Help ID uniform, reg and rank. Thank you

[vellocino]

Hi, can someone be so kind to provide some light about the gentleman seated on the lower left corner holding a book. His name was Heinrich Leue, my wife's grandfather. I just got this photo from my father in-law, but since he didnt talk much about his war experiences, they dont know really much about him, where he fought or live back in Germany. He emigrated to Mexico in the 1920's and died there. I hope looking a his uniform or the ones from the other men on the group can shed a light about his military service. I think there a 4 on his shoulder board.
Any idea where I can go to find his military records?.
Thank you so much for the time spent reading this and your kind response to my plight.
Have a nice day!
Vellocino

[Mike Dwyer]

First let me say I am not one of the experts here, so don't accept what I'm going to say as a sure thing, wait until someone else comes along and either agrees with me or points out where I might be wrong.

I believe the man you are referring to is a Sergeant. I think his state cockade on his cap is black and white meaning he's in the Prussian army.

Due to what appears to be a black band around their caps, I at first thought these men were artillery. I think I was wrong because the third fellow from the left has Swedish cuffs on his jacket, which would indicate Feldartillerie, and the Feld-Artillerie-Regt. Prinz-Regent Luitpold von Bayern (Magdeburgisches) Nr.4 had a royal cypher on their shoulder straps, not the number 4.

This leads me to believe he is from Magdeburgisches Pionier-Batl. Nr.4 because they wore a black band around their caps like the artillery, they had Swedish cuffs, and they had the number 4 on their shoulder straps.

[vellocino]

Thank you for your response!

Mr. Dwyer, Thank you so much for your opinion about this important photo for me.
Any piece of information can be a valuable tool to find more about this member of my family, I will wait for other members to post their opinion on this.
I just received help translating the back of this photo from Gerdan, a valuable member on the translation request thread on this forum. It gives a name of a kompanie, I hope its familiar to someone here and helps on this personal task.
Here its the translation:
"Markendorf, 22.7.17

Ihr lieben alle, sende Euch herzliche Sonntagsgrüße und hoffe, dass es Euch noch gut geht, wie mir auch, gesund bin ich noch und bleibe mit herzlichen Grüßen Eucher dankbarer Heinrich.
Dear all, sent you best Sunday greetings and hope that you are all well, I am in good health and I am always with cordial greetings, Yours grateful Heinrich

Sender: Pionier H. Schmieder, Versuchs Komp(anie)

Address: Familie H. Pfeil, Marburg (Lahn), Frankfurter Strasse 58 I"

Thanks again in advance to all!!

[Mike Dwyer]

Vellocino,

Since it says Pionier H. Schmieder, Versuchs Komp., that greatly enhances my feeling that the man you are interested in is in the Magdeburgisches Pionier-Batl. Nr.4. My German is terrible but I tried to find out what Versuchs Kompanie means and I found two translations, one said "Experimental Company" another said "Testing Company". Perhaps they were used to try out new equipment or engineering methods? Pionier Schmieder must be one of the other men in the photo since your man is a sergeant.

It appears Markendorf is a town in Brandenburg southwest of Berlin and it's about 70 miles east of Magdeburg. The town of Marburg, where the card was mailed to, is located a little over 150 miles southwest of Magdeburg.

[Gustaf B]

Hey Vellocino,
I think Mike nailed it with incomplete information. It is always best to include all the information you have when posting such a question, as it makes it easier for us to answer. I had assumed the there was no writing on the back, I should have asked.
Best
Gus

[vellocino]

Thank you all!

Thank you both for you answer, I will work with the information provided to find more about the life of my wife's ancestor, is there any database for WWI fighters as the ones that exists for WWII that I can access?
Thank you sincerely for providing light on this family mistery.

I will post my findings if anyone is also interested.
Thank you once again.
Have a great day!
Vellocino

[Gustaf B]

Please post any more information that you find, these are very interesting stories, that otherwise go untold. As far as a data base, the only ones I know of are for officers only.
Best wishes
gus

[Chip M]

Markendorf was a training ground for pioneers, especially for Minenwerfer troops. With this in mind, it is not surprising that there would be an experimental company stationed there.

I wonder why the only soldier with a Bluse does not have the M15 pattern black pioneer straps. Of course, it is possible that they are the earlier simplified pattern (gray with no piping), but that would be very unusual to see on this model tunic.

Chip