· Formed by authority of War Ministry Order of 16.11.16 MJ 2775/16 A1.
· Began formation in Saarlouis on 16.1.17 under stellvertretende (acting) 86. Infanterie-Brigade.
Personnel for the II. Bataillon was supplied by:
- I.- and II.-Ersatzbataillone, JR173
- JRs 144 and 173
- Reserve-JRs 98 and 130
Personnel comprised of:
- ½ recruits of the class of 1918
- ¼ convalescents
- ¼ soldiers from the field
· Majority of the personnel came from Niederrhein (Lower Rhein) and Westfalen (Westphalia).
· The War Ministry assigned the officers of the regiment. Most officers (except for the regimental and battalion commanders, as well as the Minenwerferoffizier on the regimental staff) had received commissions only after the war's outbreak.
· The regimental commander, Major Friedrich von Pirscher, (named to command by order of the Militär-Kabinett [Military Cabinet] on 2.1.17) came from assignment as commander, I. Ersatz-Battalion 98 at Horn (Lippe).
Pirscher had previously served as:
- Commander, I. Bataillon, Reserve Infanterie-Regiment 30 (wounded on 27.8.14 and 8.9.14);
- Commander, Recruit Battalion "Nouart";
- Commander of the "Special Formation IV./144"; and finally,
- Commander, III. Bataillon, IR67 (again wounded, 18.3.16)
· The regiment began movement to the training areas vic. of Lippspringe on 21.1.17; II. Batl. and was quartered in Marienloh. Use was made of various existing barracks and private homes.
· 236. Infanterie-Brigade, of which JR459 was part, also consisted of JR457 (Maj. Kuhlwein) and JR458 (Maj. v. Nostitz). Both were, like JR459, newly-formed units. Brigade Commander was Oberst (Colonel) Kreuter.
· 236. Infanterie-Division, to which JR459 was organic, consisted of:
- 4th Troop, Dragoon Regiment 13 (Schleswig-Holstein Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 13).
- Field Artillery Regiment 7 (1. Westfälisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 7)
- Pionier (Engineer) Companies 263 and 264
- Minenwerferkompagnie (mortar company) 236
- Medical Company 248
- Field Hospitals 193 and 194
- Pferdelazerett (Horse Hospital) 271
- Feldpost (Field Post Office) 953
- Field Bakery Column
- Munitions Columns
- Trains
Its hard to imagine what these IR459 Soldaten have seen.
