Ulsterman

The German army reorganized formally in 1917. THE OKH lowered the formal strenghth of battalions from 919 to 650 as of the Summer of 1917-replacing troops with machine gun sections (3 for each company). This reduction affected privates and gefreiters only-not other Unterofficers or officers. A platoon in an "average" infantry regiment in 1917-1918 would have had at the very most 60 men, including officers (1-2) and NCOs (7-8). The OKH reorganizatoon allowed more formal NCOs and officers allowed per company than the 1914 establishments. Photos of platoons in the field however, clearly show that there were about 35-40 per Platoon and sometimes even fewer.

I have the same card. It was very popular @1916-18. He is a minor Royal- Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe Weimar.

Souval made Bulgarian war medals-but I doubt many. As far as I know the Bulgarian medal has not been faked -yet. You outbid me on that bar-well done.

A bar with the same medals, but not in quite as nice condition, went on ebay 2 months ago for 105 Euros.

Is there an elephant in the room? Where? There! I think it is a fake. Note the rare pre-war UberNCO MVO without swords and the fire Long service award and the extra XII LS thrown in-along with a noncombat Ludwig cross (service at home 1916+-although that was ignored) along with the usualy combat awarded MVK3x with crown a Brunswick noncombat medal? Did Bavarians get the Centennial? Without the fat catch on the back and the fire award and the extra long service medal I would consider it maybe possible as a senior Bavarian NCO's bar-somebody who was on a Bavarian Division staff or somesuch. I assume the medal on the end is a regimental commemorative-added to sweeten the deal -usually it's a foreign award. And honestly, i don't think I have ever seen a Bavarian NCO with an Oldenburg medal-lots of North germans, but few southern ones. Made in Bavaria perhaps-or Ohio? Oh-I see Rick has already marked up the thread. Oh well-typed too slow.

There is some small discussion about the "wearing the day awarded" pictures. In some cases, the highest medal was clearly worn in the buttonhole. Where the EK 'hung' is debated. I have posted this one before, but ponder the medal bar. If you saw that in a show, would you think "one big,horrible wound"?

1916:

My humble contribution:

Magnifique! I weep with jealous eyes.

I thought you could go overseas up until 1973 at age 16 as a soldier. When I was young I well remember the horror of the Provos killing three Scottish soldiers (March 9th) when they went out drinking . Two were brothers and only 16. After that HM forces wouldn't allow 16 years old to Ulster.

Yes-part of the fun of the hobby. Meanwhile, I have seen a few bits and pieces in my time that were nonconforming and from old collections and/or families. They were one offs, which is why I look a little harder at things like this. Fakers usually make a series/batch of fakes-not a unique piece. Individual jewelers in the 1920-1940s however, did do such things -and do so today with some foreign country medals. I'm not in the market for one of these... but I like to look.

you! you! I have wondered why EK prices have exploded over the past few years-it is because they are all living at your house. Nice collection mate.

I believe it may be Federal denazified reissue docs. for the RK. Can we see the print of the stamp please?

It is well done and gives me pause. Has anyone ever seen a copy/fake like it beforre?

Perfectly legitimate. I have a similar bar (1914 star with bar and rosette) that I got at Sotheby's in March, 1979 (Lot# 185). Back then Victory medals went for 50p. It was to a Pvt. in the R.E.s and who later went to work for the Post Office in London.

Welcome Robert!! You will like it hre.

Great little bar. I wish I had your instincts.

Occam's Razor- Or to paraphrase Sherlock Holmes..."when all possible logical conclusions are eliminated, only the impossible remain". It is not real, but put together.

Ramblin... that last medal is the WW1 vets' "honor legion" badge/medal. Can we see a larger picture? The neck order is very interesting. Great pictures.

Rick Lundstrom's famous article on the Seymour expedition in the JOMSA is also a must-have.

A bit too fuzzy to use:

Only 6.18.15 is on the back of #53. I think he is a Major. Sadly, this as well as I can do:

and then there's the Austrians:

Here is a Bavarian officer @ 1875. Note the straight, flat 'cruder' style of hook on bar.

Here is a Saxon survivor of the war-1919/20. Unusual as the early Reichsheer uniform was only around for about a year.