Seeking some help

[John H.]

Hello,

I have the soldier's rank and name painted on his gas canister as,

Gefreiter H. Steinmetz.

Also painted on the left side near the lid there is the following number painted,
Maybe his feld post or unit number - 17647.
I'm not sure as I thought all Heer feld post were followd by the letter A?

Any help on this would be most appreciated. Please see the following pics

Thanks, John H.

[John H.]

More pics

Possibly his feld post or unit number?
Thanks, John H.

[Simon O.]

The number brings up the following

1.9.1939-1.1.1940 9. Kompanie Infanterie-Regiment 267. 2.1.1940-27.4.1940 nicht verwendet, wurde Fp,Nr.16858 B. 28.4.1940-14.9.1940 Landesschützen-Zug der Luftwaffe 277/VI.

As 9./I.R.267's number changed in early 1940 i'd say it was most likely to have been Landesschützen-Zug der Luftwaffe 277/VI

[John H.]

thanks

thank you so much Simon O.

so this soldier ended up going from the Heer to the Lufwaffe after 1940?

thanks, John

[Simon O.]

No, i think it's just luftwaffe, the unit is a ground unit, the kind that would guard an airfield or other luftwaffe installation.