redeagleorder

Hi Sascha, I also had worried when buying it that there wasn't a 3rd class ,despite the fact that I have seen a couple of other bars like that. However, I found this statement by Rick Research in another thread on this forum: 'Although by statutes the 2nd Class could not be awarded until the 3rd Classs was held for "at least" 5 years (both were worn together), there are many many post-1918 awards as these petered out where ONLY a second class seems to have been awarded-- perhaps mistaking the "AFTER 5 years" about holding the 3rd class for "5 years OF service" which by then anyone in the whole war had performed.' For the whole thread see: http://gmic.co.uk/in...edal-2nd-class/ I wasn't sure if the red cross medal was postwar, but since it is it fits right in with this statement. I don't think it was replaced as the stitching (it is not connected by hooks) is tight and matches the other two medals, as does the colour of the thread used. So if the only long service award that military doctors got was for 25 years, that means all doctors were officers (or considered to be equivalent)? Also if the red cross medal is postwar, from which period is it 1920's 30's, etc... ? Finally, what exactly do you mean by the enamelled underground should not be engraved? Thanks for your info about the red cross medal! Matthew

Thanks Chris for that information! The bar arrived around a week ago and it looks great, with just that small amount of wear and fading to the ribbons that shows it has age. In cases like this, were soldiers got a china medal and a ww1 award such as an ek or a hindenburg cross with no long service award, I think they volunteered for China but then dropped out of the army soon after. Some may have joined up willingly in WW1, but in my case i think the recipient was conscripted towards the end of the war, as he has no ww1 awards Regards, Matthew

If the owner was a doctor during the war wouldn't he have had one of the red cross medals, especially in light of the last medal on the bar?

Would I be right in thinking that this medalbar belonged to some sort of doctor who also helped out in the Herero and Nama rebellions. The steel version of this medal went only to stay-at-homes, so could he have been organizing medical supplies? Also, were doctors issued long service awards (considered as officers?) Thanks very much

A very nice medal bar! Congrats.

Hi guys, Just thought you might lke to know that I managed to win the first medalbar shown! Hopefully it will be in my hands in a few days, and I can examine it more closely. Now, I realise i've already asked for this twice , but knowing no collectors personally i've come to depend a lot on you guys, and the fact that you have far more experience than me gives me confidence. I'm also interested in this small medalbar from Reuss, but once again I've problems about the back. Apart from having what looks like the remainder of a price tag, the ribbons are strangely folded in a rectangle shape rather than in a semicircle. The metal backing plate has two holes in it where I think there should be hooks, and finally in the hole behind the iron cross there is a red ribbon, not a black/white ribbon. Thank you for your opinions once again!

The white thread seems to be just around the mount of the Hindenburg Cross. Could it be it was added later by the man himself, bearing in mind that at least 33 years passed between the two awards, or do you think its a more recent add-on, and that there was a different decoration before it? Matthew

Hi Dond, No, I haven't blacklighted it as the bar is not currently in my possession. The backing material indeed seems to have used two different coloured threads, white on the left and a grey thread (which seems to be original as it blends in more with the backing) on the right. On the other hand, the second bar shown has red stitching which blends in with the backing. What is your opinion of the second bar? Thanks, Matthew

Thank you for that answer. I suppose the below bar is also an original? It certainly has a more likely combination of awards, but I haven't seen many mounts that are consist only of straight vertical ribbons. Thanks again

Here is the photo guys. Thanks for your help . Bar with China medal and Hindenburg Cross:

Hi all, I've come across a medal bar which strikes me as rather strange. It consists of only a China Colonial Combatant's Medal (no clasps) and the Hindenburg Combatant's cross. Would such a combination be possible? If the man fought in China and in the First World War, how can it be he has no long service award or any bravery or merit medal from World War 1? Thanks, Matthew

Can't think why the price has gone up so much, the Reuss verdienstmedaille is not in exactly the best of conditions...

Lovely medalbar, even more so that it is named.

Nice ribbon bar!!

@ccj, here is a very good article on all of the different versions of the Luitpold medal. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/10260-bayern-prinz-regent-luitpold-jubilaeums-medaille/page__p__463874__hl__+luitpold%20+medal__fromsearch__1#entry463874 Matthew

A fine collection of bavarian decorations. Some of the Luitpold medals aren't very common either. Matthew

Yes Saschaw, the one in 7th place. Matthew

It is also strange to see that despite all theses non-combatant medals, the Austro-Hungarian war commemorative medal has the swords of a combatant one. Matthew

Beautiful medal bar with matching ribbonbar, documents and a picture of the owner! All in all a very nice collection! Regards, Matthew

I can't help much with the medals, but the no. 6 veterans medal is on the wrong ribbon (should be a long service decoration), and so is the first medal (austro-hungarian veterans medal), the ribbon looks like it should be that of a King Luwig Cross. Regards, Matthew

Congrats on the medal bar and the identification, especially with the picture!!! Regards, Matthew

Nice wound badge for 1-2 wounds. Regards, Matthew

Can't show any examples myself , but a very beautiful and rare award Regards, Matthew

The number of awards are around 740, as Lippe-Detmold was a small state and the requirements for the Cross for Heroic Deeds were quite stringent. Regards, Matthew

Is this a normal mecklenburg strelitz cross which was awarded to a woman (as was shown before), or is there an award just for women from this state? Either way, very nice cross and case! Regards, Matthew