Was there a funeral sevice for Werner Voss???

[tcrean7828]

Mates,

Does anyone know if their was a funeral service for Werner Voss after he was shot down on 23 Sept 1917 and where was it held???

I believe that e-bay just recently had a pic of the church, drapped coffin, and herse and indicated that is was for Voss, 1917.

Any truth to this, as I have not heard anything about a funeral service for him at all, after he was downed.

Tks in advance for any info.

cul

tcrean7828

tom

[Gregvan]

Hi Tom,

No, there wasn't any funeral for Voss by the Germans.

I saw those photo auctions on ebay and was really surprised that the seller had the chutzpah to claim that they were funeral ceremonies for Werner Voss! As far as I know, the Germans never held any kind of an empty coffin or cenotaph ceremony for a casualty whose body was "missing in action", etc.

The funeral in the photos may have been for someone named Voss (a pretty common name in the German armed forces of WWI) but it certainly wasn't Werner. From what I recall of the photos, there wasn't anything to indicate the funeral was for an airman. Simply could have been any German officer named Voss.

Hope you didn't bid too high on those photos!

Greg

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Hi Tom,

No, there wasn't any funeral for Voss by the Germans.

I saw those photo auctions on ebay and was really surprised that the seller had the chutzpah to claim that they were funeral ceremonies for Werner Voss! As far as I know, the Germans never held any kind of an empty coffin or cenotaph ceremony for a casualty whose body was "missing in action", etc.

The funeral in the photos may have been for someone named Voss (a pretty common name in the German armed forces of WWI) but it certainly wasn't Werner. From what I recall of the photos, there wasn't anything to indicate the funeral was for an airman. Simply could have been any German officer named Voss.

Hope you didn't bid too high on those photos!

Greg

Mate,
Just wanted to see what price it would bring - I stopped at my allowed limit. Couldn't see any authentication stamps what so ever, so figured it was for someone, just not Werner.

Thanks for the info - have never even heard of a funeral procession for Werner from what I have read so far - so the next step, ask the experts.

cul

tom

[Lance B]

Hi Tom.

I went to Krefeld and reviewed many documents related to Voss and his fellow townsman, Karl-Emil Schaefer; and though detailed descriptions of Schaefer's funeral were printed in the local newspapers, I never saw anything similar or even a reference to a funeral service for Voss. As with Schaefer, many of the condolence letters/telegrams sent to the Voss family were reproduced in post-mortem Voss articles -- but again, nothing was said about an actual funeral. For that matter, I didn't even see a reference to a memorial service, so if they had one (which was often the case when the body was not returned) it may have been a private, family affair.

I don't think there's any reasonable way the eBay pictures (I saw them too) were connected to Werner Voss.

Regards,
Lance

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by Lance B

Hi Tom.

I went to Krefeld and reviewed many documents related to Voss and his fellow townsman, Karl-Emil Schaefer; and though detailed descriptions of Schaefer's funeral were printed in the local newspapers, I never saw anything similar or even a reference to a funeral service for Voss. As with Schaefer, many of the condolence letters/telegrams sent to the Voss family were reproduced in post-mortem Voss articles -- but again, nothing was said about an actual funeral. For that matter, I didn't even see a reference to a memorial service, so if they had one (which was often the case when the body was not returned) it may have been a private, family affair.

I don't think there's any reasonable way the eBay pictures (I saw them too) were connected to Werner Voss.

Regards,
Lance

Mate,
I think I tracked down as to who the funeral cart was for:
Ltn.d.R. Karl-Heinrich Voss
•Born: 07 May 1895 in Usedom
•Assigned to MFJ I on 17 Dec 1917- ‘Frontfliegr.de’; ‘The Jasta Pilots’ by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey and Rick Duiven – pg 317
•He was credited with 1 Victory: - ‘Frontfliegr.de’
1. 12 Dec 1917 Camel Leke

•His 1st victory was against a Sopwith Camel (N6330) flown by F/S/Lt J.C. Clark from No 10 Sqn, RNAS
•He was shot down in flames during combat with four EA over Houthulster Wald, flying Albatros D.V (2356/17) by 2/Lt. Kelsey, No 1 Sqn RFC - ‘The Jasta Pilots’ by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey and Rick Duiven – pg 317.
•He was Killed in Action on 17 Dec 1917, near Ypern. He was flying an Albatros D.V 2356/17 and was shot down by Kelsey from No. 1 Sq. RFC shot him down in flames – ‘frontflieger.ge.’
•Captured aircraft Number (G100) - ‘Frontfliegr.de’
•Buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery Elverdinge, Belgium - ‘Frontfliegr.de’
Note: additional info at: Flieger und Luftschiffer
•He was killed in action in Frenzenberg. He was burried in Langemarck (Belgium), with his comrads.

Thats all I have in my meger records.

cul

tcrean7828

tom