And that’s
it.
No more
letters to publish unfortunately
Hope you enjoyed the little trip Fritz took you on, even though it was way too short.
From looking wide-eyed, like a 6-week old kitten, at all that is coming to him in his first days as a recrute, to sleeping through bombardments by the English.
If and when new information becomes available I'll post it here on the blog.
Hope you enjoyed the little trip Fritz took you on, even though it was way too short.
From looking wide-eyed, like a 6-week old kitten, at all that is coming to him in his first days as a recrute, to sleeping through bombardments by the English.
If and when new information becomes available I'll post it here on the blog.
A recap:
Fritz Limbach, born 25 October 1894 in Barmen.
Entered
the Prussian Army on, or very shortly before, 7 January 1915 in Kevelaer.
Trained with Infanterie-Regiment Vogel von Falckenstein (7. Westfälisches) Nr. 56
Upon
arrival in France transferred to Infanterie-Regiment Freiherr von
Sparr (3. Westfälisches) Nr.16
Died 25 September 1915 in the first hour/hours of the Battle of Loos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Loos
(Although the Regimental History ánd www.volksbund.de have his date of death at 24 September 1915....)
Died 25 September 1915 in the first hour/hours of the Battle of Loos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Loos
(Although the Regimental History ánd www.volksbund.de have his date of death at 24 September 1915....)
Fritz was
first buried in Douvrin,
and is now buried in Lens-Sallaumines German Cemetery, block 4, grave 536
and is now buried in Lens-Sallaumines German Cemetery, block 4, grave 536
A webpage
detailing the history of this cemetery (in French)
Fritz is commemorated on the grave of his parents in Unterbarmen cemetery.
Fritz is commemorated on the War Memorial at his old school, the Gymnasium Sedanstrasse in Barmen, as is e.g. Heinrich Mais:
I contacted the school but they are not interested in the life (and death) of two of their former pupils!
Fritz's family:
His father,
August Hermann Limbach, born 6 August 1851 in
Elberfeld, died in Barmen on 7 Nov 1918.
Just 4 days
before the end of the war that took his only son.
The
company, Linde’sches Eiswerke von Limbach & Bonert, continued under the
direction of his wife, and Paul Bonert (his nephew).
His mother,
Anna Proll, born 14 Sept 1862 in
Elberfeld, died in Wuppertal (as Barmen was now called) on 23 Dec 1938, and was
buried there on the 27th.
They were married on 9 May 1881 in Elberfeld.
His
sisters:
Anna - born 25 November 1882 in Barmen, died 17 April 1943 in Barmen. Married to Professor Johann Seynsche (1857-1925)
Else (engaged to a certain August)
Helene
Hanne
Of these I
can only trace “Hanne”, living with
her mother at the parental home on Bismarckstrasse 1, occupation: Privatsekretärin (Private Secretary), in
the Barmen Addresbook 1925/26.
By 1927
she has moved out (where to I do not know):
Cousins:
Paul Bonert, son of Eric Hugo Bonert and Helene Limbach
Born 4th
March 1881, died 1943.
He was the
one who developed and printed Fritz’s films & photos.
Paul was
married twice, first to an English lady, secondly to a German lady.
From his
second marriage he had a son who died in 1994.
After the death of Fritz's father Paul took over the management of the Ice-works, together with Fritz's mother.
Erich Bonert, son of Eric Hugo Bonert and Helene Limbach
Born in
Barmen 18 Jan 1895
Died near
Rattevalle, east of Nieuwpoort/Belgium 9 May 1915
Seesoldat in the Imperial Navy, 3-Marine-Infanterie-Division, 1 Kompanie
First
buried: German Cemetery Leffinge, Belgium
Now buried: German Cemetery, Langemark, Belgium, Kameradengrab.
Walter Nettelbeck, son of ? and ?
He sent a
letter of condolence to his uncle & aunt upon Fritz’s death, from a
hospital in Baden-Baden.
He may well be
the Vizefeldwebel der Reserve,
OffizierStellvertreter Walter Nettelbeck, who was reported wounded in late
September/October 1914.
In that
case he was in the Pionier-Bataillon nr
14, 1 Feld-Kompanie.
Friends and
Comrades:
Karl Steigleder, born in Barmen.
Fritz’s best friend from childhood. Karl's death hit Fritz hard.
Karl died 28
June 1915 at Auchy-les-Mines, France.
First
buried: Douvrin
Now buried:
Lens-Sallaumines German Cemetery, Block 8, Grave 29
Karl's grave faces Fritz's grave, they're only a few meters apart.
Heinrich Mais
Schoolfriend
from Barmen.
Died of
wounds in Feldlazarett 9 in Bauvin on
11 October 1915.
Unknown
grave.
He is commemorated on the War Memorial at his old school, the Gymnasium Sedanstrasse. (5 names below Fritz's in the above picture)
He is commemorated on the War Memorial at his old school, the Gymnasium Sedanstrasse. (5 names below Fritz's in the above picture)
Heinrich Mais
Otto Mertens, Fritz's friend from the trenches.
Apparently Otto wás admitted to an officer-course.
Born 10
february 1894 in Solingen.
Died (as
Unteroffizier) 15 december 1916 at Douaumont.
Unknown
grave.
Walter Benzenberg, a friend from Barmen (see letter nr 93)
Gefreiter
in Reserve Feldartillerie Regiment nr 66.
There is no mention of him in the Verlustlisten, or on www.volksbund.de
Hopefully he survived the war.
Leutnant der Reserve Wilhelm
Breunig, from Köln-Mulheim. Born on 11th August.
He wrote
the letter detailing Fritz’s death to his family (see letter nr 90)
He died 5
April 1918 near the river Avre, Dept. Somme, France.
Buried
Morisel, block 1, grave 322.
(Picture with thanks to Martine Vasse)
Offizier
Stellvertreter/Vizefeldwebel Walter
Scheffel, from Barmen
Fritz’s
platoonleader. See letters nr 88, 91 and 97 e.g.
Just married (or about to get married) in September 1915.
Just married (or about to get married) in September 1915.
Reported
seriously injured in the Verlustliste
of 6 December 1915.
No further mention of him in the Verlustliste.
Hopefully he survived the war.
No further mention of him in the Verlustliste.
Hopefully he survived the war.
Gefreiter Friedrich
Wilhelm Posthum, Fritz’s platoonleader during his short stint as a Pionier
(see letter nr 38).
The Regimental
History lists Friedrich as “Drowned” on 29 Jan 1918.
The
Verlustliste of 9 September 1918 lists him as "Drowned", with a date of birth of
1st June
Volksbund lists a Friedrich Wilhelm Posthum, buried in
Solingen-Wald, birthdate 1st June 1884.
And puts
the deathdate at 5th december 1917 !
Leutnant Walther Stennes, Fritz's Company Commander
Survived the war, and led a colourful life.
See Wikipedia for more on him:
See Wikipedia for more on him:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_Stennes (in German)
Walther Stennes
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