wartime then was SMOKE.
near Paris, 6.9.14 “:…. please send cigarettes more often …nobody can get anything, no food, nothing to smoke, only champagne here…”
14.9.14: “…please send something to smoke more often, there is nothing available here…”
Soissions 16.9.14: “…please send me a parcel with cigarettes…”
St. Quentin, 18.9.14: “…my dear, I am so upset that I cannot give out any cigarettes, cigars or food to my men, but there is nothing available here…..I did order cigars at S.Neufeldt (probably a private company in East Prussia). Have them send to your address and you may forward them to me…..and please send your love some cigarettes….”
Noyon, den 27.9.14: “….what a tremendous joy, cigarettes, cigars and 4 pieces of chocolate. I hope you also think of yourself? Please don’t send chocolate anymore, better something to smoke which is not at all available…”
Roye, 30.9.14: “…Liesbeth sent me 20 cigarettes…”
Preußisch Börnecke 21/10.14: “…and also send you hereby 15 cigars…”
23.10.14: “….tell Erich that I am so grateful for the cigarettes I got from him…”
Berlin, 23.10.14: …we sent you cigarettes again on 6.Oct., please let us know whether they arrived…”
near Paris, 6.9.14 “:…. please send cigarettes more often …nobody can get anything, no food, nothing to smoke, only champagne here…”
14.9.14: “…please send something to smoke more often, there is nothing available here…”
Soissions 16.9.14: “…please send me a parcel with cigarettes…”
St. Quentin, 18.9.14: “…my dear, I am so upset that I cannot give out any cigarettes, cigars or food to my men, but there is nothing available here…..I did order cigars at S.Neufeldt (probably a private company in East Prussia). Have them send to your address and you may forward them to me…..and please send your love some cigarettes….”
Noyon, den 27.9.14: “….what a tremendous joy, cigarettes, cigars and 4 pieces of chocolate. I hope you also think of yourself? Please don’t send chocolate anymore, better something to smoke which is not at all available…”
Roye, 30.9.14: “…Liesbeth sent me 20 cigarettes…”
Preußisch Börnecke 21/10.14: “…and also send you hereby 15 cigars…”
23.10.14: “….tell Erich that I am so grateful for the cigarettes I got from him…”
Berlin, 23.10.14: …we sent you cigarettes again on 6.Oct., please let us know whether they arrived…”
This is Grandads cigar case; a bit warped by the shockwave? of the shell splinter. Grandmother has sewed his initials “G.S.” and a flower ornament inside! A nice personal gift for the trenches.
Their only joy was: letters/parcels from home, smoke and booze! what do you think was in their canteen? Water?
Their only joy was: letters/parcels from home, smoke and booze! what do you think was in their canteen? Water?
The artifacts were sent home from Merville in 3 incremental parcels. Gottfried's best buddy, Feldwebel Woellerth, took care everything -even the personal stuff in the rear area- was sent back home.
Well, personally I think the following artifact is the most moving and sobering one. What a heart-breaking piece of memory, especially for Grandmother. Touching, turning and holding all these years the large wallet, where the deadly shell splinter first impacted and then penetrated the body. Folks this is not about the general aspect of the devastating war - this is an individual fate to be told; watch this wallet of Gottfried it could be your Next of Kin wallet representing each family's disaster - friend and foe.
Well, personally I think the following artifact is the most moving and sobering one. What a heart-breaking piece of memory, especially for Grandmother. Touching, turning and holding all these years the large wallet, where the deadly shell splinter first impacted and then penetrated the body. Folks this is not about the general aspect of the devastating war - this is an individual fate to be told; watch this wallet of Gottfried it could be your Next of Kin wallet representing each family's disaster - friend and foe.
The family is virtually and for real torn apart forever: Granddad KIA, the picture inside the wallet so very symbolic depicts the actual state of the family.
I pulled the picture/cover again from the depths of ancient times and share the results with you. It is a plastic envelope with two plastic sides. Each side has a different grid pattern, a small and a larger one. Here is the larger one again (you see also the back side of the second picture).
By pulling off the second pic on the reverse, I even discovered the text " Our sweet little "dicky" when 1 year old". You also notice the much smaller grid pattern.
These are Gottfried's 2 sons around 1920. Grandmother took good care of them in order to fulfill Gottfried's will.
Let me bring back the actual words of Gottfried's last will directed to his sons in 1918:
My dear sons,
You hardly knew me ( You almost did not know me ) but your good mother will oftentell you how much I loved you. You were my pride.
I wish you much luck/fortune for your path in life; be always ambitious but decent and never leave your good mother.
Who will leave your mother in hardship, is not woth that the sun will shine on him. My last wish is that you two should learn a good profession and bring honour to our family name.
Farewell, my dearest boys
Your father
And here are the relevant letters from the two young lieutenants many years thereafter, written to their mother who raised them alone:
Bernau, 13 June 1942
My dear little Mutti,
This gift of flowers from us, your sons, is just a very small token of the gratitude we owe you. You devoted your life to bringing us up to become decent men, and I think you succeeded in that, and you have no reason to be ashamed of us.
Field Post letter
Göppingen, 11.5.1943
My dearest Mutti,
On Mother’s Day … the day on which your sons think of you with gratitude. I look back on my own childhood, which you guarded and guided as both Mother and Father. And when you hold our little bouquet of flowers in your hands today, know that it is not only from us but also from Günther, who may not be able to send you his greetings on the exact day this year, but, like us, will be with you in his thoughts….. So, be happy on this day and above all proud of your work, proud of your boys, who have always honoured and obeyed their father’s last wishes, and always will.
(Remark: the last letter addresses the fact that my father was engaged in the bloody battle of Kursk where he earned his EK I as a battery commander of AAA unit in surface-surface fighting. Field post was certainly minor priority in the strugglefor survival)
Let me bring back the actual words of Gottfried's last will directed to his sons in 1918:
My dear sons,
You hardly knew me ( You almost did not know me ) but your good mother will oftentell you how much I loved you. You were my pride.
I wish you much luck/fortune for your path in life; be always ambitious but decent and never leave your good mother.
Who will leave your mother in hardship, is not woth that the sun will shine on him. My last wish is that you two should learn a good profession and bring honour to our family name.
Farewell, my dearest boys
Your father
And here are the relevant letters from the two young lieutenants many years thereafter, written to their mother who raised them alone:
Bernau, 13 June 1942
My dear little Mutti,
This gift of flowers from us, your sons, is just a very small token of the gratitude we owe you. You devoted your life to bringing us up to become decent men, and I think you succeeded in that, and you have no reason to be ashamed of us.
Field Post letter
Göppingen, 11.5.1943
My dearest Mutti,
On Mother’s Day … the day on which your sons think of you with gratitude. I look back on my own childhood, which you guarded and guided as both Mother and Father. And when you hold our little bouquet of flowers in your hands today, know that it is not only from us but also from Günther, who may not be able to send you his greetings on the exact day this year, but, like us, will be with you in his thoughts….. So, be happy on this day and above all proud of your work, proud of your boys, who have always honoured and obeyed their father’s last wishes, and always will.
(Remark: the last letter addresses the fact that my father was engaged in the bloody battle of Kursk where he earned his EK I as a battery commander of AAA unit in surface-surface fighting. Field post was certainly minor priority in the strugglefor survival)
These address stickers were never used for their very own purpose. They were obviously prewritten by Grandad for future mail to Grandmother. As part of the wallet contents the stickers have been ripped by a shell splinter penetrating the wallet. Finally they reached their intended destination - as part of a dead soldiers belongings.
Gottfried was killed in action 1 May 1918 at 15:00 hrs German time.
The trunk will be closed , most artifacts have been shown to you. You have been part of my Grandads life for a short period. The treasures were shown to you so many years after his death; for me it is proof that he is not forgotten; he stood next to me and watched his Grandson developing the story. And you? You had a tiny insight into a typical family fate, repeated by the millions in the Great War.
If you liked the thread do not thank me , but maybe you show your appreciation to my Grandfather for showing the artifacts to you by visiting his grave and put a poppie on the grave at the occasion of your next visit in French Flanders. He is buried on CWGC Merville, Communal Annex.
Gottfried's last written words to his wife :
I cannot tell you much, only that I spent the most happiest days with you, days that you have sweetened with your great love. Thank you so very much. Keep me in good memories, and never forget that I always treasured you as my greatest value and that I faithfully loved you in true love. Educate our beloved little ones well, so that they bear our name in honor.
God bless you my good wife, it was not meant to be that we spend our lifes happily ever after.
Faithful until death yours Friedel
Gottfried was killed in action 1 May 1918 at 15:00 hrs German time.
The trunk will be closed , most artifacts have been shown to you. You have been part of my Grandads life for a short period. The treasures were shown to you so many years after his death; for me it is proof that he is not forgotten; he stood next to me and watched his Grandson developing the story. And you? You had a tiny insight into a typical family fate, repeated by the millions in the Great War.
If you liked the thread do not thank me , but maybe you show your appreciation to my Grandfather for showing the artifacts to you by visiting his grave and put a poppie on the grave at the occasion of your next visit in French Flanders. He is buried on CWGC Merville, Communal Annex.
Gottfried's last written words to his wife :
I cannot tell you much, only that I spent the most happiest days with you, days that you have sweetened with your great love. Thank you so very much. Keep me in good memories, and never forget that I always treasured you as my greatest value and that I faithfully loved you in true love. Educate our beloved little ones well, so that they bear our name in honor.
God bless you my good wife, it was not meant to be that we spend our lifes happily ever after.
Faithful until death yours Friedel
THE EPILOGUE
Newspaper notice for the death of Gottfried
There are several field letters existing, written from his friends to my Grandmother after his death, to include the official letter from the CO. His personal aide was severely wounded and wrote the first of 2 letters on 23rd July 1918 from hospital "Kriegslazarett 680 Abtl. 23 Station II., Edingen in Belgium" .
Here is an excerpt, please excuse my imperfect translation:
“....April 29th we went into positions in front of Merville and lay with your husband in a foxhole which I dug myself. There he was killed on the spot, holding a paper ready to write a letter. I was wounded and buried alive from the same shell. Probably would have been killed as well if I had not lain inside the foxhole. Unfortunately Mr. S. was sitting in front of our hole suspecting nothing. A sudden and fast death hit and he did not need to suffer any pain. The day of horror for him and myself was the 1st of May 3 o’clock in the afternoon. After that I was transported to this hospital where I am still being treated. Mr. S. was always a caring superior and I regret his death vividly. Despite his gout in his legs he refused sick call and agonized himself to the last breathe…"
Here is an excerpt, please excuse my imperfect translation:
“....April 29th we went into positions in front of Merville and lay with your husband in a foxhole which I dug myself. There he was killed on the spot, holding a paper ready to write a letter. I was wounded and buried alive from the same shell. Probably would have been killed as well if I had not lain inside the foxhole. Unfortunately Mr. S. was sitting in front of our hole suspecting nothing. A sudden and fast death hit and he did not need to suffer any pain. The day of horror for him and myself was the 1st of May 3 o’clock in the afternoon. After that I was transported to this hospital where I am still being treated. Mr. S. was always a caring superior and I regret his death vividly. Despite his gout in his legs he refused sick call and agonized himself to the last breathe…"
The second letter of his aide, still hospitalized explains all the circumstances of what happened at 3 o'clock May 1st. Here are excerpts from his letter, dated 4th August 1918.
"…..would like to report more but regret (remember he was buried alive; my Grandmother sent letters to the aide because she wanted to know more of the circumstances) that I cannot tell you more about the grave of Mr. S., because it was impossible to recover his corpse during daylight……..The cause of death was a shell whose splinter killed him. Mr.S. must have had darksome foreboding, because he told me at 2 o’clock about his foreshadow of his nearing end. His pretty much last words on 1st of May with me were about:” Well Kabitschke, if something will happen to me, take care that all my stuff, watch etc. will be sent home to my wife.” His knapsack- including letters and other gems- was with him. Neither him nor me realized the approaching shell; otherwise he would have slipped into our hole. I could not even hear the thundering impact, because I was buried immediately in the hole by the effects of the air pressure. After I was dug out, I saw the sad view of your husband. He was in the same sitting position as before when he was writing. The splinter went through his back and must have penetrated the heart and lung area so that sudden death occurred…."
Field letter to Grandmother from Musketier Spindler, KIA 1.9.1918.
" .....since I laid nearby (your husband) I can tell you what I know and what I witnessed. A shell exploded next to him, killed him by splinters in the chest area, also some other comrades have been wounded (by this shell). He was immediately dead without making any sound. At the very same evening I participated burying him, he rests nearby Merville....."
"…..would like to report more but regret (remember he was buried alive; my Grandmother sent letters to the aide because she wanted to know more of the circumstances) that I cannot tell you more about the grave of Mr. S., because it was impossible to recover his corpse during daylight……..The cause of death was a shell whose splinter killed him. Mr.S. must have had darksome foreboding, because he told me at 2 o’clock about his foreshadow of his nearing end. His pretty much last words on 1st of May with me were about:” Well Kabitschke, if something will happen to me, take care that all my stuff, watch etc. will be sent home to my wife.” His knapsack- including letters and other gems- was with him. Neither him nor me realized the approaching shell; otherwise he would have slipped into our hole. I could not even hear the thundering impact, because I was buried immediately in the hole by the effects of the air pressure. After I was dug out, I saw the sad view of your husband. He was in the same sitting position as before when he was writing. The splinter went through his back and must have penetrated the heart and lung area so that sudden death occurred…."
Field letter to Grandmother from Musketier Spindler, KIA 1.9.1918.
" .....since I laid nearby (your husband) I can tell you what I know and what I witnessed. A shell exploded next to him, killed him by splinters in the chest area, also some other comrades have been wounded (by this shell). He was immediately dead without making any sound. At the very same evening I participated burying him, he rests nearby Merville....."
The 1st Bn DCLI (Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry) War diary/Intel Summary concludes for 1st of May: "Rather dull day"
From 1st Bn DCLI, 1st May 1918, two men were killed (one of them Private Bowles and Grandfather was the only one from IR 49).
What a tragedy for 3 families on an "All Quiet Day on The Western Front", especially if the families only knew that they rest together for ever on the very same spot. What a waste of human being!
The question which Royal Field Artillery unit killed Grandad?
War Diary of 27th RFA 'Summaries of Operations:
Summary of Operations etc. 6 PM 30/4/18 to 6 PM 1/5/18.
Situation: Unchanged
Our artillery: Harassing fire was continued during night and day, on communications, troublesome houses etc. Owing to bad weather and consequent lack of aeroplane photos, tracks used by the enemy are mostly unknown and cannot yet be harassed. Today 18-pounders of 160 Brigade shelled PONT RONDIN, and D/84 engaged a Tank gun at K.22.4.15.80 and TM (=Tench Mortar, Minenwerfer) Position at K.21.b.2.2 obtaining several hits on the latter. 120 Battery shelled house at K.15.b.5.1 at Infantry request. B and C/84 answered a N.F. call in K.29 at 11.4 am. In addition to this and harassing fire, batteries registered and checked lines and tested ammunition - and found one 'lot' defective.
Grandfathers own position was next to the TM position; so with artillery straying I can assume that most likely a shell fired from D/84 killed my Grandfather. Unfortunately i have no further information of D/84 .
From 1st Bn DCLI, 1st May 1918, two men were killed (one of them Private Bowles and Grandfather was the only one from IR 49).
What a tragedy for 3 families on an "All Quiet Day on The Western Front", especially if the families only knew that they rest together for ever on the very same spot. What a waste of human being!
The question which Royal Field Artillery unit killed Grandad?
War Diary of 27th RFA 'Summaries of Operations:
Summary of Operations etc. 6 PM 30/4/18 to 6 PM 1/5/18.
Situation: Unchanged
Our artillery: Harassing fire was continued during night and day, on communications, troublesome houses etc. Owing to bad weather and consequent lack of aeroplane photos, tracks used by the enemy are mostly unknown and cannot yet be harassed. Today 18-pounders of 160 Brigade shelled PONT RONDIN, and D/84 engaged a Tank gun at K.22.4.15.80 and TM (=Tench Mortar, Minenwerfer) Position at K.21.b.2.2 obtaining several hits on the latter. 120 Battery shelled house at K.15.b.5.1 at Infantry request. B and C/84 answered a N.F. call in K.29 at 11.4 am. In addition to this and harassing fire, batteries registered and checked lines and tested ammunition - and found one 'lot' defective.
Grandfathers own position was next to the TM position; so with artillery straying I can assume that most likely a shell fired from D/84 killed my Grandfather. Unfortunately i have no further information of D/84 .
Before we go on and leave the field letter section behind, I'd like to show you the actual scale, my Grandmother used to weigh the letters for proper postage.
The trunk reveals an artifact related to Grandad, but from May 1940, well kept by Grandmother: it says "Flowers from the grave of my dearest.....(picked by Günter... in the second World War)
Carefully removing the paper clips, this is the result: 65 years old dried flowers from the grave of Gottfried who was then - 1940 - already buried for 22 years. The son visited his father first time and started some research near Merville..
This is a rather interesting picture also from another time. My father took this picture for his mother in May 1940 on CWGC Merville! This is the first visit of the son paying respect to his father. My father told me he took the picture deliberately blurred/out of resolution. My Grandmother should not see her husband resting in what he found out an "unknown soldier's" grave.
Don’t worry; it won’t become a family saga! But I have to bring my deceased father into the story. He started researching his father in Merville and passed the results to his son.
You need to understand that travel to France in the days before WW2 was like traveling today to Fiji Island –a bit exotic, especially if you did not have access to foreign currency. Ironically only another terrible war made it happen that a family member was able to visit Merville. My father was a young lieutenant when Germany invaded France. He was a participant in the Westfeldzug and served as the Reconnaissance Officer of a fully mobile Anti-Aircraft-Artillery unit, member of 4th Battery FlakRgt 43. Destiny wanted that he fought almost on the exact same paths his father fought some 22 years ago in the Great War: Luettich, Tournay, Courtray, along the River Lys, south of Wevelgem to Harelbeke. Closing the Dunkirk trap in Kemmel-Ypres-St.Omer area; participant in the tank battle of Cambrai, crossing the river Aisne and breaking through the Weygand Line. It was then when he earned his first, the Iron Cross II. Isn’t that spooky? These father-son parallelisms are full of allusions to something unexplainable.
In his position, reconnoitering suitable AAA positions and routes, he had a window of opportunity, the chance to “investigate” the fate of his father in and near Merville. The key was the map drawn by Grandfathers batman 1918. Father visited the French ferme near Merville, and talked with the owners. The (lady) landlord told him that she was a young girl 1918/19 and could remember the temporary grave of a German soldier on their premises relocated on to Merville CWGC, Communal Annex after the war. On the cemetery the German fallen are buried according to their KIA date. Amongst the few, there is only one “Unknown Soldier” grave (remember the ID tag is in my possession and was not left with the corpse) and it fits into the date pattern. He finally found his father ….and picked some flowers from the gravesite, sent them to his mother and also took some photos .
Don’t worry; it won’t become a family saga! But I have to bring my deceased father into the story. He started researching his father in Merville and passed the results to his son.
You need to understand that travel to France in the days before WW2 was like traveling today to Fiji Island –a bit exotic, especially if you did not have access to foreign currency. Ironically only another terrible war made it happen that a family member was able to visit Merville. My father was a young lieutenant when Germany invaded France. He was a participant in the Westfeldzug and served as the Reconnaissance Officer of a fully mobile Anti-Aircraft-Artillery unit, member of 4th Battery FlakRgt 43. Destiny wanted that he fought almost on the exact same paths his father fought some 22 years ago in the Great War: Luettich, Tournay, Courtray, along the River Lys, south of Wevelgem to Harelbeke. Closing the Dunkirk trap in Kemmel-Ypres-St.Omer area; participant in the tank battle of Cambrai, crossing the river Aisne and breaking through the Weygand Line. It was then when he earned his first, the Iron Cross II. Isn’t that spooky? These father-son parallelisms are full of allusions to something unexplainable.
In his position, reconnoitering suitable AAA positions and routes, he had a window of opportunity, the chance to “investigate” the fate of his father in and near Merville. The key was the map drawn by Grandfathers batman 1918. Father visited the French ferme near Merville, and talked with the owners. The (lady) landlord told him that she was a young girl 1918/19 and could remember the temporary grave of a German soldier on their premises relocated on to Merville CWGC, Communal Annex after the war. On the cemetery the German fallen are buried according to their KIA date. Amongst the few, there is only one “Unknown Soldier” grave (remember the ID tag is in my possession and was not left with the corpse) and it fits into the date pattern. He finally found his father ….and picked some flowers from the gravesite, sent them to his mother and also took some photos .
May 1940: the headstones do not seem as if they had been taken care of recently
It's still May 1940. Hurry up father the war machinery has no time for individual fate; take the last pictures of Merville, say Good Bye to your father, you will not see him again within the next 39 years! The Panzer battle of Cambrai is waiting for you....
I know it does not fit into the trunk story, but I cannot resist to show you the original camera, father used in May 1940, its a 1938 Balda Jubilette.
I know it does not fit into the trunk story, but I cannot resist to show you the original camera, father used in May 1940, its a 1938 Balda Jubilette.
May 1940: the farm and the field
The farm building where the witness lived 1940; picture taken about 20-40 meters from where Grandfather died.
My father and mother Wedding picture 1944
This is the field where Grandfather was KIA 1May 1918. The photo is still from May 1940; as you can see there are still some bumps from shell holes recognizable.
The same spot 1979
And in 2003
With the satellite capabilities nowadays we can see the sat pic of the CWGC Merville, Communal Annex with arrow pointing to Grandfathers grave (which needs to be visited and is in desperate need of a poppy)
Now here is a picture from 1979 with the witness. You see in the middle the old lady who remembered a German soldier being relocated after the war from their farm grounds to the Merville cemetery. As I said, she told all the story to my father in 1940. And here I am first time checking out with my mother and father (taking the picture) what this was about. It surely was the first of many visits to come -even from Alabama.
CWGC Merville 1979. Grandfathers grave is in the background, right in front of one of the large oak trees (which do not exist anymore)
Father was not good in speaking English. It was funny to read his letters to the Merville CWGC gardener Mr. Fishlock. He always asked him to take the cash money out of the envelope, "please buy for so and so much currency some white lilies for the grave and keep the rest for your efforts....'This is a photo with the gardener Mr.Fishlock, who is believed dead by now.
The grave on CWGC Merville as it was known 1979. It was then shown to me first time in my life and I never ever thought at that time, that it will become one of my most significant hobbies in later years.
In 1979 my father visited second and last time (remember first time in 1940) his father and introduced me to Gottfried. If I see the picture today it shows me a family tragedy repeated by the millions. The son barely knew his father and not knowingly his own fate mourns last time in his own life in front of the grave, 61 years after Gottfried was KIA.
In 2000 I had enough evidence to convince the VdK ( German CWGC equivalent ) to have the unknown grave converted into a personalized grave. A new headstone was erected and my Grandfather received a personalized resting place.
So what else is left today? To my very surprise there is a memorial of IR 49 in an East German town "Gross Boernecke", near Magdeburg. Why it was built there, 1000km away from the old home garrison in Gnesen, Province Posen =nobody knows today! Why such an impressing memorial there?
My Great Great Grandfather lived there as a carpenter, but surely had not enough money to pay for the complex memorial. Anyway grandfathers name is surely recognized on one of the boards.
My Great Great Grandfather lived there as a carpenter, but surely had not enough money to pay for the complex memorial. Anyway grandfathers name is surely recognized on one of the boards.
I think the memorial is in an acceptable good state, considering it survived 45 years of pure communism. When I contacted the community, they said, the local "Schuetzenbrueder" take care of the memorial.
My most valued "epilogue" is an Artillery Luger, which was found by the French farmer on the field were Granddad was killed. At one of my visits he told his daughter to get him something from the barn. She came back and presented me a rotten Luger as a gift . I was so grateful and accepted the piece of rust. At a much later time here in Alabama I restored it with help and advice from pals.
Now, how many German NCOs/officers were killed on the farmers field? Not too much between April and July 1918 I guess. So what is the chance this artifact belonged to Granddad?= Remote!! But never say never.....
Now, how many German NCOs/officers were killed on the farmers field? Not too much between April and July 1918 I guess. So what is the chance this artifact belonged to Granddad?= Remote!! But never say never.....
Another one; The farmer gave me 3 or so British shell cones which he collected from his fields. Could it be that this is the shell cone in question , that triggered the deadly shell?....
What are the chances that this one hit Grandfather? 1:1000? Don't count the shell holes from the farmers fields here.
Two other items turned up. My Grandmothers watch. Dating from Christmas 1906 (Weihnachten 1906)
Here is the other precious item I found - Gottfried's ring, I believe its cheap metal, so no money value but of immense emotional value for me.
Upon the inquiry of my Grandmother where her husbands (kia) marriage ring may be, Gottfried's best buddy, Sergeant Major Woellerth answered in a response letter: (excerpt)
"....I just asked the stretcher bearer Corporal Kluth. He states that he could not remove the marriage ring, as the finger was heavily swollen. Now the third issue: I have already written to you earlier, that some few things have been found later on the luggage van....."
So today nobody knows anything about the ring. As it is not the marriage ring it might have taken from the corpse or it was stored on the luggage van, which I doubt. Why should Grandfather not wear his initialized ring at all times....? ....and why was the ring cut? Because they removed it from the corpse or because Gottfried cut it by himself earlier? The answer will stay an enigma forever!
Upon the inquiry of my Grandmother where her husbands (kia) marriage ring may be, Gottfried's best buddy, Sergeant Major Woellerth answered in a response letter: (excerpt)
"....I just asked the stretcher bearer Corporal Kluth. He states that he could not remove the marriage ring, as the finger was heavily swollen. Now the third issue: I have already written to you earlier, that some few things have been found later on the luggage van....."
So today nobody knows anything about the ring. As it is not the marriage ring it might have taken from the corpse or it was stored on the luggage van, which I doubt. Why should Grandfather not wear his initialized ring at all times....? ....and why was the ring cut? Because they removed it from the corpse or because Gottfried cut it by himself earlier? The answer will stay an enigma forever!
This shall be the end of the epilogue. Hope you enjoyed the story and whenever you pass through Merville and you remember the story - please leave a poppy on Gottfried's grave.
I hope that this story shall also serve as a reminder that the other side, the German side, was human as well and suffered as much as everybody else regardless which nationality. There was no good nor evil soldier in the trenches here and there, there were only individuals affected by their environment. Wars are always started by politicians, Kings and emperors, not soldiers. My Grandfather was proud to go to war in 1914 for his country, as were so many British and Dominions. But towards the end of 1914, I can see disillusionment from the spirit of the field letters. Than at the latest all soldiers in the blue and red trenches collectively suffered another 4 years; there was no room for individual fate. The trunk though opened some 90 years later showing an individual living and dying, his family hoping and mourning. It is very worthwhile to remember individuals!
The horror of war and how it changed my grandfather’s physiognomy into a ghostly shocking one is seen in this representative collage that perfectly show the horror and suffering of ALL soldiers during the course/development of the Great War; keep in mind that Granddad was KIA at age 37.
By telling this story from the "enemy" side I wanted to show that "they" suffered the same, had the same feelings, had the same family fates. I have received so many PMs and emails from Brit/Commonwealth friends that this thread opened their eyes: there was life and tragedy on the other side of No Man's Land as well. I am so grateful that his artifacts, his story and his memorabilia serve such a good cause.
Again , if you come through Merville and visit the CWGC Annex, including the grave of my Grandfather, you have the chance to remember an individual whose story you know very well now.
I feel justified to have published a snippet of the war story of my Grandfather . My Grandfather and all the other countless lost souls deserve to be remembered- in privacy AND in public.
Gottfrield's photograph and medals hang next to those of his son
Since this story first appeared on The Great War Forum in 2005 a number of forum pals have kindly visited Gottfried's grave. Here is a few of the photographs that they have taken.
Poppy for Gottfried
GOTTFRIED SANDROCK 22/9/1882 - 1/5/1918
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