research challenge

[Fred Borgmann]

I'm new to this site having first heard about it on the 101st Airborne historical "Trigger Time" site. What impressed me most about this site is the ability of some of you to do research which until now I would have thought impossible. So let me present a medal from my collection which I have owned for over 20 years. It is a medal which is of a generic commercially produced design with Wilhelm II in a hunting uniform on the obverse. The reverse has a wreath around the rim with the center left blank for inscribing. Engraved in the center is the following: "Reserve Jaeger Bataillon No 5 Jaeger Heilmann 6. Komp. Nov. 1915 Fur Auszeichnung Vor Dem Feinde" which translates Reserve Jager Battallion No5 Jager Heilmann 6th Company Nov. 1915 for distinction in the face of the enemy. Can anyone find out what Jaeger Heilmann did and where he did it?

[Fred Borgmann]

Here is the reverse of the medal. Thanks, Fred

[Rick Research]

All I've got is that RJB 5 was part of the 9th Reserve Division 1914-16, and then became part of Jäger Regiment 4 in the 200th Jäger Division for the rest of the war.

For all of 1915, the 9th Reserve Division held the sector Gincrey-Etrain-Warcq along the river Woevre.

RJB 5 received no individual citations from the General Staff.

In 1926's "Ehrenbuch der Grünen Farbe," which is a compilation of short chapters from most Jäger units, but NOT their entire war records, the only part on RJB 5 was for Italy in December 1917.

[Fred Borgmann]

Thanks Rick, that's more than I could have found. Fred

[JensF.]

Rick, saw this unit action in Verdun too?

[Rick Research]

Yes, they were in the horrible March-April 1916 Verdun fighting, but missed the Somme later that year because of transfer to Rumania with the new 200th Jäger Division.