Assistance with museum donations

[Steve Flanagan]

Imperial items just came into local museum and they need assistance in identification. Watch fob with custom made gold wound badge is very interesting and the small box has a clock face on inside where you manually move the hands,,,some kind of advertisement. Any help with unit identification on billfold and shoulderboards would be appreciated.

[Steve Flanagan]

Grouping

Grouping with hat device.

[Steve Flanagan]

Museum items

Boards identified one as a "service momento" and the other to a Kraftwagen group, any ideas on the billfold?

[Chip M]

The 138er billfold and watch pouch are veteran's momentos. The strap with the "K 5" is from a Starkstrom (electrical) unit. This pattern was introduced in 1917 and was worn with the pioneer uniform. In the spring of 1918 it was dropped in favor of the normal Kraftfahr shoulder strap (light gray with a red K). The regular Kraftfahr units never wore numbers on their shoulder insignia.

Chip

PS I have a pair of these Starkstrom shoulder straps that are identical to the one shown here. Even the company number is the same (5).

[Steve Flanagan]

Imperial items

Thank you, the staff is going all out on correctly engraving plaques for the display is there any specific group specified by the wallet?

[Erich B.]

The box with the watch hands that are moveable is a pill case--you could set the hands as a reminder what time the next pill must be taken.
Erich

[Steve Flanagan]

Thank you

Thank you all for your help

[Jean-Loup]

Here is a WW2 wallet I have seen. Striking resemblence!
As you can see by the schrapnel gash, this was not a veterans memento, but a combat worn item.

[Steve Flanagan]

Wallet

Interesting, makes sense they would need something halfway waterproof.

[Mr.Jerry D]

I too think the addition of the numbers was done later, that isn't to say that the ground dug example shown wasn't done and then the unfortunale guy was hit in an artillery barrage. ( and that is a 3rd Reich wreath)

Guys had these souvanirs at the fronts, not all "Trench art" & "hate belts" were bought behind the lines.

[Chip M]

I forgot to say that the official title of the 138th IR was, "3.Unter-Elsässischen Inf.-Rgt. Nr.138" founded in 1887 and part of the XXI Army Corps, garrisoned at Dieuze. Unter-Elsass is lower Alsace. 1.Cp. = 1st Company. The other letters are most likely the owner's initials.

Chip

[Steve Flanagan]

Thank you

Thanks Chip that completes their display for now, they have some imperial paintings they dont know if they are going to keep but I dont know if they are worth dragging to shows, dont transport well.

[JR92]

Hello,

Found in Champagne, near Perthes les Hurlus where Braunschweig soldiers fought.
I did not opened it...



Best regards