Vzfw.
Helmut Frey
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 10/04/1891 |
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Place of birth: Laichingen, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire |
Army information
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Country: German Empire |
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Force: Imperial German Army |
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Rank: Vizefeldwebel |
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Units: — 10. Kompagnie, III. Bataillon, Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 24/10/1914 |
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Place of death: Reutel, Beselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Cemetery
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Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Menen Plot: N Row: Unknown Grave: 3459 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Helmut Frey was born on 10 April 1891 in Laichingen, Kingdom of Württemberg. He served as a Vizefeldwebel in the 10. Kompagnie, III. Bataillon, Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246, part of the 107. (Württembergische) Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade, of the 54. (Württembergische) Reserve-Division.
The Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 was involved in the First Battle of Ypres. By 24 October 1914 they had reached and captured Reutel, east of Polygon Wood. At. 5.30 a.m. the Regiment attacked the English defences west of Reutel. The III. Battalion launched their attack south of the Reutel-Ypres Road. A German witness describes how they had reached within about 100 metres of the English defences in the dark. Some German soldiers began to yell and shortly after they received heavy infantry and machine-gun fire, causing heavy casualties. The attack was halted, and men searched for cover. The men regrouped and advanced again, suffering more casualties. However, they were able to reach the English trenches where the defenders were killed or captured. After receiving reinforcements, the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 advanced to the eastern edge of Polygon Wood. The regimental history of the Regiment reports more than 1800 casualties, of which 17 officers and 18 non-commissioned officers.
Helmut Frey, aged 23, was killed in action near Reutel on October 24, 1914. He was one of the non-commissioned officers killed during the attack west of Reutel. Vizefeldwebel Frey is buried at the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Menen, Plot N, Grave 3459.
The Württembergisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 was involved in the First Battle of Ypres. By 24 October 1914 they had reached and captured Reutel, east of Polygon Wood. At. 5.30 a.m. the Regiment attacked the English defences west of Reutel. The III. Battalion launched their attack south of the Reutel-Ypres Road. A German witness describes how they had reached within about 100 metres of the English defences in the dark. Some German soldiers began to yell and shortly after they received heavy infantry and machine-gun fire, causing heavy casualties. The attack was halted, and men searched for cover. The men regrouped and advanced again, suffering more casualties. However, they were able to reach the English trenches where the defenders were killed or captured. After receiving reinforcements, the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 246 advanced to the eastern edge of Polygon Wood. The regimental history of the Regiment reports more than 1800 casualties, of which 17 officers and 18 non-commissioned officers.
Helmut Frey, aged 23, was killed in action near Reutel on October 24, 1914. He was one of the non-commissioned officers killed during the attack west of Reutel. Vizefeldwebel Frey is buried at the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Menen, Plot N, Grave 3459.
Sources 1
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Louis Orgeldinger, Das Württembergische Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment nr. 246 (Stuttgart: Chr. Belser A.G., 1931), 21-26. Sources used |
More information 2
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=8b0917a0-9ab0-4c9e-bbbc-c0408fd01b52 |
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Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge https://www.volksbund.de/erinnern-gedenken/graebersuche-online/detail/61417f870f221e43a0bb14aa0a714111 |