Fröhliche Weihnachten und herzlichen Gruß

Six men of the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Regiment, 3rd Btln. Dated 19 Dezember 1914, Somme-Py, France. On the reverse, (German content provided by xiphophilos):

 

An Herrn

Johann Sirch

in Rosenheim

Münchenerstraße 28B

Oberbayern.

 

Somme-Py, den 19.XII.14

 

Liebe Eltern!

Habe gestern Euren Brief vom 6. Dezember erhalten. Schicke Euch hiermit ein Bild von meinen Kompagnieoffizieren. Der links mit dem Gewehr in der Hand ist Lehrer Amort aus Rosenheim, der mit dem Stern auf dem Helm ist Salinenassessor in Rosenheim. Der mit 2 Sternen auf dem Helm ist unser Kompagnieführer Rechtsanwalt Schönecker aus Freising. Der ganz rechts, der da steht, ist mein Feldwebel. Die 2 Pakete und Gummijacke habe ich noch nicht. Fröhliche Weihnachten u(nd) herzl(ichen) Gruß sendet euch euer Stefan (Sirch).

 

Dear Parents

Yesterday I have your letter of 6. December received. Sending you hereby a picture of my Company officers. The one at left with the gun in hand is teacher Amort from Rosenheim, the one with the star on the helmet is an assessor of the salt mines in Rosenheim. The one with 2 stars on the helmet is our Company Leader lawyer Schönecker from Freising. There at the far right, is my master sergeant. The 2 packages and rain jacket I have not yet received. Merry Christmas and sending you a cordial greeting your Stefan.

 

The unteroffizier at left is identified as teacher Amort from Rosenheim. He is armed with a Gewehr 88/05. He wears an M1896 pickelhaube with a plain M1892 uberzug. To his right, armed with a Rifle 98 and wearing a tschako with cover and hand applied regimentals is identified on an identical photo as assessor Oberleutnant Moritz Koch. His feldrock has Swedish cuffs oddly enough. A replacement? To his right, with the binoculars and wearing an 1886 pickelhaube with cover and hand applied regimentals, is a man identified as an assessor of the salt mines in Rosenheim, who is armed with a Gewehr 98. To his front right, a man identified with 2 stars on his helmet and the only man with collar and cuff litzen is Company Leader / lawyer Hauptmann d. R. Leonhard Schönecker from Freising, armed with a P08 Luger, wearing an 1886 pickelhaube and cover. He wears puttees over laced-up boots. His feldrock appears to be sans shoulder boards. Behind him is possibly the sender, Stefan Sirch, wearing an 1896 pickelhaube and plain cover, who is armed with a Gewehr 98. The Feldwebel at far right is armed with a Gewehr 98, wearing a square visored 1886 pickelhaube with plain cover. He is armed with a Gewehr 98.

 

Sender:

Name:Stefan Sirch

Birth Date:29 Feb 1888

Birth Place:Willmathshofen, Bezirksamt Zusmarshausen, Bayern (Bavaria)

Profession: Rentamts-Assistent

Marital Status: single

Place of Residence: Rosenheim

Parents: Johann Sirch, Handelsmann, and Maria, née Müller, both in Rosenheim

 

Unit:Bayer. Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1 (Augsburg)

Volume:3493. Kriegsrangliste: Bd. 3

Unit:Bayer. Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1 (Augsburg)

Volume:3516. Kriegstammrolle: 9. Kompanie

 

Military Service:

1.10.1906 - : Einjährig-Freiwilliger with the 2. Inf. Regt.

14.8.1914: Landwehrmann with Landwehr Inf. Regt. 1 (Augsburg)

8.2.1915 zum Offiziers-Ausbildungskurs (to an officer training cursus)

8.3.1915 promoted to Leutnant der Reserve

Awards:

18.7.1916: Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Combat:

4 & 6.9.-1.10.1914 fighting in the Kaysersbergertal

8.10.1914: Gefecht bei Kamershoek-Donck

9.10.1914: Gefecht bei Kersmakery

11.12.1914-8.2.1915 Battle near Souhain and positional fighting in the Champagne.

15.8.-5.9.1915 Second Battle around Münster

since 6.9.1915 positional fighting Urbeis-Lingekopf.

 

10.11.1916, Stefan Sirch is transferred to:

Unit: 27. bayer. Infanterie-Regiment

Volume: 2170. Kriegsrangliste: Bd. 1 (Renner im Band 2)

On 19.8.1917 near Malasesti (Rumania), he is seriously wounded through infantry projectile on his right foot and left thigh and since then has been missing in action.

 

Done