James Clark

Thanks very much for your help. Unfortunately I didn't have access to a Who's Who pre 1951 and the source I'm working from isn't specific enough for me to say whether they were British or Indian Army, or indeed whether they were serving or retired. Mind you, it's not entirely accurate either - amongst other things it gives Gannon as "Colonel Cannon"!! Regards, James

I am trying to find out some information about the following officers who held the given ranks in 1936-37: Lieutenant Colonel Jack Rose Compton Gannon. (Later Brigadier, born 1 November 1882 - died 25 April 1980.) General W.H. Anderson. (A Brigadier W.H. Anderson, CBE, was Director of Remounts, Army Headquarters, India, in 1929.) General C.C. Lucas (A Major-General C. Lucas is listed as commanding the British Army's 4th Division from 15 October 1918.) Colonel Bruce Turnbull - Indian Army, C.B.S. D.L.M (4 Nov 1880 - 1952). This is all I have been able to find out from the National Archive catalogue and internet searches. I am particularly interested in their posts/activities in 1936-37 and especially whether any of them had sporting or diplomatic connections. Any additional information or sources would be gratefully received. Thanks!

Thanks Rick, I have copies of the statutes instituting all the awards (Flower Campaign and Westwall) as well as regulations for wearing the awards and there is no mention of such a restriction in any of them. However, my sources don't go later than 1940 (apart from the 1945 Doehle, which doesn't mention it), so I suppose it must have been in a subsequent addendum to the statutes. Just one of those things - I couldn't remember where I heard about the "two Flower medals only" rule, so it seemed like a good idea to get a note of the contemporary source. James

The regulation is often quoted that members of the Wehrmacht were only supposed to wear two of the "Flower Campaign" medals (Austria, Sudetenland and Memel) together. Can anyone tell me what the source of this information is please? Thanks James

Thanks Warlord I did find a very blurry picture of Goering in late 1936 wearing what looked like the 1. Stufe but it might have been something else. Good to have the confirmation. Still haven't been able to find out any more about Dietrich thought. James

Does anyone have any verifiable source information about which grade of the Olympia-Ehrenzeichen was awarded to Goering, Himmler and Sepp Dietrich? I assume they all received the 1. Stufe, but I can't find anything in references or biographies. Also, does anyone have any verifiable information about known German recipients of the 2. Stufe of the Olympia-Ehrenzieichen? Thanks in advance! James

This isn't an award packet. It is from the Divizion Azul veterans' association which used to have a museum (with shop) at the address on the front of the packet. The museum has now moved. I don't know if the association still has an office there.

.... with this ribbon bar [attachmentid=2165]

Finally, there was clearly some lack of clarity about where even the Olympia Erinnerungsmedaille belonged in a group - compare this full size group: [attachmentid=2164]

Heydrich also wore a ribbon bar with a metal eagle on the Olympia Ehrenzeichen ribbon. He had it in third place, after police and NSDAP service awards. As for having 1st Class awards shown on ribbon bars, I've seen DRK 1st Class awards cased complete with single ribbon bar with the little enamel Kleindekoration. Interestingly, Heydrich's bar also has the same Volkspflege mini that Himmler has. Himmler's is before his Olympia Ehrenzeichen but Heydrich's comes much lower down the order.

And this is the only ribbon bar [attachmentid=2161]

This is the only group I have with the Fire Brigade Decoration [attachmentid=2160]