Found Father–in–law's Picture as a Dutch Border Guard in 1918

What a FIND... to come across another photo of my Father–in–law from 1918!

First let me show you his official Border Guard picture.

We have NO idea what date it was when he enlisted, neither how long he actually served.

But he spoke of his time as a border guard during WWI so any time between 1914–1918.

He was stationed at Groesbeek, Gelderland in The Netherlands.

There was no service time in the army as The Netherlands remained neutral during WWI...

Guess the above address was the place where he had to report to and it might have been his ID number: 932 

Second from left is also my Father–in–law...

Also my Paternal Granddaddy did serve as a border guard, don't know where he was stationed.

But my Granddaddy married on September 13, 1918...

Coincidence maybe?! 

See link to previous post about my Granddaddy below post.

The end of WWI was on November 11, 1918 and signed at Compiègne, France.

The photo that I found on Archief Well mentions that it was in September 1918 and the person seated on the left sent this to his sister.

They all are toasting and have wine bottles for whatever reason.

Okay, just learned today on May 1st, that this is in front of Café Boerderij (Farmstead) Altena in Groesbeek, Netherlands. click link→: Found Father–in–law's Girl at Café H. Albers Altena in Groesbeek, Netherlands

NONE of the other names are known... sad as most are long gone and relatives probably don't recognize them anymore.

To both of us, history always has remained a very important part and ought to be preserved!

At least for family members that came after him.

Pieter's Dad was not yet married then...

He has told Pieter as a young boy about a beautiful dark–haired girl at the Café in Groesbeek and he even went by bike with young Pieter seated on the back of the bike, with a folded blanket underneath... That was some 30 km one–way on the bike or 18.6 miles.

Pieter got an ice cream at the Café but his Dad's beloved dark haired girl was not there.

Did receive from Marleen Timmermans at Archief Well, this enlarged image of Pieter's Dad and yes, we recognized him, also the familiar way he is holding his cigaret.

Here Pieter's Dad is shown in a photo at the 25th wedding anniversary of his fiancée's Parents on May 11, 1919 and he is wearing the very same detachable starched collar and tie as in the above photo from September 1918!

WISH we would know more about the Border Guard or in Dutch 'Grenswachter' period from Altena (Germany) – Groesbeek (Netherlands).

Related link:

Happy Father's Day to my Father-in-law in Heaven | previous post by me

{My OPA - GRANDDADDY} | previous post by me of my Granddaddy wearing his border guard suit

1965 Pieter visiting French Mushroom Grower André Sarazin near Historic Compiègne | previous post about Pieter's visit of Compiègne where the Armistice agreement was signed to end WWI...