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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: GiveWay1 on Friday 04 January 19 07:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Help identifying uniform
Post by: GiveWay1 on Friday 04 January 19 07:36 GMT (UK)
Hi
This is my first post for a while. I would like some help identifying the uniform in the photo. I have cropped the family out but it was taken in Palestine, possibly Haifa, just before WW2. My husbands mothers family. Unfortunately I do not have a better pic.
Thank you
Colleen
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: Regorian on Friday 04 January 19 08:13 GMT (UK)
German in style but possibly small European State such as Bulgaria. Would that make any sense to you family wise.
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: GiveWay1 on Friday 04 January 19 08:50 GMT (UK)
Hi
German makes sense. They were templers whose ancestors had left Germany but lived within German community.
Thanks
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: Regorian on Friday 04 January 19 10:24 GMT (UK)
Trouble is he has patch pleat pockets different shoulder straps which preclude German WWI, and you think date much later. Upper national cockade does look like German but lower one for state is indestinct.

Added: Any chance he could have been German Frei Korps post WWI? 
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: davecapps on Friday 04 January 19 13:44 GMT (UK)
I put your query in a german forum.
They think it is tropical uniform of the German Asienkorps.
If you scroll down the page youŽll see similar uniforms

http://s400910952.websitehome.co.uk/germancolonialuniforms/ottoman%20fronts%20tropical.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Corps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinai_and_Palestine_Campaign
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: Regorian on Friday 04 January 19 14:23 GMT (UK)
You've found the answer davecapps.
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: davecapps on Friday 04 January 19 14:29 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Regorian on Friday 04 January 19 14:23 GMT (UK)
You've found the answer davecapps.
With the help of other experts
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: Regorian on Friday 04 January 19 15:10 GMT (UK)
So, the photograph could well have been taken in Haifa before we caught up and overwhelmed them and the Turks.

What surprises me is how well the Turks fought in WWI. The Ottoman Empire had been decadent from 1800 or before. The British and French had nothing but contempt for them in the Crimean War. German 'advisors'  could not have made up the difference.

My great aunts stepson, a company commander in 13th Division died of a head wound at Gallipoli. St Johns, Cambridge and considered the best French teacher in the Country. Quite possibly shot by an illiterate Turkish soldier.


 

Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: shanreagh on Friday 04 January 19 21:17 GMT (UK)
Would a closer look at the flag be a help to identify the time period and confirm what has been found already?
Title: Re: Help identifying uniform
Post by: GiveWay1 on Friday 04 January 19 21:43 GMT (UK)
Thank you all for yr help. I checked some details last night and I now got think pic would have been taken 1916/1917.