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Photo
© George Wylie Collection
This photo taken at the studio of R Schubert
of Berlin is marked on the reverse as a "Schutztruppe Deutsch-Südwest Afrika - Sanitäts - Feldwebel"
(German South West African Schutztruppe Medical Senior Sergeant). The
words "Auf Wiedersehn!" are embossed in gold below the photo indicating
that this medic was leaving his family for service and the marker on the
left says "Veste
Windhoek", showing that he was destined for the capital of German
South West Africa. Thousands of similar photos were made by servicemen
volunteering for the Schutztruppe to fight in the Herero Rebellion
1904-07.
His uniform is the 1896 Schutztruppe Kord
Waffenrock, in this case with the distinctions of a medical NCO- dark
blue collar and cuffs (without Litzen), red piping, yellow metal crowned
buttons and yellow NCO lace on the collar ands cuffs. The cuff does not
have a second bar of lace indicarting that despite the caption this
medic's rank is actually Vize-Feldwebel (see
NCO Rank Insignia). The collar also
has the large yellow metal eagle button of a senior NCO. He wears
matching corduroy trousers and Schutztruppe riding boots with spurs.
He has the Schutztruppe grey felt Südwester
hat held up on the right hand side with a large imperial cockade. The
hatband and edging would be dark blue to match the medic's collar and
cuffs.
He has two medals on his left breast, a Saxon
Military Long Service Medal and the
China Campaign Medal which tell us that he was a regular of the
Saxon Army who had previously served in the Boxer Rebellion 1900-01.
He wears standard South West African
Schutztruppe equipment consisting of ammunition pouches around the waist
and up each shoulder strap. These are of the second pattern, later
Schutztruppe reinforcements in the Herero Rebellion carried the third
pattern equipment which had small stud buttons holding each pouch. This
medic was therefore most likely one of the earliest volunteers to
reinforce the Schutztruppe in 1904.
He is armed with a Gew88 rifle and S71
bayonet. As with other similar photos taken in Germany these may
well be studio owned props rather his standard issue. In his left hand he
proudly holds the 1889 NCO sword with Portapee knot to distinguish
himself from junior NCO who were not authorised to carry swords and
sword knots.
Thanks to
George Wylie of the
Commission Rifle website for sharing this photo with us and to
Karsten Herzogenrath for identifying the medals. This photo was
originally shown and discussed on the
Pickelhaubes Forum |
