Unit Id Help Needed

[pzrwest]

I need some help finding out what units my U-Boot vet friend Edgar's father was in pre and during WW1. Edgar is 88 and can't remember the info. Here is a pic of his father Willy Anton Schmidt pre war

and an enlargement of his shoulderboard with cypher

Here is his father taken later during the war, we are assumeing he is a der Spiesse(sp?) from the reporting book in his tunic flap and sword

Here is a scan of the backside of the pic. Hopefully someone can decypher it

His father finished the war with the rank of LT.
Thank you in advance for any info you can give. I know Edgar will appreciate it as well.... Harold