Mike Huxley

Got to agree with you Rick. Just 2 normal EK's that somebody has had engraved and put into a dubious case and added a picture. Whoever has bid this price must be a lunatic.

In the "Ehren Rangliste" 1914-18 it lists Major Peschke as serving with IR 52 and then going to Kdr of IR20. Retired with Rank of Generalmajor. So I would say it is the same guy as you have in the picture. There is no mention of him serving in GR 12 though. Mike

WOW... These are from 1814 & 1815 ...... Outstanding pieces and VERY rare 🤑

Hi, Yes I do and I have the book "Fighting the Kaiser's War, and very good it is. But thanks for asking.

Your right Rich, with the German pass everything is contained in them, unlike those from the British in WWI. For more information on our troops you have to trawl through masses of archive references just to find out anything on their service record or awards. But, at least our medals are impressed with the name, rank and service number, unlike German awards.

Thanks for teasing us with these fantastic awards Rick. Whoever own's these must have a bottomless pocket. 🤔

This is the part of military collecting I enjoy the most along with the medal collecting and research. I have approx 150 Militarpas that I'm slowly going through and trying to trace the backgrounds of the people in them, along with award documents. My main area of interest is the Saxon Regiments that were on the Flanders front as this ties up with my Grandfather who was with the 23rd London Reg at the battle of Messines on the 7th July 1917 and was wounded there. Finding out about the Saxon forces that were opposing the attack and the guys in the battalions is a fascinating insight into history. Mike

Rich, I'd be interested in seeing some more of his Pass, can you post further scans of it please? Mike

Very nice groups indeed. The QSA's are particularly nice.

You are correct for the EK2 and I think you are correct about the wound badge, but I can't be sure about that from the bad hand writing. Mike

The SHM was minted the same from 1849 to 1918 and had the "FU" stamp on the neck of the head. Nimmergut listed the price as 105 euro some years ago. Also During WWI a total of 8299 of the silver awards were given, so not that scarce If that helps you. Mike

Lovely pair you have there Rick, well done.

Great research work. It goes to prove that is you dig deep into reference material that you can possible find the answers you are looking for. In fact I find this side of collecting the most rewarding. Mike

I see this one went for just over 408 euro's. That's not bad. Did anybody pick it up from here?

Your right about experienced collectors, and I am amongst them for many years. However I am referring to the not so experienced who may be trapped into thinking a piece is genuine. With the rise in methods of reproducing medals it is easy for the unsuspecting to even get caught out by reproductions, as we have seen even on here over the last few years. I decry any form of reproduction and feel that all those perpetrating this should be called out. The interest and hobby is about collecting and researching the real bars and medals that were won by many very brave people throughout history, not the replication of made up ones. That's me finished with this subject. All the best, Mike

I also agree with doing the same as you, and in fact did this for my late Father-in-law, who's medals from WWII were lost during a house move. The difference is, his medals were kept in the family and can be backed up by his official service records of awards. My gripe is about reproducing historic bars that have no connection to you and include genuine medals and not ones that are identifiable as replicas. These types of bar can in the future be passed on and find their way onto the open market for vast sums of money, that some poor individual who doesn't have the full knowledge of it's background will buy. By all means, make a replica bar, but use medals that are fully identifiable as replicas.

Well I'm afraid, to me, non of it is correct. To replicate a medal bar, that at some time in the future could be passed on as a genuine piece is sacrilege. Sorry, but just my opinion.

I thought the same, construction of bar and ribbons are good. But why the hell mount them in that order? Rick, on blowing the picture up to 400% I think I can make out the "FU" designer initials below the neck on the Obverse of the medal. If this is so, then it should be a genuine St Henry

I can't seem to see a makers mark on the pictures.

Here you go Tommy. It's on eBay

Is there a plausible reason that the St Henry medal and the FAM's are mounted in the reverse order? or is this just a made-up bar?

Yes, as all did for their 1st kill

Josef Mai was nominated for the PLM, but never received it. His only other awards were:- GMMK EK1 & EK2 Pilots Badge Wound Badge (Black)

Rumey full list of awards are:- PLM GMMK EK1, EK2 Bavarian MVK 2 with swords and Pilots Badge. I suppose that ribbon under the war ribbon could have been for the MVK2, but that would be highly unusual. It would also help if we knew when that picture of him was taken as he didn't receive the GMMK until May 12 1918 in Jasta 5

Of course Greg, your right. If it had swords as well, then it would have been the HOH. However, Rumey also received the PLM on the 10 July 1918 as a then Leutnant and in fact was only 1 of 5 flyers that received both the PLM and the GMMK.