Estonian officer photo archive research

[photo-war]

Hello! I am looking for help with research of photo archive belonged to a former Imperial Russian Army officer, WW1 and civil war veteran who continued his military career in Estonian army after Civil War.

#1. He is in this photo, what military rank is this and could be this photo dated?

Thanks in advance!

Alexander

[Tapani K.]

Hello,

he seems to be a lipnik (Ensign), the most junior officer rank in the Estonian army. These rank insignia were officially adopted on March 23rd 1919 so the picture is taken some time after that date.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani many thanks! I appreciate your help. Another photo from the same source, I guess taken between 1919-1925. What ranks both of these men? One with two stpipes on collar appears to be an NCO.

Thanks in advance,
Alexander

[Tapani K.]

The officer on the left is a Captain but the other guy is not an NCO but a sõjaväeametnik, a military official. He would be a trained specialist but probably with no military training and therefore not qualified as a proper officer although performing important duties; probably of administrative kind. Maybe a lawyer, an accountant, or something along those lines.

And BTW, his sleeve badge looks like that of Staab ja valitsused, Staff and Administrations.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani many thanks again! Another one officer with a single star on collar patches - please help to find out what rank is this. Note that his shoulder board has letter 'S' and what appears service branch emblem.

Thanks in advance,
Alexander

[Tapani K.]

Looks like an alamleitnant (2nd lieutenant) of cavalry although the branch emblem is not very clear. Also, the star on the collar patch might be golden instead of silver; if golden, he would be an alampolkovnik (Lieutenant Colonel), but I think he looks a bit young for such a senior rank. I do not know what the letter "S" would mean; might be an unofficial addition.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani thank you very much! Concerning the S letter - take a look at this photo, may be this helps to find out who is this. Note the same S in collar patches and insignia different from utilized in Army, May be S stands for School (Schule)? There are plenty photos of classes with various radio equipment and guys that studying it.

Best regards,
Alexander

[Tapani K.]

School in Estonian would be kool so "S" could not mean that. But if the men are busy with radio equipment I would suggest Side, Signals.

Also, the former picture, which I claimed showed the cavalry insignia: the unit emblem could show crossed axe and wrench over a lighted torch. In that case, this would be Engineers and the "S" would mean Side pataljon, Signals Battalion. The battalion staff used the "S" on the shoulder patch.

In the later picture we have men in the 1926 pattern uniform. The rank insignia were transferred to the shoulder and the unit insignia to the collar whereas in 1919 they had been the other way around.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani many thanks! Have you an idea what is difference between these cap badges. #2 looks like standard army one and appears on many photos but #1 appears only on this one. Is this specific for branch of service of this man or just a non regulation or transitional variant?


Thanks in advance,
Alexander

[Tapani K.]

Number 2 is the cockade adopted in 1919. It was replaced by number 1 in 1924. This picture is therefore, probably taken sometime soon after the order was given in January 1924.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani many thanks again! This one I guess is quite a rare Independence War era photo of what appears Russian White Army along with Estonian army personnel. Note that Estonians wear star looking cap badge! Do you know anything about Estonian Air Forces? How many planes they had?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Alexander

[Tapani K.]

The cockade resembling a star was adopted in December 1918. There is a round cockade in Estonian national colours in the middle and decorative thingys (rosettes or something like that) in five points on the outside.

According to the official Estonian Defence Forces pages the Estonian Air Force received their first airplane in the beginning of 1919 when a Farman HF-30 was captured in an airworthy condition. First flight with this plane was on January 30th 1919. At the end of the war the Air Force had a total of 44 planes, some of them captured form the enemy and some bought. Less than half of these 44 planes were in airworthy condition.

regards,
Tapani K.

[photo-war]

Tapani many thanks for help with all these photos!

Best regards,
Alexander

[Anonymus]

Tapani many thanks again! This one I guess is quite a rare Independence War era photo of what appears Russian White Army along with Estonian army personnel. Note that Estonians wear star looking cap badge! Do you know anything about Estonian Air Forces? How many planes they had?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Alexander

No singel Russian White army unit was present at the moment when Narva city was taken from the reds on the 19.-20.january 1919. Palne was captured near Kreenholm factory and was put into service. Later in summer it was given tu North-western army who crashed it. Estonian army used same uniforms that were used by Russian army.

[vodafone]

Hey Guys, i need your help. Can you please tell me what type of forces, what year and what kind of uniform is on the picture?
Thank you.