Ulsterman

This is one of my favorites- "old China hand"Offz. Strlv. Willi Schrod in Soissons, June 20, 1915:

This is a later war ribbon bar. Note this man's rank.

This is an unusual one-a furled ribbon bar, picture taken in early 1918.

Another propoganda postcard with Gefreiter Fritz, Dec. 29, 1916

Unknown officer @ 1915:

Oberst von der Mulbe @1915 of the Grenadier Guards and the GKK. Killed in action near Nogent, 1917.

Thank you very much; very sportsmanlike of you Stogieman. However, I rarely collect bars this Millenium; perchance have you any odd photos laying about your manor?

The Friedrich Order 2nd class on this bar was only to Lts., the 1st class would be to Hauptmans and acting Majors. The fact that this man "had" an REO before the war would indicate he was at least a Hauptman in 1914. Also-glaringly-its' missing the inferior Crown Order. He "was" in uniform too in 1897 by the Centennial medal-even as an Einjahrer he would have had 16 years in by August, 1914-a bit long for an Oberlt. (?).

Gentlemen: Thank you very much for your help. I am in your debt. I apparently did not do so badly with this one. Sometimes ebay does turn up a treasure.

I bought this CDV last month. I am stumped as to what the medal is. I thought from the small picture that it was a St. Gregory-but I was wrong. Does anybody recognize this medal? Thank you for looking.

nice-classics!

Not mandatory, but highly likely given that it was awarded for frontline service. I reckon it's much more likely a german lt. would get an Austrian award than an jr. Austrian officer receiving an EK2 and no other Austrian awards for war service. Most snaps I have of them show at least 3 awards.

Chris: I think the top 2 bars are probably to a German officer in WW1 (Lt.). He lacks a Karl troop Kreuz and any other Austrian awards besides the 14-18 commemorative. The last ribbon I believe is a Rumanian medal (military merit/order of the Star).

Interesting, as it appears to be an Order Of Alexander awarded to a german junior paymaster named Oskar Grimm? It was awarded about 6 months before the outbreak of the Balkan war of 1912.

good pic.

Well, KuK Lt. in 30 and a half? Mortor Bttn. 6? By the way Chris, where was the Hungarian medal certificate issued? Wien? Also, what's the date and number? I am interested in these. Ta,

Wow- good stuff. I met Sutton . I know the 48th well.

Dave: Point taken (RE: NCOs)-but I'm showing my age and odd military background. I still think in terms of the 1960s-early 1970s, before rank and medal inflation took place in the US forces. I still distinctly remember when the specialist stripes began to appear. I however, clearly remember Sergeants at 3-4 years, although they were flight crew on B-52s and it was 1970. When I was a Nipper, below three stripes was not allowed in the NCOs' club and you actually had a significant number of NCOs passed over and out above five stripes. I understand however, that the Airmans' school and the NCO school are more readily entered if one has a college degree.

What I really like about this bar is its "over the top" nature. In comparison to most other nations armed forces a 4 year jr. NCO would maybe have had one or two medals-but most likely nothing. There are British members on the forum who have 3 medals after almost 30 years outstanding service to the Crown. Had they been US NCOs they'd look like Soviet Admirals.

Nice bar gordon. Something for the book perhaps?

I got this enormous picture in Feb.. Note the rank and the ribbon bar @ 1918:

This was another pristine item: once part of the Seymour collection for many years:

This was the only bar I bought this year; the proud accomplishments of 40+ years of service to the Prussian state.

Oh-What about Bowyer-Bell? Admittedly, the man is a bastard personally, but the book, done before the Troubles erupted, is very well done and balanced in comparison to many of the others doneon the IRA.

Townshend is excellent-albeit a bit dry. Arming The Protestants The Correspondence of Field Marshall Henry Wilson by the Army Records Society touchs on some of the era.