Early WW1 Awards Wear by NCOs 01

Feldwebelleutnant Curt Beyer of Saxon Reserve Infantry Regiment 241 (formerly career NCO in Life Grenadier Rgt 100) proudly poses about 17 February 1916 showing off his freshly awarded Saxon Albert Order Merit Cross with Swords alongside his Iron Cross 2nd Class.

The single ribbon he is wearing is for his pre-war Saxon Army Long Service Award. That trapezoid style was as a general rule worn by officers without hooks on back SOLELY as a ribbon bar, and by enlisted ranks with hooks on back to serve as EITHER full dress (with medal) or as a ribbon bar (without).

This is typical of early World War awards wear--the new changes to 15mm width small "New Style" ribbon bars having not come into full effect yet. See the Non Regulation EK2 device scans of his comrade, FldLt Friedrich with 1918 awards wear.