M1907 Feldgrau Feldmütze
After much searching, and thanks to the rapid service from Regimentals, I finally have a great looking, and salty, M1907 Feldmütze (to suit my equally salty M1915 Feldbluse)!
Of a shade and weave typical of the mid-war period, there are a couple of very old repairs, but the cap is in otherwise very sound condition, with both originally-stitched cockades.
Unfortunately, any Corps or Regimental ink stamps have long been sweated and worn away, leaving only frustrating hints of what might have once been (or stains that make you think you saw something)!
Most tantalising of all, is that the lower edge of the owner’s name label has been folded, prior to sewing it in - probably to conceal the wearer’s original unit, upon assignment or transfer to another. The only way to tell would be to lift the lower edge - something that is clearly not going to happen!
I will just have to wonder...
Of particular interest is Herr Höhn’s rank - Musketier. Prior to the Great War, there were no less than six forms of address for an Infantry Private, depending upon his state of origin or historic specialty - Musketier (Prussia), Infanterist (Bavaria), Soldat (Saxony), and Fusilier, Grenadier and Jäger.
The archaic term, Musketier, was finally dropped sometime in 1914, seemingly before the outbreak of war; the most junior rank of the infantryman becoming a standardised Soldat*, though old habits, and traditions, would probably die hard among the regulars.
The use of this old rank on the label indicates that it was printed prior to the change, and suggests that Höhn was either a pre-war serviceman or reservist.
I love the character of this piece. I hope you do, too.
All the best to all,
Rob
*I am still trying to research this, but most sources tend to use Soldat and Grenadier as interchangeable standards. I shall be glad to learn the definitive history.
.
Bookmarks