Menche, Johann Wilhelm
Menche, Johann Wilhelm
Artilleryman, fireman
born: 24.09.1797 in Ruppertshofen (near Nastätten)
died: 12.12.1868 in Wiesbaden
Menche was transferred from the service of the Electorate of Hesse as a corporal in 1821 to support Heinrich von Hadeln in building up the Nassau artillery. In 1823 he became a fireworker (a non-commissioned officer with the rank of sergeant responsible for the manufacture of ammunition in the artillery), and in 1848 he was promoted to the rank of officer, reaching the rank of captain.
Menche made a name for himself among the people of Wiesbaden and their spa guests as a designer of magnificent fireworks displays. Menche's artillery laboratory produced more than 2,000 fireworks for the particularly magnificent fireworks display that was part of the festivities held in 1864 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Duke Adolph zu Nassau 's accession to the throne.
Literature
Wacker, Peter: Das herzoglich-nassauische Militär 1813-1866. Militärgeschichte im Spannungsfeld von Politik, Wirtschaft und sozialen Verhältnissen eines deutschen Kleinstaates (with contributions by Guntram Müller-Schellenberg), Taunusstein 1998 [p. 457].
Nassau Biography. Kurzbiographien aus 13 Jahrhunderten, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden 1992 (Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Nassau 39). [S. 508].