55717: Memorial to Willy Catterfeld

Willy Catterfeld, was born in Germany in 1886 and was called up to serve the Kaiser in World War I. When he joined up he was married and his wife was pregnant with his first child. As the attached memorial states, Grandfather was killed in action in Russia in 1914, just four months before my father was born in April 1915. The black slate memorial with gold lettering was erected in his village church at Trügleben in Thüringen, Germany and remained there into the 21st century. While visiting the area in 2005, my family and I went into the church and found that the building was being redecorated and that the plaque was no longer in situ. I inquired of the Burgermeister the whereabouts of the memorial. It was found secreted behind the altar and it seemed that there was no intention of replacing it in its original position so I asked and was given permission to bring the memorial plaque back with me to my home in England.

Editor's Comment:
Iron cross with Oak leaves and Mistletoe to top, inscribed: 'Zum Gedächtnis | unseres lieben Sohnes | Willy Catterfeld | Inf. Regt. 95 | 14. Okt. 1886, | gefallen 19. Nov. 1914 in Rußland'