German bugle, 1915 Model : 79 Infantry Regiment von Voigts-Rhetz (3rd Hannoversches), Imperial German Army

Places
Accession Number REL/02618
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Brass, Nickel-plated brass
Maker Wendler
Place made Germany
Date made c 1915
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Standard B flat military bugle of soldered construction, with brass body and tubes and brass bell with nickle plated reinforcing band. There are a pair of suspension loops and plates soldered to the bell and mouthpiece sleeve. Features nickle-plated brass joining section and rear sleeve. The unmarked mouthpiece is brass. The lower section of the nickle-plated bell is impressed 'L.Wendler Rendsburg', whiie the top is impressed '79 R.' Soldered to the upper bell is an impressed brass plate featuring the Imperial German eagle. The rear taper of the bell and the upper tubing has suffered denting and impact damage.

History / Summary

The specific history of this bugle is unknown. It was issued to 79 Infantry Regiment, part of the 20th Division which was formed and headquartered in Hannover

In World War I in 1914, the Division fought at the Battle of St. Quentin and the First Battle of the Marne. It was sent to the Eastern Front in 1915 and again twice more, seeing action in the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive and the Russian Brusilov Offensive. It returned to the Western Front in 1917. The division was rated as first class by Allied intelligence.

It is known the Regiment faced 3rd Division AIF troops (41 and 44 Battalions) in the attack on Broodseinde Ridge on the morning of 4 October 1917, and that 79 Regiment's headquarters - a pillbox called 'Seine' - was assaulted and captured by Lieutenant H. G. Bremner and his some 44 Battalion troops. In the afternoon, during mopping-up operations, especially of the numerous German pillboxes, Company Sergeant Major H: Boden and Sergeant S. J. Barrettboth (40 Battalion AIF) captured a pillbox and battalion commander. Bean notes that it was "probably of a rear battalion of the 79th I.R and 40 men were captured. Field wireless sets, a listening set, and valuable maps and orders were among the general booty." (p 868n, Volume 4). Less than a week later, the 79th Regiment were held as reserves in the fighting at Passchendaele and took no part - they had suffered high casualties at Broodseinde.

The Regiment faced both Australian and New Zealand battalions at the defence of Hebuterne in late March 1918; and were in reserve at Villers-Bretonneaux a month later. It is likely this bugle was captured at the Battle of Broodseinde.