Imperial Navy ID

[Steve Campbell]

I know it's not the right forum, but there are many knowledgable KM guys here who I'm sure can help me. I picked up this cool picture awhile back and am looking for a little more info. This looks Imperial due to the uniforms and flag. On the lifering you can see some writing. The tops looks like linienschiff. Is this "ship of the line" or something else? The bottom may say Essen, but is covered up by the kangaroo. Is this the ship or a port? With a loup you can see at least 5 EK1s in wear and 3 Uboat badges.

[Steve Campbell]

This is the rear with some writing. Anyone have any idea what it says? This photo is 5x7 inches.

[Norm F]

Hessen

That's likely the Linienschiff Hessen, a Braunschweig class battleship, originally launched in 1903.
You can see some photos of it and read more about it's history here:
http://www.german-navy.de/hochseeflo...en/photos.html
Best regards,
---Norm

P.S. Looking at that writing, I can make out "Offiziere auf die (der?) Hessen" Officers on the Hessen. I'll have to study it a bit longer...

[Steve Campbell]

Norm, that's great. Thanks for the link to that site also. Looks like it will come in handy. Looking at the history of the ship, I don't see it operating in an area where there would be any kangaroos. Wonder where that thing came from. The writing on the back makes sense. This picture is clearer than the scan shows and with a nice loup the badges are pretty easy to see.

[Norm F]

a bit more

I notice something else. In the photo are a mixture of German and some other kind of officers -- notice the guys with the shorter caps with light coloured cap bands and executive curls on the upper stripes on their sleeves.
On the writing it says: "Deutsche und something-che Offiziere auf der Hessen in ?"
So now we have to figure out what naval officers those others are and where they are...
Cheers.
---Norm

Edit: Hey that definitely says 'Deutsche und Spanische Offiziere' - I notice the Hessen made trips to Spain in 1926 and 1929! Those are the caps and sleeve stripes of the Spanish Navy.

[Steve P]

Good heaven's...a wallaby??? Where are they and why is the marsupial on the ship??

[CSForrester]

Text on reverse is "german and spanish officers on the HESSEN in Suedspanien"
Somewhere in Spain between 1926 and 1931.
HESSEN came back in activ service in 1925 and every year in summer the ship made a trip to the spanish west coast and canaraian islands.

Regards
Markus

[Steve P]

Aha!, interesting Markus...so anyone got any ideas as to why the wallaby is there?

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks for all the help guys.