Yankee

Dear Gentleman This trifold ribbon was on the order but I'm fairly certain it is not proper. The stripe in the center is not wide enough. Does anybody know what award accompanied this ribbon. Also the trifold ribbon is too large for the molding inside the case. It seems the case was made for a smaller then usual Albert. Thank You Yankee

Hi Paul Wow sure got my facts all wrong. I didn't know the Tirailleurs were formed into regiments in the Italian Campaign. Were the Turcos treated equally as the other French line regiments? Were many AVM's awarded to the Tirailleurs? I suppose the Austrians must have been in shock to encounter an enemy they have never seen before. Sincerely Brian

Hi Paul Didn't know the Zouaves Regiments were known to be elite. In the early stages of the American Civil War both sides raised Zouave Regiments but there were no North Africans in the ranks. Certainly the South would never tolerate arming an African. Any Yankee (White) officer captured in an all black regiment was executed by the South, tells you their code of ethics. Strange how the South had no problem displaying their soldiers in this traditional African style of uniform. The time to be extra cautious when finding an AVM is to an exotic regiment, good advice to remember. Ahhhh very happy with my wet cat Sincerely Brian

Hi Paul I apologize after taking a closer inspection your were right his name is CHAMOUILLE. The C looks a bit like the G which explains my silly mistake. That is neat that there is a good chance the village is named after his family. Glade to hear that his Regiment was in Italy at that time The fakes are the medal itself or are the forgers using orginal struck pieces and inscribing a fraudulent dedication? Safe to say the fakes would be to the Imperial Guard? Sincerely Brian

Hi Veteran The AVM that I purchased is inscribed to GHAMOUILLE Canonier 9eD'ART 1859 Italian Campaign. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely Brian

Hi Veteran Only one Foreign Legion Regiment sent to the Crimea. What a super scarce medal. I too was thinking that it would be a once in a lifetime acquisition, certainly the crown in anyones collection. I'm primarily an orders collector but I see how exciting it is to stray into this area of collecting. What I really like about these bravery medals is that you have a name to it. Thanks for your kind offer, hopefullly I can dig up the info on that medal today. It certainly would be nice to know something about the regiment and numbers issued. Can the soldier be researched too or is that only with the English medals? Thanks Sincerely Brian

Hi Veteran Great news that you are able to confirm the award. As I understand from Liverpool the Regiment took a huge amount of casualties which would make the medal much more attractive to collectors or is there a larger interest in Foreign Legion medals. Or perhaps a combination of both and would explin the price. I purchased an Italian Campaign Al Valor given to a Frenchman for a fraction of 5000 and as you point out many more were issued then the Crimea awards. I don't know if that is a ( Crimea Al Valor ) good price or not any idea? Do you know if Captin Aubry received the Legion Of Honour? I have noticed several styles of engraving on the 1859 Italian Campign some neatly done some not. Now I know why Thanks for informing me Sincerely Brian

Hi Veteran You must have some excellent reference books that give such details . Perhaps you can suggest some books that would be a help for me on this subject. You can see the medal itself at www.liverpoolmedals.co.uk Look under Italian section. As I recall it was around 3 thousand pounds. I think the medal is orginal but I'm no expert. With the German State medals that are rare you really need to be very careful perhaps with the Al Valor copies don't exist. You can look at the names from your list & see if there is a match from the dealers one . Sincerely Brian

Hello again Thanks for those statistics they are much appreciated. The reason why I had asked you if there was also many awarded for the Crimea campaign is because I recently saw one on an overseas dealer list. As I recall it was to a French Officer in the Foreign Legion. I always see them awarded to the British but never to the other Allies. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Bison Many kind thanks for posting that neat paddle ship of war . Only ones I ever see are the gambling boats that go up the Savannah river. I don't think these ships were too popular in the Navies for you seldom see them pictured. In the Unite States Navy they'd be a rarity if they were even constructed. Sincerely Yankee

Hi Veteran Many thanks for translating the inscription. Had no idea that Al Valores were given to the Navy too . What an exciting medal . Thouht the medal was awarded to an officer in an engineer company when I saw the name Vauban. Were there other Naval ships that participated in the conflict or only the Le Vauban that received the Al Valore? Have you a picture of a paddle frigate? Sincerely Yankee

Hi Bison This is the war ship that was used in the 1859 Italian Campaign?

Dear Gentleman Recently there was a Al Valore in a auction. I was unable to completely translate the inscription . I'm fairly certain it was given to a Frenchman because of Vauban. Reason to have posted in this section and not Italian. The inscription "LAVAGNE l.ER M.TRE MAN LE VAUBAN" google LE VAUBAN and hotels pop up.... Anybody translate this pleas. Sincerely Yankee

A very cool bar cograts Andreas Brian

Here he wears the Prussian Hohenzollern Order with collar.

Had no idea that King Carol I wanted to join the Central Powers not so sure if that would have changed the outcome of the war. As I understand he had a difficult relationship with the wife of his nephew who was later to become Queen Marie. Carol I seemed to be a very kind generous man to have built the couple a castle in Sinaia only a rocks throw away from Peles. Sad the King had lived only a few months after the completion of Peles that had started 39 years earlier. Losing a brother to war, a daughter his only child at such a young age. His life seemed a bit tragic.

Hi Carol I Thanks for explaining my question in detail. That argument would make sence as well for Bulgaria & Greece. As it turned out the Russians did do that a hundred years later ( post World War 2 )right into the heart of Germany. Big mistake the Belgian Prince made by dismissing Romania in hopes for a larger crown. Well good for Carol I his gain & the Belgian's loss. The country is absolutely beautiful. Carol I was smart enough to side with the allies & double the size of his country. I suppose the early German made Bene Merenti would be hallmarked and possibly gold. Other then that they seem to be identical. You seldom come across a Honenzollern issued example.

How is it only a German Prince would be invited to a foreign throne? I see this happened in Bulgaria, Belgium, Albania, Romania, Greece & sure others too. Why nobody from Russia surely they had as much political and military clout. He is wearing the order of Bene Merenti just how would it differ from the Romanian issued or are they identical. Thanks Yankee

Before he became Carol l Romania. Must have been a Prussian by the high ranking royal house orders.

Hi Gentleman After viewing the schematismuses from the years 1905-08 as I recall came up with three possible owners. Captain 1st class Carl Erhart. Captain 1st class Julius Siegl. Captain 1st class Ludwig Frenzl. I was unable to narrow it down any further as I understood the book. Perhaps I did not fully understand what I read and there still is a possibility to track it down to one individual. If anbody can tell me an answer or what further I need to do. Is there a log that would give the month & year when a soldier entered service. Thanks Yankee

Woooooooooooooooooow Amazzzzzzzzinggggggggggg Absolutely brilliant being able to identify the recipient. Great feeling to know the man ( records ) behind the decoration. Ahhh you must be part detective... Just possible that Ljubanovic's 35 year Cross is floating around. Your pure genius Thanks Yankee

Hi Dieter3 Glade to hear there not. Your probably right because by now you'd have holes in your floors. I live in an old Victorian and at one time there was an infestation of these creatures and caused some damage reason why I take them so seriously. BTW the cases for the Japanese Orders & Medals are the most beautifully crafted. Thats great that your able to save those works of art. Sincerely Yankee

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO Those bugs are lethal, they can destroy a house just as easily as termites. Consider yourself lucky if all they have damaged was your medal cases many a fine old home had been damaged by powder post beetle in my area.......... Good idea to have your home inspected No fun having a tent over your home better to catch them early. They seem to like old wooden homes.