Previously, I have shown a few different Pipes, most of them were from Infantry Regiments and one of them from a Field Artillery one.
The next one is from a Jäger Battalion or Light Infantry, the Rheinisches Jägerbataillon 8. It is very different to the other ones that I have. There are a couple of very indistinctive details, starting with the Deer, the symbol of this type of units (yes, you can also see it in a famous bottle, no comment). In fact, the coat of arms of this Battalion is a white deer in a green background.
Another important feature of this Pipe is the lid. As you can see, it is the type of headwear used by the light infantry battalions.
The Rheinisches Jägerbataillon 8. was formed in 1815 but saw no action against the French Armies. It was going to be used again in the liberal uprisings of 1848 and 1849. In 1866, this Battalion was going to take part in the war in the Prussian side against Austria and the southern states. 4 years later, this unit was going to fight, finally, against the French in the battles of Gravelotte and the siege of Metz during the France Prussian War.
Before the war, their “Kaserne” was in the French city of Sélestat (Schletttadt) in the Alsace. Back then, it belonged to the German Empire. The “Bataillon” was part of the 39th Division, 61st Brigade, XV Army Corps, 7th Army.
When the war started, the XV Army Corps can be located nearby Strassburg, where they resisted the French attacked and managed to hold them and even push them back to France. In this moment, the command of the 7th army was given to “Kronprinz Rupprecht von Bayern”, who already was in charge of the 6th.
Under the same “boss” were going to be, when they were sent to Flanders in October 1914.From now on, it looks like they were employed as “fire fighters”, being sent here and there. The Battalion was going to be transferred to a new division during 1915, the 39th Bavarian Reserve division. They will be placed in the Alsace, in the Vogesen area, not so far away from Switzerland. They will see plenty of action in Ste. Marie aud Mines and also in the Highs 631.
In 1916, the Rheinisches Jägerbataillon 8. was going to be more independent and used in a couple of Divisions, like the 13th Reserve Division. Until the middle of that year, they will be fighting always near Nancy and the Swiss Frontier (Bois du Chèna, Plaine, Chambrey, etc).
Between August and December, the Battalion will be sent to Gallize and Poland in an effort to contain the Russian attack during the Brussilow-Offensive. They fought in the area near Lemberg.
At the end of 1916, the Rheinisches Jägerbataillon 8. returned to France, but this time, they will reinforce the Somme area by St. Pierre Vaast, north from Peronne.
In 1917, they would be located in the Champagne sector east of Reims. But they will be there just 2 months before being sent to a very different sector, the Macedonian Front, along the Vardar River. They were there until 1918, fighting the Greek Army as well as the allied army of the Orient. They also saw action in that area would be in Pletvar, near the city of Prilep in north Macedonia, where we can find still the German cemetery.
In March 1918, they were back in France, fighting in the Vogesen, between Epinal and Colmar, where they were 4 years before. But those “Jungs”, who invaded France in 1914, were not there anymore.