Claudio

Dear colleague! Thanks for your kind reply. I already thought that he might have been a cadet of a Zarist military accademy. I'll try to make some close ups of the cross, but it might be difficult. Can you read and translate to me what is on the reverse of the picture? Many thanks in advance. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Rick! Interestingly enough Mr. Thord-Gray never served in the Swedish army... Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites, My brother found this picture in Switzerland. He thinks it might be an Hungarian soldier... I rather think, looking at the collar insignia, that it should be Russian pre-1917. There's also something written by hand on the reverse of the picture that looks like Cyrillic alphabet; it would be really great if somebody could translate it for me. Any valuable inputs or comment on this picture are really very appreciated! Many thanks in advance!!! Ciao, Claudio

No, I don't think, but maybe he got the Finnish order because he fought the reds in 1919. Finland got the indipendence during the same period... Ciao, Claudio

Hi everybody! I found him! Ivor Thord-Gray (April 17, 1878 - August 18, 1964) was a Swedish adventurer and soldier. He had quite a very exciting and eventful long life... very well traveled guy! Wow... he's been everywhere: in Africa serving as prisoner guard then in the Militia after with mounted police, in the far east (also Philippines), served in the Chinese revolution, joined the Mexican revolution, fought for the British Army in WWI on the Western front and after with the Russian "white" army against the "reds", later immigrated to USA and became US citizen. The Swedish article on Wikipedia mention that he was for a little period also with the French Foreign Legion in 1909 in Tonkin (China)... http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=29973 1897-1901 (not 1895) Cape Mounted Rifles Artillery (Pte) 1902-1903 South African Constabulary (Cpl) 1903-1905 Voluntary unit Transvaal/1907 Northern Mounted Rifles/ (Cpt 1904) 1906 Royston´s Horse (Lt not 1901 but 1906 - Cpt 1906) 1913 CO Pancho Villas Artillery (1st Capt) 1914 COS 1st Mexican Army (Col) 1914 2/C 5th Northumberland Fusiliers in UK (Maj) 1915 CO 13th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers training in France (Maj) 1915-16 CO 11th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in France (LtCol) 1916-17 CO 1/25th and 2/25th (Overseas) Bns London Regt (LtCol) 1917 Bde Cdr "Theodore Roosevelt" Div. Dissolved 1917 in when President Woodrow Wilson didn´t back up the project. 1918 Canadian Expeditionary Force to Russia (LtCol) 1919 1st Siberian Assault Division (MjGen) 1935 COS to the Governor of Florida USA (MjGen) 1960 Fil Dr (PhD) Uppsala University, Sweden Incredible!!! Such groups are really unique! He's even mentioned in 3 article and different languages on Wikipedia (English, Spanish and Swedish!): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Thord-Gray in English http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Thord-Gray in Swedish http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=29973 Ciao, Claudio

Nothing like a spy... He served in the British army and was a battalion commander in the Western front... I forgot the name of the officer, but also his British officer uniform is on display at the Swedish Army Museum, in a temporary exhibition about "heroes"... Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites, Let's the picture do the talking... I was blown away to see such an array of very exotic and rare awards for a "British" style court mounted medal bar... speachless! The name of the officer is known. Ciao, Claudio

Well, enough said that I also didn't like it from the beginning... What it disturbs me most is the fact that if I would sell or pass on such a piece I would stir a vesps' nest. Some dealers sell those things in a couple of minutes during the Friday's update... go and figure... That's a strange world. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Vince, I am posting the images, since I'd like also to hear some experts' comments on this one! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Andy, It's the Tirolean "Landesdenkmünze 1914-18", see http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1762 Ciao, Claudio

Hi Andreas! Congrats for your newly acquired beautiful medal bar! I saw it too on Ebay and wondered why the auction ended so abruptly... ;-) Ciao, Claudio

Hi Jani, The Friedrichsorden RK 2. Klasse mit Schwertern, according to my references, has been awarded about 5'111 times, the RK 1st class about 1'766 for comparison. It was quite a widely awarded order to Württemberg junior officers, often awarded also to officers of other German states who had a connection with Württemberg. Some of the most famous recipient were GFM Erwin Rommel, GenObst Heinz Guderian. Check also the very informative and great webpage of a very knowledgable GMIC member's, Dave Danner: http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/wuerttemberg.htm. Are these bars coming up soon for sale on auction I might know?! Ciao, Claudio

Hi W! Nice Weimar era medal bar! The bar "Somme" is also correct if you check the history of the Feld.Art.Regt 7: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/1._Westf%C3%A4lisches_Feldartillerie-Regiment_Nr._7 Ciao, Claudio

Hi Rich! You are correct about the hinge... ;-) I just checked. I really do like your Iron Cross... and I totally agree with your comment about the Schinkel'sche kind of cross' shape! Thanks for showing! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Rich! The reverse of your cross looks quite different, though, also the hinge is completely different. Maybe you can show us also the obsverse of your cross. Ciao, Claudio

13er Ordensspange des Generalleutnants Rudolf Ulrich Schrader (*29.5.1890 - ?22.08.1945) ? Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 (OEK 1909), E/S ? Sachsen-Weimar, Orden vom Wei?en Falken, RK 2. Kl. mit Schwertern (OEK 2340) ? Lippe-Detmold, Kriegsverdienstkreuz am Band f?r K?mpfer 1914-18 (OEK 1190) ? Sachsen K?nigreich, Kriegs-Verdienstkreuz, 1915-1918 (OEK 2303) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer (OEK 3803/1), Hersteller G & S, Godet & Sohn Berlin ? ?sterreich 1. Republik, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille ? Weimarer Republik, Schlesisches Bew?hrungsabzeichen 1921, 2. Kl. mit Schwertern (OEK 3301) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Kl., 25 Jahre (OEK 3852) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-Dienstauszeichnung 3. Kl., 12 Jahre (OEK 3854) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen 2. Klasse (OEK 3572) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Erinnerungsmedaille an den 13.03.38, Anschluss ?sterreich (OEK 3516) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Erinnerungsmedaille an den 01.10.38, Anschluss Sudetenland mit Spange ?Prager Burg? (OEK 3517 & 3518) ? Ungarn, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille Generalleutnant Rudolf Ulrich Schrader (*Jena, 29th May 1890 - ? Suicide in Wiesbaden hospital as U.S. POW, 22nd August 1945) Units: 00.00.00-00-00.00 Telegraph Battalion 3 00.00.00-00.00.00 Telegraph Battalion 5 00.00.00-00.00.00 Reichswehr Ministry 01.10.35-31.03.38 Kommandeur der Nachrichtentruppe VII (HQ: M?nchen, subordinated: VII. Korps) 01.04.38-26.08.39 H?herer Nachrichtenoffizier 5 (HQ: Wien, subordinated: Army Group 5) 27.08.39-01.03.40 Commander, Army Signals School 02.03.40-01.03.41 Higher Signals Officer, Military Government, France 01.04.41-31.05.41 Higher Signals Officer, Army Group "C" 01.06.41-00.00.44 Higher Signals Officer, Army Group "North" 00.00.44-08.05.45 Higher Signals Officer, Army Group "D" Rank: 00.00.09 Abitur Officer Candidate 22.08.10 Commissioned (vorpatentiert to seniority 22.8.08 D9d) 25.02.15 Oberleutnant M25m 27.01.18 Hauptmann G3g, Reichsheer seniority same date #10 01.02.31 Major (21) 01.07.34 Oberstleutnant (Keilig, genaues RDA unbekannt) 01.08.36 Oberst (17), tr?gt Uniform: Nachrichtenabteilung 7 01.07.40 Generalmajor (Keilig, genaues RDA unbekannt) 01.07.42 Generalleutnant (4) Awards: 00.00.?? K?nigreich Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 00.00.?? K?nigreich Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1914 00.00.?? Gro?herzogtum Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Hausorden vom Wei?en Falken, Ritterkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern 00.00.?? F?rstentum Lippe-Detmold, Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1914-1918 00.00.?? K?nigreich Sachsen, Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1915-1918 00.00.?? Deutches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer mit Schwertern 00.00.?? ?sterreich 1. Republik, Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Weltkrieg 00.00.?? Ungarn, Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Weltkrieg 00.00.?? Weimarer Republik, Schesischer Adler 2. Klasse mit Schwertern 00.00.36 Deutches Reich 1933-45, WH-Dienstauszeichnung 3. Stufe f?r 12 Dienstjahren 00.00.36 Deutches Reich 1933-45, WH-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Stufe f?r 25 Dienstjahren 00.00.37 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen 2. Klasse am Band 00.00.39 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Medaille Zur Erinnerung an den 13. M?rz 1938 (Anschluss ?sterreich) 00.00.39 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Medaille Zur Erinnerung an den 1. Okt. 1938 mit Spange ?Prager Burg? (Anschluss Sudetenland) 00.00.?? Deutches Reich 1933-45, 1939 Spange zumEisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 00.00.?? Deutches Reich 1933-45, 1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1914 00.00.42 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Medaille "Winterschlacht Im Osten 1941/42" 25.03.43 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Deutsches Kreuz in Silber 10.04.45 Deutches Reich 1933-45, Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern Schrader receives the Knights Cross to the War Merit Cross with Swords, one of only 118 recipients to receive this decoration. 22nd August 1945 Schrader commits suicide while being held as a U.S. POW in Wiesbaden hospital - Milit?rsspital Wiesloch (Keilig). A technical officer like him was virtually guaranteed NOT to have committed war crimes, so avoiding prosecution cannot have motivated him. There does seem to be some controversy as to the actual events around his death. Generalleutnant Rudolf Ulrich Schrader is buried in the Military cemetery in Wiesloch-Friedhof Heil- u. Pflegeanstalt, Germany. He is buried in grave 75 (Endgrablage: Grab 75)

2nd one... ? Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, 1914 (OEK 1909), E/S ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (OEK 3836) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer (OEK 3803/1), Hersteller N. & H. Noelle & Hueck GmbH, L?denscheid ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen, 2. Stufe f?r 25 Jahre (OEK 3524) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen, 1936, Erinnerungsmedaille (OEK 3573) ? Finnland, Erinnerungsmedaille an den Befreiungskrieg, 1918

its Miniatures chain...

A couple of bars with the Olympia-Ehrenzeichen... 1st one... ? Preu?en, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 (OEK 1909), E/S ? Hamburg, Hanseatenkreuz, 1915-18 (OEK 688), WM vs ? Kaiserreich ?sterreich-Ungarn, Milit?rverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer mit Schwertern (OEK 3803/1) ? ?sterreich 1. Republik, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen, Erinnerungsmedaille 1936-37 (OEK 3573), WM vs ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938, Anschluss Sudetenland (OEK 3517), Br ? Ungarn, 1. Weltkriegs-Erinnerungsmedaille

Picture of the reverse:

Dear forumites, I'd like to hear your comments on this IC and what do you know about the maker of this cross. I really appreciate your most appraciated inputs... ciao, Claudio Picture of the obverse:

Hi! The last ribbon looks like the Albanian Order of Skanderberg (under Italian occupation 1939-1943), it could be officer or commander grade... The other two orders with rosette are very likely Rumanian or Bulgarian orders. Practically the second row are represented all foreign orders which were awarded Gen.d.Art. Speth. Ciao, Claudio

Just for your interest and info... I found also the medal bar sold by Thies back in 2006 (31st Auction, art. no. 31). If the owner of the bar wants to purchase the missing ribbon bars in my possesion in order to keep this group together, please do not hesitate to contact me. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Paul, Very likely you already got my payment by paypal... Looking forward to receiving it! Ciao, Claudio

I also gladly like to have a copy... Thanks! Ciao, Claudio