Ulsterman

I think $375 for a St. Mike is a bit high (by $150), but I am cheap. It's a nice, original unique bar.

Unusual. Souval made some Soviet awards during the Austrian occupation. I am having a vague recollection of a Soviet collection displayed in "Antique Arms and Militaria" magazine published @ 30 years ago with some of these. In those days Soviet awards were REALLY rare and expensive.

In my opinion a very big question that requires a bigger answer. Back in 1969 someone in the JOMSA wrote that "Manufacturing imperial German medal bars has become a sort of minor sport these days". Almost everything I know I've learned from reading Rick and the others here over the past 13 years. A good start is doing a "Medal bar, fake" search on this website. The results are a good three days worth of reading at least, but well worth it. Bottom Line: The rules were followed with a Germanic passion for exactitude, most of the time. There were exceptions to the rule, but there are enough fakes out there to warrant caution. The way I view these things these days is "prove to me it's real", and work backwards. There are people out there who can manufacture perfect bars- and some of them are on this website. Have you seen Rick's ribbon bar article?

Yugoslavia, during the war and immediately thereafter?

Nice badge!! I am pleased at how well made these badges are. The backings show that they were made for "rugged" wear.

In a word- wow!

Yes- Thanks to Bernard!

very cool! The first Crusade medal I've ever seen to a female! No bar too.

Oh It MUST be him-same rank, Bavarian, same town, same unusual name. Maybe he had a brother/cousin of about the same age/rank-but I doubt it. In my opinion it's 99.9% certain positively identified. Of course, if anyone has the B.RIR16 history book, he'd probably be in there.

Another "collector" who hopes to scam us out of our money by splitting up the group and hoping someone else pays big "wergeld" to keep it all together. Permanent blacklist but keeps photos just in case one day...it can be reunited. Who is this guy, another "Ordenssammelerclub" or another "California collector"?

I think its a fantasy piece too.

According to Meyer's book and his own recollections he was attached to the regimental staff as a runner, but it also states that he was at one point attached to all the regiment's companies. After 1916 and again in 1918, the regiment was down to @200 effectives, so they certainly knew each other, especially as there were probably fewer than 100 men in the regiment who survived from 1914. Regiment List took enormous casualties.

He was also one Gefreiter Hitler's commander for a short while I think.

I assumed LS ribbon (with tear/rip) #2 is civil service. A Lufty eagle would be impossible at this guys' age....esp. with no HK. Still, looking at the back-regular stitiching and is that a hand snipped catch? Hmmmm.......

...weeping I am with jealousy. Will we see this at Lowell? Whence came it?

A bailiwick is an area of expertise or authority. It comes from the days when Ireland was "Wilde" and local (Norman/English) authority really only existed in the few miles around the keep of the local castle (The "Baille"). The Pale , as in "that's beyond the Pale" was the area around Dublin where English/Plantagenet/Tudor rule existed. Beyond those lands, "wilderness...and the fearful sounds of ullian pipes" as the local clans gathered for a cattle/sheep raid.

Yay!!!! Thankee Sir! I owe you another one

One old man: So, this guy is born @ 1870, goes into the army @ 1890, stays through three enlistments (+) and ends up (probably as an NCO), gets out before 1910, gets his nice civil service job, which he receives as an old vet and is in a war exempted occupation (trains/post office/forestry/etc.) and then joins the Luftschutz to do his bit say @ 1935-1945. being an older NCO he might well have been some sort of squad leader, training and leading a group of volunteer (HJ) firefighters etc. (pure speculation, but I have seen photos like this). He gets the KVkx as a geezer during some notable air raid incident. Interesting bar. Unless it's a fake. Personally I doubt it, but its not my bailiwick.

Oh I know-but I got the picture of the old Prussian officer from Stogieman and the St. Henry reference jogged my memory. Sort of an inside Stogie-reference.

In a word, "no". There is no list of EKs awarded from 1914-18. Also, there's a bit of a policy not to comment (and identify the owners of) on bars that are on the market, or at least in auction, as it influences events.

According to Petrov (who is quoting the decree on the page 2 of the book I reckon), the Order of the Red Banner was established on December 13, 1950. It was intended for military officers (Lt. and higher) and civilians for their 'courage, sacrifice and heroism exhibited in wartime'. The Order could also be conferred upon Bulgarian Army formations and units in wartime. In peacetime the Order was bestowed for 'particular merit in strengthening the defense power and security of the Peoples' Republic of Bulgaria, as well as for 'unrivaled heroism in securing the states' borders'. The Order was also bestowed upon the servicemen of allied armies who had taken part in joint military operations with the Bulgarian forces. The first decoration was awarded to 2nd lt. Nayden Ivanov on March 10, 1951.

Ah- Thanks!

A Saxon St. Henry Knight you say? Perhaps this chap is on the list?

wow- that's the first one I have EVER seen-anywhere.

Beautiful! Daniel-did you see the (Rick Research) Baden posts with the HHox awards and dates in it from Baden FAR 14?