Re: Austrian army

The relevant section of Kershaw doesn't state that he was a batman or
similar. Do you have any source for this?

I don't believe that is an correct characterization of his service.

At best, he was a combat rifleman for 10 days, followed by 4 years as a
largely unarmed auxiliary like a pioneer or stretcher-bearer.


Actually, I have been a runner in the infantry myself, and I DID carry
a rifle. This wasn't in the Bavarian army, but I can't believe the
Bavarians would have done much that was different. I mean, if the enemy
is pouring over the landscape at you and there's no running to be done,
you pick up the rifle and pull the trigger.

.