Beau Newman

Nimmergut lists the following official bars: TAKU, SEYMOUR-EXPEDITION, TIENTSIN, PEKING, PEITANG-FORTS, LIANG-HSIANG-HSIEN, KAUMI, TSEKINGWAN, HALGAN, HUOLU, KITCHOU, HOPHU, FOUPHING and NAN-HUNG-MEN along with several unofficial bars. If you can find a copy, OMSA published a monograph on the campaign medals of the Boxer Rebellion in 2000.

The reverse: Note the seam between the crown assembly and the top of the cross. The fakes tend to be made in one piece. Also note the step at each sword attachment point showing the difference between the thin bronze swords and the body of the cross. Another feature to look for is the dimple at the top of the pin.

In recent trips to the Show-of-Shows and other military shows, I have been struck by the number of fake pinback Wilhelm's Crosses can be seen. Since only about 150 were awarded, original pieces are rarely seen for sale. I looked many years before I found an example that I was comfortable with: The fakes seem to be much thicker and flatter than the originals and are made from a lighter colored bronze. The crown on an original is made from two thin sheets of bronze which gives it a three dimensional look. The swords are made from much thinner bronze than the body of the cross.

It appears to be a commemorative piece for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Bavarian Kriegerbund, a veteran's group. The ribbon is not correct. It is correct for either the Prussian 1870/71 campaign medal or the Hindenburg Cross for WWI service.

This may have already been posted elsewhere. This is an ex Tony Colson group attributed to Mackensen von Astfeld - OberLt. in GGR2 in 1914, then in the General Staff. Retired as a Major from the Reichsheer in the 1920's. It's interesting that the BMVK4X seems to have been jammed into the 2nd position after the group was put together.

Here's his cousin. Perhaps another 133rd Regt. group. Alas, unnamed with none of the beautiful documentation as in Stogieman's group: The Sax VK w/Swords has always been a bit of an enigma. Reputedly, it was an "interim" award between the FA Medal and the MSH Medal but, not a prerequisite to the Mil. St. Henry. If that was the case, why so few awards? I have the feeling that this was likely a "meritorious service" type award awarded to NCO's for outstanding leadership while the MSH medal was awarded for acts of bravery. Any thoughts?

Surprising to see the crown to the Albert awarded to a Captain. I have always thought that this was a Major/Lt. Col. grade award.

The 1870 campaign bar combo points to the Baden Feld Div. My 1875 Rank List doesn't show either name in any Baden regiments.

According to the regulations, the 1st Class REO and KO were not to be worn together. Those who held both awards were to wear the insignia of the one most recently awarded with an enamel ribbon of the other award wrapped through the arms of the cross and rays of the breast star. However, this applied only to the 1st Class (8 pointed star). You implied that this was a "Commanders" award, which would likely be a 2nd Class award (4 pointed star). As far as I know, there was no recognized version of the 2nd Class with enamel band.

Rick - I'm not sure that it is all that unlikely that an individual soldier could "miss" an action while taking part in those before and after. Sickness or a minor wound could easily account for this. I'm also not aware of any detailed study below the Corps or Division levels previously published.

According to what I can find, the 10th ID was part of the V. AK, which saw action at these 3 battles, as well as Worth and Mont-Valerien. I don't have any info. on the service of FAR 4.

The best I can glean from Hess. & Schr. is that the undated crosses were awarded in the 1905-06 time frame for combat in the colonies, particularly DSWA.

IMHO, not an official award. Best case, a private purchase WWI era replacement. The fact that it is vaulted and the pin construction are all wrong for an 1870's era piece.

The reverse:

This just showed up (my cosolation prize for missing OMSA). Nothing super rare but, a nice 1860's era mounting.

I hated missing it this year but work got in the way. I'll definitely try to see you in Louisville in a few months.

I believe that the later (Luxembourg) version of the O. of Adolph had a Knight's version with Crown. This would probably make more sense since there is quite a spread between the1866 demise of Nassau's independence and the WWI era Bavarian award.

My best guess would be that he has a Saxe-Weimar General Service w/Swords with what appears to be a Saxe-Altenburg Ernestine Medal w/Swords. The stap looks like either the 94th or 95th IR but, they are very similar. Interesting combo.

VERY nice group. The bar combination would point to the 2nd Bavarian Army Corps with 3 of the 4 bars normally seen on II BAK groups. It is missing the WORTH bar but it's very possible that a wound or sickness could have kept him out of that action.

I picked up this board many years ago in a box lot of mixed Imperial/3rd Reich stuff. Has anyone seen anything similar? The Prussian eagle button leads me to belive it could be military but, it could just be off an old stage costume. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2009/post-6181-124892673333.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2009/post-6181-124892675881.jpg

Whoever he is, I would like to know what he did to get that level of recognition.

Finally, the non-combatant medals - 1813, 1814, 1813/1814, 1815 and the 1863 commemorative.

The version with round arms - 1813, 1814 and 1813/1814 (No 1815 in this type) - along with the 1863 Commemorative medal for combatants.

The Prussian awards are a fascinating set that can still be found without breaking the bank. The Combatant's Medals with sharp arms - 1813, 1814, 1813/1814 and 1815:

It appears to be the 1869-1913 Combined Anhalt type but, the 2nd Type Anhalt-Kothen spange is almost identical.