Hendrik

Hi Doc, The Commemorative Medal for Morocco was established on 22 July 1909 to reward both military and civilians that took part in the pacification operations in Morocco in the 1907-1909 period. Later operations in Morocco were recognized by the award of the Colonial Medal with the MAROC or MAROC 1925-1927 bars. For the Commemorative Medal 4 bars were created : CASABLANCA - OUDJA - HAUT-GUIR and lastly (in 1913) MAROC. Can't help you with the Tunisian one I'm afraid ... but here's a couple of pictures of the Moroccan one. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=32263] [attachmentid=32262]

Hello Dev & Chris, I'm afraid I have to agree that the bar seems to have been made up ... As a non-French award the DSO should be placed as the very last one on this bar. I guess it's possible to work out a possible career that would allow one to earn this combination of awards ... say, being a French soldier in 1939, then - after the French surrender - joining the resistance and, once liberated, rejoining the army and going into Germany with it. After the war, transfer to Indochina to fight there. And getting killed there as the award of the Commemorative Medal for Indochina is missing. A bit far fetched I would think but theoretically possible ??? No trouble with the price : the mini-DSO on its own already covers much of that

... and the Air Force Cross (reverse is blank) : [attachmentid=31881]

Gents, Please post your pictures of these decorations ... Kicking the topic off with the two I have in my collection myself : The Air Force Merit Cross [attachmentid=31878] [attachmentid=31880]

Reverse : [attachmentid=31190]

Gents ! I'm in need of identification of this small medal that I've "found". The obverse seems to show the heads of both the Austrian and German Emperors of WWI fame (or infamy !). The reverse reads "F?r das Rote Kreuz Kriegshilfsb?ro Kriegs-F?rsorge-Amt 1914". Any information on this medal, including whether the ribbon is the correct one for it, would be highly appreciated. Thanks, Hendrik Obverse : [attachmentid=31187]

Just conferred with Guy Deploige on this topic and we both agree that this kind of documents originated in the 1920's ... that's as close as we can get at the moment. Cheers, Hendrik

Bonjour Christophe, As I'll be in Paris end of May (28 - 31), I would appreciate information on flea markets and brocantes like the ones you mention above so that I can make a visit myself. Feel free to send me a PM if you know of any taking place then ... Thanks, Hendrik

Hello Guy and welcome to the forum ! Indeed a very nice miniatures bar ... one doesn't often see a fine quality one with gems like that one ! Cheers, Hendrik

Thanks Ed Woe is me ! How could I forget about the Belgian Army Museum site and the 2002 Exhibition (which I actually visited at the time) ? Senility must be creeping upon me The exhibition was held on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the order and had the full cooperation of the Paris LDH museum which was then and still is undergoing a complete makeover. The Paris museum will reopen this year, on 14 July ... just in case one happens to find oneself in that town after that date ...

... and the reverse with the eagle looking the other way. [attachmentid=29430]

Thanks Jim ... I've been happily fiddling with your LDH pictures as can be seen below. It is, as you already indicated yourself, the 1st model, 3rd type, Knight class of the order (chevalier) mainly because of : - the crown with 8 arches (3 front, 3 back, 1 on each side) of that particular rounded form at the top, - reverse eagle looking right instead of left The other characteristics are all in compliance with it being a 1st model. Gorgeous one dating from between 1806 to 1814 in marvellous condition for its age. Those wee bits of missing enamel are entirely neglible compared to the "usual" wrecks one encounters from time to time ... Congratulations on having it in your collection ! I'm currently looking a nice shade of green with envy Hendrik [attachmentid=29424]

Hello Kev, How interesting but strange ! Looking at the bar combinations you've listed, one would have to deduce there's really no particular order in which they are worn. And the 1919 bar, being the last timewise, not being added on top of the others received, is uncommon too I would think. It just starts to look to me as if the recipients just put on the bars in their very own order of precedence ... Interesting note on the variations too ! One assumes that various manufacturers all had their way of producing these crosses. I'm looking forward to your findings on the various battles. Someone told me once that Marasesti could be called the Romanian Verdun ... Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Joe, You have every right to be exited : those early LDH pieces are indeed gorgeous and pretty rare to find in the excellent condition yours appears to be in. To determine the exact type, I would need higher definition pictures (300 dpi) - feel free to PM them to me and I'll see what I can find out. At any rate, I have to disappoint you about the chances of Napoleon having had his grubby hands on this one : the first type, which he actually wore himself, doesn't have a crown suspension at all and it resides in the vaults of the ... Belgian Army Museum in Brussels. Hendrik

the reverse dates are 1916 - 1918 but I've always felt that somewhere along the road a couple of bars may have been added by a previous owner/seller to get a better price for the item, e.g. the position of the 1919 bar looked a bit suspicious to me as I would have expected that one to be on top of the others ...

Indeed it is ... This Commemorative Medal of the Reign of Leopold II has been awarded with three different reverses : 1865-1905 : to civilians in the administration 1865-1909 : to former military personnel and 1885-1909 : to the former members of the "Force Publique" in the Congo colony Both the 1909 types were instituted as late as the 1950's. Basically the requirement was 20 years of loyal service. [attachmentid=29113] [attachmentid=29112]

Nice collection there ! Here's mine, with the Carpati bar amongst them ... I've always wondered if these bars are in the right order of wear. Is there a rule on the precedence of these bars ? [attachmentid=29111]

Well done ! A fitting tribute I would say. You might consider adding a French WWI Commemorative Medal and Interallied Victory Medal ...

Hi Tony, It would very much appear to be the case : the website in post No. 5 mentions the Vichy units but a simple search on Google yields indirect information that there must have been units on the British side as well (Brits serving with the Arab Legion and Druse cavalry etc. ) ... To be continued, I guess Cheers, Hendrik

Mmmm ... according to this site - http://www.tdg.nu/OOBs/1939-1945/oob_operation_exporter_1941.htm - I need to correct myself as it states that the Druze were actually on the Vichy side ! Some more research will be needed

Hello Brian, I've come across the "Druze" when doing some research on a French medal (The Syria-Cilicia Medal aka the Levant Medal). They would appear to have been (and probably still are) living in the Lebanon - Syria region who, in the 1920-1930's unsuccessfully opposed the French rule over the area. In that context, it should probably not come as a surprise that some Druze joined the British forces there when those attacked and eventually defeated the Vichy French troops in 1941. Cheers, Hendrik

Italy has crosses too ... [attachmentid=28247]

Not in the same league as the David's and Robert's of this world but it's on the US theme as requested [attachmentid=28246]

In total agreement with the above praise to Dave and Robert and the prospect of an artistic medals photo contest ! Keenly looking for more of those and for any others that want to join in ... I'll give the US theme a try when it's daylight again - no helmet around though ... this thread is delightful

Very ... no ... VERY impressed !!! Original and enjoyable. Thanks for sharing this !