landsknechte

Admittedly, as a historian, there's a gap in my studies that you could drive the period from the Thirty Years War to WWI through. While we may not be able to ferret out specific genealogical histories of these men, there may be an answer in looking at some general trends or events that may have landed Scots in Germany and Austria. Something along the lines of the French religious wars in the 16th century that scattered Hugenots to all sorts of random places... As a side note, there was still a fairly sizable cultural divide during the mid 16th century between lowland and highland Scots. Obviously Gaelic-derived surnames (i.e. anything Mac) weren't all that well represented amongst the inner-circle of Mary Queen of Scots' court. --Chris

I seem to remember reading a reference somewhere to MacGollob being an Austrian, but that's about the extent of the light that I can shed on the subject. --Chris

Wouldn't the ribbon in fourth place have to be downright yellow to be Bulgarian? I read it as a Czech Annexation with swords.

Not a "baff002" creation, but still painful nonetheless...

It's not the Iron Division medal, that one has very narrow white edge stripes. I honestly haven't a clue what it is, and that's probably why I remember it in the first place. --Chris

A little while ago, this lot of items were up on eBay. Unfortunately, I never bothered to keep track of who ultimately won it. Didn't really matter at the time. Now, this bar appears on eBay: The seller's track record doesn't exactly give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I can't help but wonder if a new EK ribbon was slapped on that first bar, and then medals were thrown on to complete the package. Makes one wonder... --Chris

Now that I've got a rare moment off work, I'm finally getting a chance to update my collection catalog (i.e. book of notes)... What is the "proper" name for the zeal medal, and what would the name for that, and the St. Stanislaus be in Russian? Thanks, --Chris

It's all a matter of geography. You're in Lovecraft territory over there. I live in the backdrop for "Lost Boys". There's a very fundamental difference in paradigm. Not having the benefit of first-hand exposure to the Black Ranklist of the Ancients in the Miskatonic University Library, I've had to slowly float my way down the vortex artifact by artifact. The Pandora's box of speaking the hidden names associated with relics from another time. Perhaps not as benign a hobby as we had been led to believe. Of course, perhaps I only think that I have choice in the matter... --Chris P.S. When I get some time, I'll post the photos of my new Oberleutnant von Mebpaxnomon-Opopazp grouping.

You know you're starting to head towards the point of no return when you start to see ribbon patterns in other places that haven't the slightest connection to them. I caught myself looking at a stack of multicolored 3.5" floppies, and picking out the Ostfront and Saxon FAM that were incidentally formed by the diskettes. I'm sure that there are other collectors that see similarities between patterns in mashed potatos and die flaws in German war badges, so really it's just a matter of choosing your insanity. --Chris

Here's a better photo of the ribbon in question:

My old photohosting website seems to be a little flaky. Here's the picture again:

...and a pic of the family homestead (up until 1838):

Friedrich Egon August Karl Maria Freiherr von Berchem, Major der Luftwaffe a. D. After much searching, I finally tracked down an image of the arms of the barons von Berchem.

Interesting variant on the standard ribbon there on that one on the far left...

Gotta love them "vons".

My wife affectionately refers to me as "the bottomless pit of useless knowledge".

Obsessively tracking down utterly random details on obscure Bavarian noblemen... A man after my own heart! --Chris

Good haul. I drooled over that White Falcon bar quite a bit. --Chris

#6: a. No Hindenburg Cross, therefore it should be pre-1934. Given that, why is the EK in first place? b. I'm not sure what the criteria for that particular grade of the Princely Hohenzollern House Order was, but I'd wager it probably doesn't jive with the MVO4XmKr. c. It's an officer's bar with a 24 year long service ribbon, and no 1911 Jubilee. #8: a. Shouldn't the Friedrichsorden be in front of the Wilhelmskreuz?

I couldn't find a good way to photograph it, but simply pulling back the fold in the long service ribbon shows a really dramatic difference in the color.

The Hessian decoration being referred to is supposed to be a bright "baby blue", however that ribbon is notorious for fading out to a dingy white. It definately was blue, earlier in it's career. The only way to see it now is to pull back the backing a little bit, and hiding there under the backing is the original unfaded bright blue. --Chris

Ooookay... Now I'm getting it. I had thought that black was associated with the Navy. Perhaps not as strongly as blue, but still linked. Thanks, --Chris

I was unaware that scenarios a and b were even possible, and as such had assumed that c was probably about the only viable possibility. Especially with the black backing. Thanks, --Chris

Was the Hessian Bravery Medal restricted to Hessians, or was it awarded across the board?

Nothing says rebellion like a swastika on a bucket! Sheesh.