Life as a Soldier in the Great War
From the regimental war register (HERE) it is possible to build up a picture of the military career of Julius.
Julius, described as sturdy, pale and 167cm initially served between 1887 and 1890 with 8th company of No. 113 Regiment ("5. Badisches lnfanterie-Regiment No. 113") and wastrained to become a carrier for the wounded. He left the regiment by September 23, 1890 and became a reservist.
As a volunteer he re-joined 113 Regiment on July 31, 1914 and was attached to 11/113 by Sept. 2, 1914. By June 1, 1915, he was promoted to Sanitats-Unteroffizier (NCO), and servedwith Feldlazarett (military hospital), only to be attached to a company by Sept. 7, 1915. He stayed there until Nov. 9, 1915, and he was promoted to lance-corporal by Nov. 1915 andmedical sergeant shortly after; his second identical promotion may
indicate he became a staff sergeant shortly before being withdrawn from front line service.
The register records the fact that he did his job well ("gut" = "good"), and details an agreement with a lieutenant and a sergeant that they will pay him 25 Reichsmark per month (20%)as a pension.
The amendments to his personal details in the regimental war register show that:
Aug 29 - Sept 6, 1915 Julius suffered from furuncle after being hit by gravel and shrapnel. Evidently he was within the trenches and it was his job to collect the wounded from the battlefield, although his age and rank tend to suggest he was more likely a "manager" than still dragging injured buddies behind him. His wound in action indicates he made it over the top, and luckily returned to his dug out. He was transferred to Military Hospital at Bazancourt (not Bessancourt), but shortly after became sick while based at camp Vouziers ("Argonnen").
Julius suffered from sciatica while based at a camp
Feb 9, 1916, suffering from sciatica, kept 1 day in local sick bay close to St. Martin, which used to be in the vicinity of Tahure (Marne). This quaint township was wiped from the map, a fate shared with numerous towns in France, and then transferred to a meeting point for wounded close to Vouziers and transported to Sedan's Military Hospital
Feb 10, 1916. Military Hospital at Sedan, France, sciatica
Feb 13, 1916. Reserve Military Hospital Mayen, Germany, sciatica
Feb 14, 1916. Erholungsheim Tietz (Private Recreation Home Tietz; today Kaufhof Warenhaus AG) at Daun / Eifel, Germany
Feb 19 - May 6, 1916, at recreation home Daun (Germany)
May 7, 1916, detached I Ersatz/113 recovery (recreation) company
We can see the locations of Julius on the attached map (HERE)
We also learn that Julius was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class "for bravery in the face of the enemy" on 10.10.1915