Stefan

Hi! I bought this little group a year ago and I thought it would be interesting to do some research about it. For some reason the Swedish coppersmith Nils Johan Alfred LIDBOM (1880-1964) went to the Belgian Congo and served there between 1905-1930 (according to the auction text). He was decorated: The Service Star, in gold. (from what I believe it should be) The Royal Order of the Lion, in gold. The Commemorative Medal for the Congo. With the group was his navy badge and a commemorative medal. Can anyone enlighten me regarding these two? I actually found his name in an article in L’ECHO BELGE, 1918-01-24: https://nieuwsvandegrooteoorlog.hetarchief.be/en/pid/mk6542kg5q “11-17 novembre 1917. Lois, arrêtés royaux et actes du couvernement. Ministère des colonies. Ordre Royal du Lion. - Nominations. Voulant donner un témoignage de Notre bienveillance aux personnes désignées ciaprès; La Médaille d’Or de l’Ordre Royal du Lion est décernée à: … Lidbom, N.J.A., contremaître de la Marine” And when google translates it: “11-17 November 1917. Laws, royal decrees and acts of government. Colonial Ministry. Royal Order of the Lion. - Appointments. Wishing to give a testimony of Our benevolence to the persons named below; The Gold Medal of the Royal Order of the Lion is awarded to: … Lidbom, N, Navy Foreman” He is also mentioned in L'indépendance belge, 1917-12-22, with the same list. https://nieuwsvandegrooteoorlog.hetarchief.be/en/pid/6q1sf2n81p In the newspapers there are several more persons listed that got the award and I found some more Swedes, Finns etc. I will try to compile the list of names and post it here. When you download the papers you get XML-pages with the text, but my own OCR program did a better job. Regards, Stefan

Meanwhile...I compiled a list of NCO:s from Rulla 1922 that got the Russian silver medal. I hope it can help you match the Lingiaden medal later. Rulla 1922 I.1 SAHLBERG, Ernst Leo; 1877-06-29; fanjunkare; SM, RS:tAOSM; Bat.adj., Vap.und.off. HÄÄGER, Martin; 1873-08-31; fanjunkare; SM, RS:tAOSM; Kfk, Tjänstgör i värnpl.sekt. PERSSON, Vilhelm Reinhold Eugén; fanjunkare; 1880-02-17; SM, RS:tAOSM; Reg.väbel, Kasernuud.off BECKMAN, Gustaf Valdemar; 1886-12-11; fanjunkare; A skm, RS:tAOSM; Fvex, 8. komp. FOGBERG, Oskar Alfred; 1869-05-22; fanjunkare (reserven); SM, RS:tAOSM. I.2 NYQUIST, Erik;1882-07-01; fanjunkare; R skm, Stockh sfb S M, RS:tAOSM; Suppl. i försv,väsendets lönenämnd, Kulspr.komp. ALMÉN, Karl Georg Sigfrid; 1880-06-08; fanjunkare (reserven); RS:tAOSM. I.10 JANSSON, Knut Gustaf; 1884-06-09; fanjunkare; RS:tStOSM; Kfk, Köksförest. å Malma hed. REHN, John Theodor; 1882-03-29; fanjunkare; RS:tStOSM; Sjukv.serg. o. sjukv.förr.und.off. FALK, Carl Johan; 1884-07-15; fanjunkare; RS:tStOSM; Bat.adj. ENGSTRÖM, Nils Theodor; 1881-02-04; sergeant; RS:tStOSM. K.2 CHRUZANDER, Axel; 1877-03-13; fanjunkare; SM, St s g, RS:tAOSM; Livskv. DAHLSTRÖM, Carl Oskar; 1888-11-27; sergeant; RS:tAOSM; Furageuppb.man STEN, Harry Alfred Edmund; 1889-03-12; sergeant; RS:tAOS M, Mil. idrm s, Idrm g; Vap.und.off. //Stefan

Great Johan, then I put my research on hold 🙂 Regards, Stefan

Hi! The Russian Tsar visited Stockholm in 1909 and many awards were handed out. So this could be to a NCO in the receiving regiment - one of the Stockholm regiments at the time. Regards, Stefan Any year on the back of the Finnish red cross medal? Could also have been a doctor serving in 1918 and then helping out the Finns in Sweden during WW2? I'll see what I can find... //Stefan

What a book - good work! I'm enjoying it now with a cold G&T 🙂 285 different medals/orders...284 to go 😅 Regards, Stefan

Yes, now I understand - thanks 🙂 Really good site 👍 /Stefan

Nick, sorry for bothering you again Do you have this book? I found its content list online and there is a chapter with "Alphabetical list of holders of the Order of St. George and the St. George Arms, awarded during the Civil War of 1918-1920" (Google translate from "Алфавитный список кавалеров ордена Св. Георгия и Георгиевского оружия, награжденных в период Гражданской войны 1918-1920 гг."). Could the "St. George Arms" be the cross given to the lower ranks? There were a couple of Swedes that served in the Northwest Army that I would like to see if they are mentioned there. Also an Otto von Knieriem got a cross during the civil war in the Northwest Army - he was in the staff of General Goltz and also later worked in Stockholm during WW2. Regards, Stefan

Thanks for the info - yes, I started to think it was that way. Are there any public lists available for those recipients in the Napoleon wars? //Stefan

Hi Nick! Do you know of a PDF version of this book? It's so old so I guess the copyright is no longer valid. I would like to OCR-scan it so I can search in it. Regards, Stefan

Hi! I am trying to confirm some of the Swedes that got the russian St George cross in 1813 - but I can't find them. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_över_mottagare_av_För_tapperhet_i_fält I found the first book mentioned above online: https://kp.rusneb.ru/item/reader/v-pamyat-stoletnego-yubileya-voennogo-ordena-svyatogo-velikomuchenika-i-pobedonosca-georgiya-1769-1899-g But I can't find "Anders Fast" in 1813 that should have its last name spelled as "Фаст" in russian. Is the book mentioned above about the order of St. George or about the cross of St. George? Regards, Stefan

Latest news... The left medallion is bronze and the right one is made of tin. The coin store owner explained that the manufacturers used a softer metal to see how the stamps struck. I've asked around for the De Nummis article and after that the research would end for me regarding this medallion :-) Regards, Stefan

I can't find any markings or names at all. The surface is very soft and you could scratch it with your nails if you're not careful. Led perhaps? /S

Yes, you are correct. I have not found any mark...so perhaps it is silver plated? But it is 100 g heavier than the other and that is a lot of plating I guess? I'll take a really close look now to see if I find anything...I only had them for almost 10 years :-) I'm looking forward to monday (that would be the first time) so I can go to the coin dealer and see what he says... Thanks for your comments. /S

More info... According to the Swedish coin magazine "Myntkontakt" 1980, number 1, the medallion was designed by Sune Lindström 1925 and engraved by Georg Jensen's goldsmith's company in Copenhagen. The medallion demanded large machines to be pressed so the stamps were sent to Sporrong in Stockholm and pressed by them in 1927. There are no markings from Sporrong on the 1927 medallions since it was not Sporrong that had the deal. But the stamps remained at Sporrong and in 1977 a small batch were pressed, 10 in total - 2 gilded and 2 silver plated, all made of bronze. This time the 10 medallions have the marking of Sporrong. I've contacted the the Royal Coin Cabinet in Sweden to see if they have more information. /Stefan

I really hope that it is made of silver ;-) The brass weights 210 grams and the "silver" 310 grams. It is also about 1 mm thicker. There are no silver stamps, and no markings at all on their rims. I will try to visit a coin store on monday to see if they can help me with the metal. /Stefan

Thanks Mike. //Stefan

Hi! Mike, do you have a copy of Stoker's article? That would be very helpful to me since I have one of each medallion. Regards, Stefan

Hello Christer, you might try to research if he took part in Föreningen finlands vänner (The friends of Finland´s society) that supported the finnish cause in Sweden at the time. Sorry, I don't know the total amount awards wo swords, it's hard enought to find the ones with swords :-) Photos with Swedes that got finnish 1918 medals are always nice to see. Regards, Stefan

Hello, from what information do you conclude that he fought in Finland 1918 as a Swedish volunteer? The cross of liberty is the civil one and not with the fighting swords. Regards, Stefan

Hello again, I've put it out for sale now and I would like to know if you knew the period it might have been used? Cheers, Stefan

Thanks for your help guys. Regards, Stefan

only one shoulder strap buttons are massive brass and marked with "Wien" and maker (can't remember the name)

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