15
-
At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.' -
16At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
17
Cheers,
David.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
No comments?
It's not everyday you see a well filled in RAD Dienstausweis is it?
He has a lot of names there.
Do the docs look correct to you?
4th class long service award but no 3rd class?
Looking for some feedback here guys, good or bad.
Cheers,
David.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
I think you've kind of OVERWHELMED us. Where to START?
His 1934 commission
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...60&postcount=2
signed by "Frh Loeffelholz Colberg" was Curt Freiherr Loeffelholz von Colberg, born 27 September 1874 in Ansbach of a vast Bavarian family-- but he himself was an "underachiever" with Schleswig-Holstein's Fusilier Regiment 86-- leaving the AImperial army as an overaged Major. Chief of the R.A.D. Personnel Office, his 1935 "Wer Ist's?" entry claims he was a 1923 Beerhall Putsch participant-- yet I don't find him on the original list of 1,500 recipients.
Just a minor "autograph" tidbit.
As a Dipl. Ing., this fellow was definitely overqualified, and though his advancement to "Captain" was rapid-- it appears he STUCK there? I'd have expected him to have risen higher, on building and construction higher staff, etc.Comment
-
Ah, thanks Rick.
I was starting to feel lonely in here
Thanks for the most excellent info, I don't know how you do it honestly.
Although such detailed information is just wonderful, and if you can provide some more that'll be great, I wasn't presuming upon you to go so in depth. I'd be more than happy with a brief rundown of Alexanders career. Is it possible to make out what pg8 dienstausweis tells us?
Good docs then?
Cheers,
David.Last edited by David C; 04-19-2004, 03:46 PM.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
So you were the lucky buyer David?Originally posted by David C
Yes, a well filled in Dienstausweis...which I had intended bidding on but forgot
I have sent you a PM with my email address re: entries on page 8.
/IanPhotos/images copyright © Ian Jewison collection
Collecting interests: Cavalry units, 1 Kavallerie/24 Panzer Division, Stukageschwader 1
Comment
-
Thanks for your help Ian.
I have emailed better pics.
I hope you don't mind my saying but I'm not exactly gutted that your memory let you down on this one
I thought it went for a rather good price
Cheers,
David.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
Hi David,
Well page 8 of the Wehrpaß states:
Further entries have not been added in accordance with decree RAF (Reichs Abreits Front?) personnel No. SS 2790-178/43 from 30 April 1943.
Bremen 2.4.1945.
Page 8 of the Dienstausweis:
2.9.39 - 28.4.40. In operations area within ? Flak?
28.4.40 - 31.1.41. In home war area with the frame belonging to the Air Force
1.1.41 - 5.1.41. In home war area in frame of the Air Force
6.4.41 - 28.8.41. In home war area in the frame of the Army
29.8.41 - 2.5.42. In home war area in frame of the Air Force
3.5.42 - 12.8.42. Action in operations area both sides of the Reichs border (Russia) in the from of Air Fleet South
13.8.42 - 31.12.42. In the frame of the Air Force in operation area both sides of the Reichs border (south Russia, Caucasus) in combat against Soviet Russia
6.1.43 - 16.4.44. In home war area in the frame of the Air Force
17.4.44 - 16.3.45. In the from of the Navy in the home war area.
/IanLast edited by Ian Jewison; 05-06-2004, 08:58 AM.Photos/images copyright © Ian Jewison collection
Collecting interests: Cavalry units, 1 Kavallerie/24 Panzer Division, Stukageschwader 1
Comment
-
I dont agree with you there DavidOriginally posted by David CThanks for your help Ian.
I have emailed better pics.
I hope you don't mind my saying but I'm not exactly gutted that your memory let you down on this one
I thought it went for a rather good price
Cheers,
David.
, however I did think it would go higher!!!!
Not sure if you have seen this http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ead.php?t=9057
but it bears similar entries to your Dienstausweis, in this case a Wehrpaß to a RAD officer.
What I find interesting with yours is the entry that he was in the frame of the Navy 1944-45....the unit he was with was actually based in Bremen.
/IanPhotos/images copyright © Ian Jewison collection
Collecting interests: Cavalry units, 1 Kavallerie/24 Panzer Division, Stukageschwader 1
Comment
-
What medals/Badges did he have?
Regards,
DanComment
-
Thats on post 13....Dienstausweis page 15.Originally posted by Dan E. Moe
RAD Long Service Award 4th Class
West Wall Medal
SA Sports Badge
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords
/IanPhotos/images copyright © Ian Jewison collection
Collecting interests: Cavalry units, 1 Kavallerie/24 Panzer Division, Stukageschwader 1
Comment
-
Thank you very much for the information Ian.
I think RAF was the standard abrieviation for Reichs Arbeits Führer.
The Kriegsmarine association is indeed interesting.
Cheers,
David.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
-
Interestingly my Wehrpaß has the same order on page 8 dated 30.4.1943....never read it before as it is quite faded....after seeing yours it is now quite clear!
Of course RAF is Reichs Arbeits Führer in this case....I remember some time ago someone that that this entry meant they had served in the Royal Air Force
/IanPhotos/images copyright © Ian Jewison collection
Collecting interests: Cavalry units, 1 Kavallerie/24 Panzer Division, Stukageschwader 1
Comment
-
Originally posted by Ian Jewison
Glad you got something back for your trouble
Cheers,
David.At Rathau on the Aller, the CO of 5th Royal Tanks advanced on foot to take a cautious look into the town before his tanks moved in. He encountered one of his own officers, a huge Welshman named John Gwilliam who later captained his country's rugby team, 'carrying a small German soldier by the scruff of his neck, not unlike a cat with a mouse.' The Colonel said: 'Why not shoot him?' Gwilliam replied in his mighty Welsh voice: 'Oh no, sir. Much too small.'Comment
Comment