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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: tristiw on Monday 18 January 10 01:52 GMT (UK)

Title: Clothing recognition - Uniform? Palestine? German?
Post by: tristiw on Monday 18 January 10 01:52 GMT (UK)

Hello,
I've already posted this photo on another thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=431161.msg2957079
and Peonie helped me figure out what was written on the back. 

Can you help me figure out whether the man in the hat is wearing a uniform?

It's c1916 (roughly) and definitely taken in Palestine (Israel), but all of the people in the photo are German colonists in Haifa.  Most of them are members of the Woerz family. 

Possibilities for the man in the hat:
Friedrich Woerz geb 1883
Immanuel Katz geb 1896 and husband to Bertha (1st from right)
Mystery man.

Thanks for your time.
Tristi

Title: Re: Clothing recognition - Uniform? Palestine? German?
Post by: still_looking on Monday 18 January 10 20:54 GMT (UK)

this might help if you haven't already seen it

http://jerusalem-history.blogspot.com/2009/07/german-army-in-palestine-in-ww-1.html

click on the photos for larger versions

the text gives an outline of the units deployed

Title: Re: Clothing recognition - Uniform? Palestine? German?
Post by: tristiw on Wednesday 20 January 10 10:34 GMT (UK)

Thanks for the link!
Now I have a much better idea of what the German army did in Palestine in the period.  The clothing is quite similar, but I don't think close enough to satisfy my curiosity...the photo I have seems to have lighter coloured material and the hats are quite different.  It almost seems like the people in the link you gave me have uniforms made out of a crisp material - well pressed, whereas the picture I have is all wrinkly.  Like the difference between a flannelet shirt and a pressed linen shirt. 
I've written down the troop movements though.  I'll keep looking on this one. 
Cheers and thanks for your help.  Tristi