Jim Nolan's Blog

Remembering Robert and John

My mother's uncle, Robert Koenig, and my father's uncle, John Curry. Both were killed in action in WW1. Robert served in the German Navy. John, in the U.S. First Army, 28th Infantry. Lt. Curry's story is below.

 Listen to May 28, 1918

Cabinet Cards: Dr. Harry Koenig & Augusta Siegesmund

 

Engagement pictures of Hildegard Paul's parents. My great-grandparents on my mother's mother's side. Click to enlarge.

Germany Photo, 1913

It was a golden age for hats. Robert Koenig, my great uncle, is at the left.

Tagel, Germany Photo, 1909

Harry and Auguste Koenig and family. That's my grandmother Hildegard to the right of Auguste. Taken in Tegel, Germany.

German Photo, 1905

The Koenigs go for a winter walk, with proper hats. My grandmother Hildegard is in the white sweater. Click to enlarge.

Japan Photograph, circa 1905

Harry Koenig was stationed in Japan, as well as China. Here his wife Augusta and daughters Kathe and Hildegard (my grandmother) show off their Japanese clothing. The family lived in China, Japan, Africa, and Germany. Click either image to enlarge.

German Cabinet Card, 1914

My great-uncle, Robert Koenig, an officer in the German Navy. Robert's ship was torpedoed toward the end of WWI and he died. The photo is pasted onto the card, not laminated. To see cabinet cards of Harry and his then fiancee Auguste Seigesmund, click here.

Jinan, China Cabinet Card, circa 1904

A cabinet card from approximately 1904 when my great-grandfather Harry Koenig was a German naval surgeon in Tsingtau, China. The photo is pasted onto the card, instead of laminated onto it. I asked a neighbor and China expert, Professor Richard Belsky of Hunter College, where he thought it was. Rick replied:

"Very interesting. I think your photo must be of Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong. Tsingdao itself didn't have a wall, and the walls in the picture are very impressive city walls, such as one would expect from a major administrative center like a provincial capital. The wall doesn't exist anymore, most city walls in China were torn down in the years since unfortunately. It is hard to tell but it seems that the photo shows the area in the foreground flooding, and I know the Jinan moat did flood at times.  German influence was great in Jinan, there was a German concession there, and the Germans built a railroad from Tsingtao to Jinan (completed in 1904), so it makes sense that your great-grandfather would have spent time been there."

"Here are some photos of Jinan for comparison. The first two are different shots of the Jinan wall - note the water in the foreground of the first one."

 

Home from China

Harry and Auguste Koenig at home with their four children, years after their stay in China. Hildegard, my grandmother, stands in front of her father. Her brother Robert, second from right, was killed in WW1. 

Group Photo, China, 1905

My mother's mother's father Harry Koenig in China. The caption reads "? Tsingtao 1904/5." He was a surgeon in the German navy and stationed there with his wife Augusta. After they moved back to Germany, Harry and Augusta talked Mandarin when they didn't want anyone to understand them.

If you click on the photo it will enlarge. Harry's in the first row middle.