Imperial Navy Photo Question For Rick L.

[McCulloh]

So Rick:
My latest e-bay buy; do you think this guy ended up with a gold colored LS medal?

[Rick Research]

I hope Glenn can help on this, because I'm not sure of what "branch" device is represented by a cogwheel and anchor on a Leutnant's board.

I suspect that he is a former Engineering Deck Officer retired as a Leutnant der Marine aD in 1920...

That looks like he does have the XXV rather than an XV on there.

I looked in the February 1918 Naval rank List, but found no technical officer with the Scjhwarzburg medal and pre 1897 seniority.

[stogieman]

Hey guys???

No see 'um lifesaving medal on that bar? Schwarzburg War Medal, Prussian Service to the State??

[stogieman]

Okay, I'm stoopid

Yeah mon, I get it, Long Svc., not life saving.
Whoops!

[JensF.]

Looks like a Landwehr-Long Service Cross. The Schwarzburg medal is on the non-combatant ribbon ("Für Verdienst im Kriege" instead of the "Vor dem Feinde" ribbon).

[Glenn2438]

Obermaschinist

Rick,

I suspect you are right in that he was a commissioned former Deckoffizier. The cogwheel and anchor device was worn by Deck officer machinists in the rank of Maschinist and Obermaschinist although as far as I can ascertain it was never an authorised branch device for a commissioned offcer. Retired officers, deck officers and Portepee non commissioned officers were supposed to wear a bridle under the shoulder board. This photograph was probably taken in the very early days of the Reichsmarine in the transition period when the new Government actively sought the commissioning of former senior NCOS and this gentleman although commissioned into the engineering branch just wore his former deck officer insignia.

Regards
Glenn

[McCulloh]

actually..

...it was kind of a rhetorical question, since Rick has oftane said that these Weimar promoted Mechanics, Lts. a D, were often given to wearing gold colored XV medals-so they looked like the officers' XX. Here is another picture of the chap.

[McCulloh]

2nd attempt...

2nd attempt-scanner now acquired, target locked on...