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    Veteran

    Old Contemptible
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    Posts posted by Veteran

    1. This silver F-W III life-saving medal is 50mm diameter. It came in a square presentation box.

       It is named on the side :  DEM FRIEDRICH TRAUT FUR DIE RETTUNG DES FERDINAND WITTENHAGEN. This is the third such medal that I have come across, but the only one to be named.

      Questions : Would this be an officially named award or a privately engraved one ?  Could it be researched ? How many of these first type (1802-1833) were awarded ?

      Your comments will be gratefully received.

      Veteran

       

      FW III  Sauvetage attribuée .jpg

    2. Thank you very much, Enzo. It is good news.

      I wonder if the numbers of such awards are known. Considering the heavy engagements of the Italian Air Force during WW2 when they had to support the expeditionnary force in Lybia and protect  the country itself against Allied raids, one would expect the AVM was earned by an significant number of fliers.

      I am delighted and truly grateful.

      Veteran

    3. This AVM bronze medal has come my way and I Wonder if  the naming on the reverse is official or if it should rather be considered as"private". I thought they usually had ranks and units mentionned.

      If it has a chance to be an officially named medal, I would be happy to have further détails about the significance of the mention around its reverse.

      Thank you.

      Veteran

      P.S. Sorry ! I could not find how to post the picture on this message. Nor could I delete it.

      AVM Bronze .jpg

      ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

    4. This post was very active some years ago. Unfortunately, posting pictures was then more than I could handle..

       

      ">Crimée_LAUGERO_.thumb.jpg.bf8cf1544d65e

      I have now found (at last !) the way to do it and show the medal engraved :  8o CUNEO SOLo LAUGERO PIETRO

      As you can see from the ribbon the medal seems to have been well worn as it is. For some strange reason, the ribbon carries all four clasps of British Crimean campaign.

      Could it have been "improved" by Soldato Laugero ?

      Best regards

      Veteran

       

    5. Hello Chris

       

      This group of medals may have been to the same person. The recent manufacture  Croix du combattant volontaire without dates or clasp  is a problem.

       

      The decoration with this particular ribbon and dates 1939-1945 was awarded to military personnel who volunteered  for the duration in WW2 . 

      The only men in the Foreign Legion who received the cross were members of special wartime regiments created in 1939 and disbanded in 1940 after the German victory ( 21e, 22e & 23e Régiments de Volontaires etrangers).

      The same holds true for the few hundred volunteers who joined in 1944 for the duration whose medal groups include the 1939-1945 Commemorative medal. The regiments were : 13e Demi-Brigade de la Legion etrangere, Regiment de Marche de la Legion etrangere and 1er Regiment Etranger de Cavalerie.

       

      The benefit of this cross was later extended to other conflicts and the cross itself is not dated. Clasps on the ribbon indicate which conflict it is awarded for. Foreign Legionnaires are not considered to be volunteers for such wars since the are professionnals. This would apply for the Indochina campaign for which the group would have been awarded.

       

       

      Veteran

    6. Thank you all for the information given is such a short time. I cannot say how much it is appreciated...

       

      The ribbon on this particular medal may have born additionnal emblems, as a few traces appear on the obverse.

       

      It seems this is an award for services and valour in operations against armed insurgents. Not really a life-saving medal in the sense we usually understand it.

       

      I am most grateful. I hope to make myself useful to you in the same way one day.

       

      Very best regards

      Veteran

    7. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2990-0-85125800-1423330818.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2015/post-2990-0-14135700-1423330844.jpg

       

       

       

      Hello everyone

       

      Not being much of an expert in S.E.Asian awards and décorations, I require help to identify this bronze medal. It might be a life-saving award but it also looks like some kind of a naval air force award.

       

      Ideally, I would like to know its official name, if it is/was awarded for life-saving and what period it could be.

       

      Every bit of information will be gratefully received. Thank you.

       

      Veteran

    8. Hello Demir,

       

      A Nitchan Iftikar badge similar to the first one I showed will be sold at auction on Feb.4 in Paris. A catalogue is available and the lots are described on the auctioneers' website (Beaussant-Lefevre). This piece is lot n°195.

       

      Best regards

      Veteran

    9. Larry

      This badge could be "Ecoles inter-armes" worn by French forces.. Wether it is still in use is a question. The numeral 2 would require further explaination.

      Sorry I cannot be more constructive.

      All the best

      Veteran

    10. This could simply be the set of awards to a person with a long story.

      The first 8 awards could have been earned during WW1 by a young man who had served in Morocco just before. If he had done well either in the ranks or as an "aspirant" he could have first gained the Croix de guerre and the Medaille militaire. And later the Legion d'honneur, specially if he had been badly wounded during a gallant episode.

      He also had a distinguished carreer as a member of musical formations, possibly in civilian life : this would account for the Médaille d'honneur des Sociétés musicales et chorales (a official award), the palms of a Officier de l'Instruction publique and possibly the Legion d'honneur which is both a military and a civilian award.

      The last three are "private or associative awards" which would not be worn on a military uniform but could be tolerated on the uniform of a civilian band leader.

      This is just thinking aloud...

      All the best

      Veteran

    11. Michael

      Very interesting picture. I understand why you were intrigued with the Legion of honor badge worn by the king on this portrait.

      This is what I would make out of it :

      This is an "undress" portrait of the king, shown wearing the three orders you mentioned. No breast stars are apparent.

      My understanding is this : the king wished to wear the orders he felt important, but he was no to be bothered with the full regalia. An officer's badge of the Legion d'honneur could have been worn as a token relating to his Grand Cross of the order. After all, if he was a GC he could feel he was intitled to an lighter officer's badge. Worn here as a kind of "miniature".

      Such a portrait could have been sent to the Danish Embassy in Paris for display in the Embassador's office?

      How do you feel about this, ?

      Paul

    12. Hello Michael

      I would be very suspicious about the information. Quite normally, a reigning king or a member of a royal family would get an honorary Grand Cross of the Legion d'honneur,

      The additionnal information about an officer's badge being bestowed years later sounds VERY strange indeed. Old hands as we both are know that the most surprising things have existed.... but I have never heard of anything like this. Whatever the explaination could be, an officer's cross to a King just does not make sense.

      King Frederik may have changed a royal badge (1828) for an imperial model (1858) if he came to Paris on an official visit in order to offend no one. But it would not be an officer's badge.

      Kindly let us know if you ever get the last word of this tale.

      Best regards

      Paul

    13. Iver

      Normal large size for these medals. You might be able to spot hallmarks on the rim of the medal. Could be a cornocupia with an additionnal BRONZE ou BR.

      Glad tp be of help.

    14. Iver

      This medal (probably 30 / 40 mm diameter) is an all purpose token of appreciation presented on behalf of the Senators of the "Department" (one of the 92 administrative districts in metropolitan France). The departement of MEUSE is in Eastern France, the main cities being Bar-le-Duc and VERDUN.

      Such "awards" were currently in use during the IIIrd Republic (1875-1940) when local aurhorities organised sporting, cultural or other local events They were available in bronze, silvered or gilted bronze. In other words, local politics at work.

      Best regards

      Veteran

    15. Hi Chris

      The "goumiers" were highly respected warriors with the French 1st Army in 1944-1945. I am happy to know the old boys have been properly looked after. Thanks for showing this clip.

      All the best

      Veteran

    16. HI Bernhard

      Cutting down on Government expenses has also affected the armed forces. The Foreigh Legion seems to have been relatively protected. But garrisons have been changed for various reasons.

      Etranger Cavalerie have been, I understand, moved to one of the permanent training grounds where they will settle. They can be trusted to make a success out of it.

      Veteran

      formaly IIIrd Bat. Regiment de Marche de la Legion Etrangere

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