seeking info on ww1 Austro-Hungarian Military coat

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itch100
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Posts: 2
Joined: 25 Apr 2014, 18:50

seeking info on ww1 Austro-Hungarian Military coat

#1

Post by itch100 » 25 Apr 2014, 19:46

hi
i am in the process of locating any info on My Grandfather in War archives, forums, etc,
a slow process but an adventure , with lots of missing pieces to the puzzle.
i would just like any information about the coat he is wearing, all we have is this photo, my grandfather is on the left, and the story passed down is that he was a cook, whether that story is true based only on this photo only time will tell, i have just learned it may be a type of short greatcoat, and no further info regarding who it was issued to, and why?
sadly it is the only photo we have so any clues to his rank and duties are hidden under the coat,
i am told it was a design late in the war? i have yet to see any other photo or replica with this coat being worn, Was it that rare? A Croatian Catholic, i believe he was in BH IR Nr 4, based on the soldier next to him, wearing a fez, also the town he lived in when war broke out was Glamoc, Bosnia and that fell under the Mostar Garisson, IR 4. though he was born in the village of Dabar Croatia, he may have been In the Dalmation IR Nr 22, where i have found many men with the same surname.including (possibly) his missing brother.
sorry for poor quality photo, its all i have, any info would be much appreciated.

thank you
ww1.jpg

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John G.
Host - Militaria sections
Posts: 5775
Joined: 25 Apr 2006, 19:56
Location: USA

Re: seeking info on ww1 Austro-Hungarian Military coat

#2

Post by John G. » 26 Apr 2014, 11:57

:welcome:

There are very few "english-language" (or any language) referances available on Austo/Hungarian Imperial uniforms with all thier "ethnic" variations etc. so that unfortunately I doubt you'll get any thing definate... there certianly were "double breasted" uniforms, as well as "drill tunics and stable jackets" and the like.... theres nothing really to help identify anything except what you've already "assumed"... whether "being a cook" or not is anyone's guess.... being a "posed" picture hard to tell.

Theres little else I can add.... More research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

"Very handsome man" (meant in a manly man's way, of course :lol: )
Good luck, let us know if you learn anything more...and keep checking...we do have a couple Austrian specialists who may be able to add something.
John G.


itch100
Member
Posts: 2
Joined: 25 Apr 2014, 18:50

Re: seeking info on ww1 Austro-Hungarian Military coat

#3

Post by itch100 » 26 Apr 2014, 14:25

thank you John.G
yes very handsome indeed, he looks just like me, without the moustache:)
if anyone is interested,( and no disrespect to this forum) i am just a carpenter, trying to find anything i can about my family history,who types with 2 fingers on his computer:) hopeless at computers but slowly getting better, i joined a forum

http://austrohungarianlandforcesdiscuss ... m.yuku.com

and my title was

Looking for info on my Grandfather during WW1 in the Austro-Hungarian Army, a Croat in Bosnia may have served in BH.IR .Nr 4

again i hope i am not breaking any rules by mentioning another forum? but the time i have spent on that particular one , people all over the world were very helpful, and i cant thank them enough.

one of the best clues so far( which i least expected) was the field kitchen oven in the photo ,and that this particular one was only introduced in 1916, which i guess gives me some sort of timeline?

i have been in contact with the Austrian black cross, and cant wait till august when the Red Cross finish making digital copies and available on-line to researches, all documents they have on POW,s during WW1,
as i am also trying to find info on my grandfathers younger brother, who never came home, i have no name but have some leads based on research in the czech archives that he may have been a POW in one of the first 4 or 5 battles on the Izonzo .
front.
as for my joining this Forum, i found the topic here on Uniforms and i guess i am just hoping for something?

its just frustrating that the thousands of photos i have seen, i still haven't come across any photos where somebody is wearing the same coat as his, all i see are long coats, and any short coats i have seen , seem to belong to somebody sitting on a horse, high in the ranks with many decorations, whereas in this photo it just looks plain.?
so i thought if i share around the question regarding this particular type of coat, it may give me some closure,
anyways, my apologies for the long reply,

thanks again, every reply is helpful to me, helps me stay on track knowing there are people out there with the same interest and are happy to offer any knowledge they may have.
hope i can give a happy ending to my story to share with everyone:)
cheers

Brian Calkins
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: 06 Sep 2006, 20:44
Location: Arizona

Re: seeking info on ww1 Austro-Hungarian Military coat

#4

Post by Brian Calkins » 07 Aug 2014, 01:55

Have you found any further information on this short coat?

It is possible that it was once a regular long greatcoat, that was shortened by a company tailor. KuK regiments and even some companies had their own tailors to repair and modify uniforms to specific needs. It is also possible that the coat was not a uniform item, but rather a civilian coat that he was using for lack of a greatcoat.

In most cases with these "odd" uniform items, it is impossible to find a final truth....and we must settle for an educated guess.

I hope this helps.

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