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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: jrfalk on Thursday 05 January 12 05:07 GMT (UK)
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I was told this might be my 2nd great grandfather in his Danish Military uniform, but no one can confirm. It looks very similar to some US Civil War uniforms, however the referred to person did not emigrate to the US until about 1872. Does this fit the bill of a Danish military uniform sometime around 1860 to 1872? Or is this a different uniform, and hence we've identified it as the wrong person?
Thanks for the help,
Justin
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Hi Justin :)
I can't help with the uniform, but the photograph type and the pose, backgrounds etc. point to an 1860s or possibly very early 1870s date. More likely 1860s as this kind of plain backdrop would be quite out of date by the 1870s, although the later date can't be ruled out.
If you can show the entire photo, including the card it's mounted on, and the back as well if there's anything on it, it will help to pin down a date.
Cheers
Prue
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Hi
Take a look at this site, just scroll down to the third picture. The man on the Left is wearing the same uniform, count the buttons (1855).
http://www.chakoten.dk/daninfuni200aar_e.html
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Even the cuff is identical on genechaser's thread.
James
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Yes, it is an identical match. You guys are great! Thank you so much, seriously thanks.
Since he was born in 1845 I'm guessing the photo was taken after he came to America as he looks a bit older here. I don't think the photo would have stood up to the voyage to well either. I wonder if he served in the Second Schleswig War (German-Danish War) in 1864. Does anyone know if individuals records exist for this war?
-Justin
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His hat has the number 9 below a roundel, I am guessing this was the 9th Regiment who along with the 20th Regiment formed part of the 8th Brigade of the Danish Army at the Second Schleswig War, according to Wikipedia anyway.
I googled Danish 9th Regiment 1870.
James
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Don't know whether it helps at all but his sidearm is a Danish M67 bayonet officially adopted by the Danes in May 1867
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@ Radlad, Would this rule out any service in the Second Schleswig War (German-Danish War) in 1864?
Was the military a mandatory thing for young men during this period or did they enlist voluntarily? How long would one find themselves serving for?
Thanks,
Justin
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@ Radlad, Would this rule out any service in the Second Schleswig War (German-Danish War) in 1864?
Thanks,
Justin
It doesn't rule anything out. Just means the photo was taken after the bayonet was adopted. He may have served for years before that??????
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@ Radland, I'm interested to know how did you identify the bayonet scabbard to be that of 1867?
Check out this site regarding Danish rifles used in that period of time
http://www.svartkrutt.net/board/index.php?mode=thread&id=485
There is also a picture this man a man in uniform from 1864 with a rifle from 1822. http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3421&str= If you use Google Chrome it will translate from Danish to English
It's likely that same uniform would have been around in 1867 too, but I'm curious on the bayonet now.
I would have never found any of this without all your help. Thanks again to all that replied or made an attempt to investigate
Cheers,
Justin
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@ Radland, I'm interested to know how did you identify the bayonet scabbard to be that of 1867?
Check out this site regarding Danish rifles used in that period of time
http://www.svartkrutt.net/board/index.php?mode=thread&id=485
There is also a picture this man a man in uniform from 1864 with a rifle from 1822. http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3421&str= If you use Google Chrome it will translate from Danish to English
It's likely that same uniform would have been around in 1867 too, but I'm curious on the bayonet now.
I would have never found any of this without all your help. Thanks again to all that replied or made an attempt to investigate
Cheers,
Justin
These links are all for weapons in use before the photo was taken and are not indicative of the time. The M67 Bayonet is a sword type one and not a spike type as in all your links. It was used with the M67 rolling block rifle which used modern style metallic cartridges and NOT the muzzle loading muskets shown in the links. I am familiar with the model M67 and was able to identify it by enlarging that section of the photo and studying it. There is an earlier thread in which I correctly identified the M67 bayonet as issued to Norway at the same time.
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http://hansenfyn.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/peder-christian-jensen-grnn-14-dec-1830-31-may-1907-our-2nd-great-grandfather/
this has a good photo
sylvia
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The picture that maidmarianoops linked to,
http://hansenfyn.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/peder-christian-jensen-grnn-14-dec-1830-31-may-1907-our-2nd-great-grandfather/
looks very similar and from the biography it doesn't seem he served after 1864.
Now I'm confused.
I did find a picture on 1864.dk photo archives.
The first is a picture with a very similar bayonet
http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3554&str=
Is this not the same?
I also found two pictures with the exact same table as in my picture, including one that appears to be the very same studio with the same curtains, drawstrings, and floors.
http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3251&str=
It appears he may have a similar bayonet too, but it is too hard to tell
I'm interested in your thoughts Radland. Any suggestions?
Thanks again for your expertise,
Justin
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The picture that maidmarianoops linked to,
http://hansenfyn.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/peder-christian-jensen-grnn-14-dec-1830-31-may-1907-our-2nd-great-grandfather/
looks very similar and from the biography it doesn't seem he served after 1864.
Now I'm confused.
I did find a picture on 1864.dk photo archives.
The first is a picture with a very similar bayonet
http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3554&str=
Is this not the same?
I also found two pictures with the exact same table as in my picture, including one that appears to be the very same studio with the same curtains, drawstrings, and floors.
http://1864.dk/?page_id=12&projekt_id=3251&str=
It appears he may have a similar bayonet too, but it is too hard to tell
I'm interested in your thoughts Radland. Any suggestions?
Thanks again for your expertise,
Justin
Interesting link 1, I'm enlarging the photo and studying it, will come back on that one.
EDIT: Hilt Does not appear to be the same and looks like it has a bulb end and a straight quillion. More like a short dress sword than a bayonet
Link 2. An officer carrying an infantry sword, nothing at all like the bayonet in your original picture. much longer and totally different grip. To say it is similar is extremely wide of the mark.
Link 3. Very indistinct, can't see the hilt but it appears the Chape has no button on the bottom so a guess says not the M67 bayonet. I can also see what appears to be a holding strap near the hilt, this was used on spike bayonet scabbards of the time
This is a photo of the bayonet in your original picture
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I've had a thought. Rather than guess at his military service, according to a Rootschat article, all Danish military records are available.
Evidently they are called Laegdspuller and are in the Haerens Arkiv in the Danish national archives in Copenhagen.
Why not contact them, you might be able to get his full service record.