Portraits of Romanian Soldiers

Here is my grand grandfather's brother from Constanta, he was part of the submarine crew from Delfinu and later Rechinul. He was decorted with the Military Virtue Cross and the Loyal and faithful medal third class. He was also on the Destroyer Queen Elizabeth.

In the pisture from left to right:

1. Colonel Iancu - Mortar crew
2. Contra Amiral Petre Zamfir - Submarine Crew ( he is my great great uncle)
3. General de flotila aeriana Gheorghe Constantin - Pilot in ww2

All of them are my good friends.




I will put better pictures

This is a very interesting photo, typical for the 1919 campaign against Hungary.

The three military, sitting on chairs and standing on the right, are wearing british other ranks uniforms, massively supplied by the Allies in spring 1919, to reequip the poor Romanian army. Khaki colour looks dark grey on the b/w photos. The "Plutonier TR" on the right also wears british airman laced boots, very rare in WW1, but available after the war and delivered in grand quantities to Romania.

The soldier standing on the left is wearing an austro-hungarian tunic (first model made in “hecht-grau” cloth very similar to the Romanian grey-blue). It’s very much possible that the two soldiers of the second line are wearing a later version of the austro-hungarian cap (“Kappe”) with only one button in front of the flaps.

The diagonal straps of the two NCOs (“Plutonier”) in front are clear ad-hoc improvisation to indicate the status of the wearers. Both NCOs carry horse whip and stick probably for posing in front of the camera.

This mixed appearance was typical for Romanian army in 1919 and during the first years of the 1920s.

The photo seems to be made in summer 1917 or 1918. It represents a romanian infantry platoon with its two sections: of riflemen and light machine guns ( “CSRG” – “Gladiator”).

It’s interesting to see that all soldiers rose the rear sights of their rifles and hold a cartridge clip in the right hand.

My greatgrandfather plt. Mihai Cordun was of Roman jud.Neamt,and the next pictures is made in 29.04.1919 at manoeuvre at Tisa shore with "Regt.Razboi nr. 15 ,Bat. II,Comp.5

I might be wrong, but it seems to me he is wearing a M95 NCO bayonet.

You are right Sturmpionier!I still have it but is dammaged.No matter it is from my greatgrandfather and i value her

The “Plutonier” is wearing one of the many variants of French WW1 officer uniforms. The French NCO rank insignia (a reversed “V” lace) still could be seen above the tunic cuff. Again the diagonal strap is an improvisation. It is unusually carried over the left shoulder…

Note the traditional woolen hat (“Caciula”) put on the table, still having King Carol I badge in front (it was abandoned in 1914), and the short infantry jack-boots, probably of german origin, which make visible the long, civilian, socks…

Concerning the Austrian bayonet, the Romanian army was equipped in 1913 with a great quantity of A-H Mannlichers, but also captured a lot of such weapons and accessories in 1919. As an NCO, he should carry a sword and revolver, but almost all officers and NCOs adopted daggers or simply bayonets (most of them captured) during the last years of the war.

Hi guys,

My small contribution to this thread: my favourite ARR foto.

Cheers,

Al



This post has been edited by Alexei2102 on November 16, 2008 03:46 pm

And who was Mircea? Perhaps a relative of yours?

Gen. Dénes

Hi Denes,

Nope, just my favorite ARR portrait. I like to keep my portraits simple.

Cheers,

Al

PS - I will scan and post a portrait of my great-great grandpa. He was a German Arty man, fought on the Western front.

This post has been edited by Alexei2102 on May 28, 2008 05:43 am

Hi fellows!Can you tell me more about this post card?Sure you can!Respect!

The original postcard which commemorates Marasti (?)

has been altered by the picture being stuck to it, it would be very interesting to know whats under the picture.

The original card which sold for 5 Leu was printed for the Marasti Society possibly a War Veterans Organization (?).

Kevin in Deva

Should I remove carefuly the picture?It seems like a blasphemy to me!

Kepi I need your opinion on this...

And here is my great-great grandpa. Kanonier Hans Francisc. Foto taken in 1917, while he was on the Western Front.

Cheers,

Al



This post has been edited by Alexei2102 on November 16, 2008 03:47 pm