Hendrik

Also by Messrs. Lorioli of Milano, the 'Croce Commemorativa del Corpo di Spedizione Italiano di Russia' (Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia Commemorative Cross). [attachmentid=22422]

Italian Badge for the WW2 Campaign in Russia ... but it sounds better in Italian : Distintivo Commemorativo della Campagna di Russia Made by Lorioli of Milano. [attachmentid=22421]

Further on the subject of hallmarks etc. : The Wounded Medal in a previous post has WA impressed in the rim as well as 918. I take it the latter is an imperfect impression of the medal's institution year 1918 but what does WA stand for ? On the obverse I seem to be able to make out the designer's name of R PLACHT ... would that be correct ? Gorgeous miniature, Haynau !!!

Thanks Gents ! Very useful information and much appreciated !

Many thanks for your interesting remarks !!! I went and checked those bars for hallmarks but there were any, so they would have been NCO's medals. And I'm happy to know the meaning of those hallmarks now I was under the impression that bars with the crossed swords fixed on the bar were only used for the Military Merit Cross (as in your picture) and plain bars for the other awards with a possible swords device on the ribbon. From your input I gather that is incorrect. Thanks for setting me straight on that ! Do I understand it correctly then that the Bravery Medal was never awarded with crossed swords (as they were awarded for bravery in action, there would have been no real need for them) ?

and finally, not Austria-Hungary but Austrian Republic : the Tirol Commemorative War Medal. [attachmentid=22320] [attachmentid=22321]

Medal for the Wounded on the ribbon for twice nothing getting out of the adversary's way quickly enough ... [attachmentid=22318] [attachmentid=22319]

The familiar Karl's Troop Cross ... [attachmentid=22316] [attachmentid=22317]

Always nice, a Franz-Joseph Order ... [attachmentid=22314] [attachmentid=22315]

And a couple of Red Cross ones as used in WWI ... [attachmentid=22312] [attachmentid=22313]

Iron Cross of Merit ... [attachmentid=22310] [attachmentid=22311]

Bravery Medal, Karl I type ... [attachmentid=22308] [attachmentid=22309]

Bravery Medal, Franz-Joseph type ... [attachmentid=22305] [attachmentid=22306]

Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis), Franz-Joseph type, with just the one bar for a subsequent 2nd award. [attachmentid=22303] [attachmentid=22304]

Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis), Karl I type, with bars for subsequent 2nd and 3rd awards. [attachmentid=22301] [attachmentid=22302]

... and adding a few more. Starting off with the War Cross for Civil Merit, 3rd class. Some nice but tiny hallmarks on both the needle and the reverse. Can't identify them all but there seems to be a couple of "FR" and "A" marks. I have no idea what those stand for. [attachmentid=22298] [attachmentid=22299] [attachmentid=22300]

Gents, A friend of mine is delving into the subject of a 'Czechoslovakian Partisan Medal' which supposedly was awarded to a Belgian unit for their participation in the liberation of Pilsen in 1945. The unit, 17th Fuseliers Battalion, helped liberate the town in 1945 and received the Czechoslovakian War Cross in May 1946. In October 1965 a 'Czechoslovakian Partisan Medal' was awarded but the only such decoration I know of is the Partisan Badge as in the picture below. Does anyone have any information on other awards by this country that would suit the description ? Information on the Partisan Badge is also very welcome as I only know that it seems to have been instituted in 1946. [attachmentid=21480]

Hello Kim, As Christophe mentioned, there seem to be no sites dealing in depth with those abolished awards. Here's a list of nearly all those that were discontinued in 1953 and which the Italian government prohibits from wearing : http://www.cnicg.net/falsiordini.asp

Would it be correct to say this group was to an army doctor who saw quite some service in his day ? I seem to recognize most of these awards but am still lacking a good reference work on the subject of Romanian pre-ww2 awards ... any suggestions as to what would come in handy in that respect (in English, French, German, ... but not in Romanian) ?

Hi Rick, The pin is indeed something to behold, almost doesn't fit in its accompanying box ! I would also recommend not wearing it on the sleeve (that was where the 'old' wound stripe went) and am under the impression that the uniform's lapel will do nicely The badge is issued ... apparently : I'm still researching it all but have come across a mention of the local town mayors presenting veterans with it. So, I'm assuming the CO's of active military personnel will perform a similar duty without those entitled being forced to open their purses.

Gents, Received this in the mail the other day ... an attractive design, I thought. Instituted in 1990 and replacing the 'wound stripe' on the uniform's left sleeve. It is awarded to those wounded in combat in wars or international peacekeeping operations provided the wound was severe enough to need a doctor's administrations or hospitalisation. The reverse is entirely blank. [attachmentid=19852]

Chris, I think that is indeed the case although I haven't yet seen any official text on the subject confirming it. To my knowledge those severely wounded in combat (i.e. resulting in min. 65 % invalidity being proclaimed) would also qualify for such awards...

Dave, Thanks for those : very detailed info on the points' system and very useful !

Hallo Jens, Wie geht's ? Official ribbon devices : gilt palm : only on the 1939 cross !!! For a citation on the order of the day of the Free French Forces or on the order of the day of the nation. silver palm : replacing 5 bronze palms bronze palm : for a citation on the order of the day on army level gold star : same but on army corps level silver star : same but on division level bronze star : same but on regimental or battalion level.

... or you could spruce your CdG up with a fancy ribbon (combination of Military Medal, CdG and Wound Medal ribbons) or have it privately silvered ... [attachmentid=19391] [attachmentid=19392]