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This is a posed studio
photograph taken
in Germany. It shows
Unteroffizier Fritz Bursig of the South West African
Schutztruppe and his wife.
He wears a standard
1897 Schutztruppe Home Uniform in pale
grey with the collar, Swedish style cuffs and piping down the front
and rear skirts in blue for South West Africa. The shoulder straps are
twisted cords in the imperial colours. It has white Litzen on the
collar and cuffs and white metal buttons bearing the imperial crown.
His rank as Unteroffizier is shown by the use of a single strip of white
metallic lace around the collar and cuffs. Under his collar he wears a
regulation black cravat. The trousers are matching pale grey with blue piping down the edge.
His headdress, carried in his left hand, is the
peaked field cap in matching grey with hatband and piping in blue for South West
Africa with a small imperial
cockade and a black leather peak. In his right hand are a pair of
white gloves. He wears a polished black leather belt with an other
ranks imperial belt buckle.
He wears three medals in
the form of their ribbons only on his left breast. The most senior
is the top left ribbon in black and white for the Prussian Military
Honour Award, second class, next to it is probably the South West
Africa Campaign Medal with several clasps, though it is impossible
to be sure from the photograph. Below them is his Long Service
Award, third class. The certificates for Fritz Bursig's medals are
shown below.
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| Long Service Award,
Third Class |
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The certificate
confirming Gefreiter Bursig's Long Service Award ("Dienstauszeichnung"),
third class for 9 years service on 18th January 1908. It
gives his age as 25. He had probably served only half this
length of time less as colonial service counted for double
years. Note that the award is an imperial one for
Schutztruppe service headed by an imperial crown and eagle,
rather than a Prussian (Bavarian, Saxon or Württemberg) one
for army service. |
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| Military Honour
Decoration, Second Class |
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The certificate
confirming Unteroffizier Bursig's Prussian Military Honour
Decoration ("Militärehrenzeichen"), second class
on 11th July 1908. Note that this is a Prussian award on
behalf of Wilhelm II as King of Prussia rather than Emperor
of Germany.
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| Long Service Award,
Second Class |
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The certificate
for Sergeant Bursig's Long Service Award, second class for
15 years service on 18th January 1911. Note that this is
only three years after his nine year award. As mentioned
above colonial service counted for double years. Note again
that the award is an imperial one for Schutztruppe service.
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