6 October 2015

101 - Recap



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.

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....)
 
Fritz was first buried in Douvrin, 
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.
 
Larger memorial image loading...

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)
 
 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.
                                                                     Otto Mertens


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.
Reported seriously injured in the Verlustliste of 6 December 1915.
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 !
 
                                                  Friedrich Wilhelm Posthum

Leutnant Walther Stennes, Fritz's Company Commander
Survived the war, and led a colourful life.
See Wikipedia for more on him:

Walther Stennes

5 October 2015

100 - Barmen, 11 April 1916 (Letter from Mr Hein. Mais, father of Fritz's friend Heinrich)





Barmen, 11.4.16



Dearest Mr Limbach,

Enclosed I return to you the film. Many thanks for letting me have it, and please accept my apologies for the delayed return. Perhaps I can request you if I can have it again some time.



Respectfully yours,

Hein. Mais



Note:  this letter presumably is about the roll of film (the elusive "5th roll of film" that Fritz never got to see) that Otto Mertens used to make photographs of the graves of Fritz and Heinrich Mais?
And Mr Mais used it to have some prints made from it?

4 October 2015

99 - Sennelager, 7 december 1915 (Letter from friend Musketier Otto Mertens)




Sennelager, 7/12.1915

Dearest family Limbach,

Enclosed I send you, as promised, the photograph [of Fritz's grave].
Unfortunately it did not turn out very good. But that can unfortunately not be changed anymore, and you will have to do with what little there is.
Here the Dienst is quite exhausting, and fills the whole day. Therefor I have almost no time to write even the most urgent letters.
But it is a lot better here than in the trenches.
Warm greetings from your’s faithfully

Otto Mertens



On a personal note: I find this an ice-cold letter!
the complete opposite of his letter of 20th October.
And he was not wrong with “the photograph didn’t turn out very good” !:


Fritz's grave at the Ehrenfriedhof in Douvrin



From left to right:
Richard Emmler
Wilhelm Altenbach
Fritz Limbach
Karl Romberg
Eduard Siesskind
Nikolaus Wendling


the original letter:



3 October 2015

98 - Stammheim [Auchy], 20 October 1915 (Letter from friend Musketier Otto Mertens)




Stammheim, 20/10.15

Dear family Limbach,

I heard from Vizefeldwebel Scheffel that you had written to him about the photographic device. I have withheld it, and will send it to you as soon as I have taken photographs of the graves of my friend Fritz and Heinz Mais, as I think you as well as family Mais would like a photograph of the restingplaces of both dear boys.
I have lost a lot in Fritz. You cannot begin to imagine how much we were on the same wave-length.
I am on a good footing with the other comrades, but no-one can replace Fritz.
Fritz was very much loved by everyone, no-one excluded, which is something not all can say of themselves.  
Actually he was too good for the field, always complaisant towards the comrades, and I often was furious with him when he let himself be duped by someone again.
But that has always been the case: the best get killed, and the thugs come through it unharmed.
Please receive warm greetings from your’s faithfully,

Otto Mertens 


the original letter: