erman Army. There are many references to soldiers and beer in many of the Regiment History Books. For example, the History of the Guards Regiment during the Franco-Prussian War, in the page 119, show us the happiness of the Bavarian troops, when the HofbräuBeer arrived to the front direct from Munich.
It was a very popular tradition within the Recruits in the Imperial Army to order a Customized Beer Stone to celebrate, that they finished their 3 Years of Military Service. There were many types, from basics, like this one, to more elaborated ones. It all depended on the money, of course.
This one might be a modest Beer Stone, but the history behind that name, Xaver Held, is quite interesting, or better to say, tough. Just having a look at all the action, that he saw during 1914 and 1918, we can say, that the name Held matches perfectly with him.
(Franz) Xaver Held, born in 1881, spent the 3 years of his mandatory military service in the 2nd Chevauleger Regiment “Taxis” located in Dillingen an der Donau. Just to clarify, a ChevaulegerRegiment is a light cavalry regiment. This regiment was part of the Royal Bavarian 6th Division. He was there between 1901 and 1904, been promoted to Gefreiter in 1903, as it appears in his records in the Hauptarchiv München.
In 1914, Xaver was mobilized for the war, but instead of horses of the cavalry, he had to deal with the horses of Artillery. He was recalled the Royal Bavarian 1st Foot Artillery, under direct command of the Royal Bavarian 1st Army Corps, meaning, that wasn’t attached to any division. He was a driver (Fahrer) in that regiment, as seen in his records in 1918.
This Army Corps started the war in the 6thArmy under the command of the Crown Prince Rupprecht von Bayern. Xaver joined the fight in September in the area of Nancy, with the German offensive in the Nancy area already on. Overall, this offensive did not bring the expected results.
Soon after that, our man was sent north from Verdun, where he would be almost the whole time during 1915, except for 20 days in October 1915, where he will take part in the fights in the Somme and was wounded and sent to a Lazaretto for a month. He will enjoy also some time after in the Reserve back home. The calm before the storm.
In 1916, Xaver was just in one place, Verdun. From the 12th of May until going in the Reserve on the 10thof January 1917. At this point, I do not have to explain much about this battle, and how that name entered in history.
In 1917, Xaver was going to participate in battles around Champagne, but with a visit to Verdun. But he also had 2 months in the reserve at the beginning of the year.
In 1918, he would be one of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that participated in the Spring Offensive. His Regiment would be placed in the Reims area, where it fought until September, being then moved to Champagne.
The last actions of the war for him, would be the retreat fights to the Antwerpen-Mass Line. Soon after, he will march back home.
In his military records, we can also see the medals that he hardly earned:
27th of January -> Military Merit Cross Second Class (Bavaria). This means, that in 1917, he was already a Feldwebel in that Regiment.
6th of May 1917 -> Iron Cross Second Class (Prussia).
10th of September -> 2nd Class Service Medal for 12 Years in the Army (Bavaria).
As he was wounded, he may have been also awarded with the Wounded Badge.
The word Heldmeans Hero in English. I believe it matches with, what he has done und suffered during the war.