Crown: Meiningen Bronze 01

This lovely little chocolate bronze device indicates, unofficially, that the generic combatant ribbon for Saxe-Meiningen's WW1 War Honor Cross and War Honor Medal is indeed that of the former-- for officers.

Both were actually medals, though the officers' "Cross" version had a cut out cross in a round wreath, with a crown over all. The enlisted men's Medal was solid without crown.

This is another non-regulation period device which served a practical and immediate purpose in distinguishing different awards that used the same ribbon.

Courtesy of David S.