azyeoman

An interesting metal label.

H. Adolph

Hildesheimerstr.7

Hannover

gilt rectangle with hole on left and right sides

Attached via holes

L. Wagener

Frankfurt (Oder)

within frame

Gold on black rectangular cloth

Stitched on all for sides.

Isn't it interesting that there were those who were fighting against each other fought together so soon? I guess it was that way in the USA with Confederates joining up after the Civil War.

Obverse of 1866 Wurttemberg medal bar

Obverse and of course with the Hannover, Langensalza 27 June 1866 Medal at the front, we know that this bar was worn by A. Kreiss. I wish there were medal rolls so I could find out what regiment he served in.

obverse Bavarian medal bar again with the smaller Centenery Medal to make it more uniform

obverse Oldenburg medal bar with a smaller Centenery Medal to make it more uniform.

obverse 1870 non-combatant

obverse Nassau medal bar

Obverse of a fine older bar with the Duppel Medal 1864, the Alsen Cross 1864, the 1866 Koniggratz Cross and the 1864 War Medal. What a interesting mid 19h Century group with combatant ribbons for all the medals.

obverse

1870 EK2C medal bar obverse

Obverse

Obverse

obverse Order of the Crown medal bar.

Prussian medal bar obverse

Baden medal bar obverse

Saxon medal bar obverse. The first medal is the Order of Albert. Albert the Bold (1443-1500), a man of great strength and courage, was Duke of Saxony and founder of the Albertine branch of the ruling Wettin family. The Order was founded in his memory on 31 December 1850 by King Friedrich Augustus II to recognize ‘all those who render useful service to the state, or who distinguish themselves through civil merit, science, art, etc., who have earned a claim to Our recognition’. On 31 January 1876 the statutes were amended and the Albert Cross was added to the Order. Some 5,573 examples were awarded before the Cross was changed to a one-piece construction from silvered metal in 1909. The Order was suppressed in 1918.

obverse

Here's another one of those unusual medal bars to a Saxon. It's unusual to see the 1866 medal mounted on a bar.

Doesn't anyone have another bar with a tailor label?

Some photos of the ceremony in Gibralter.

Paperwork

Obverse

An extremely rare 'Decorated by the Third Reich' British Naval Officers 'World Wars' medal group of 8: Commander Henry John Murphy, Royal Navy

- 1914-15 Star (J.4647 H. J. Murphy, L.S., R.N.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Mate H.J. Murphy. R.N.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (Mate H.J. Murphy. R.N.)
- 1939-45 Star
- Burma Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal with oakleaf 'Mention-in-Despatches' emblem
- Germany Third Reich: Cross of Merit of the Red Cross Order, Verdienstkreuz Steckkreuz

Note: This grouping has been reconstituted with the 'correct type and class' of Third Reich decoration. The German decoration being an extremely rare and valuable item of German insignia - being of a type that was only issued in the period 1937-1939

Important: Though not published in the London Gazette, Commander H.J. Murphy, R.N. was given unrestricted permission to accept and wear the Third Reich award (ref Admiralty letter dated 9th June 1938), as under;

Quote,

Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that His Majesty the King has bene pleased to grant you persmission to wear, without restriction, the Order of the German Red Cross conferred upon you by the German Government in recognition of your services to the wounded members of the crew of the German battleship DEUTSCHLAND at Gibraltar.........

Unquote.

The services referred to occurred in 1937 in the immediate aftermath of the 'Deutchland Incident' that occurred during the Spanish Civil War. Spanish Republican Air Force bombers attacked the German battleship 'Deutchland' causing an estimated 80 casualties including more then 50 deaths, the British helped evacuate the German wounded and provided extensive medical support through the British military and naval medical services located in Gibraltar. As a consequence an estimated 20 x German 'Red Cross' awards - of various grades -were bestowed upon British Naval and Military personnel for their services after the 'Deutchland Incident', of which only 4 were awarded to Naval personnel (2 x senior officers received the first class of the order, and two others including Murphy received the Cross of Merit, or 'Verdienstkreuz Steckkreuz').

See the related article by Norman Gooding on the 'Deutschland Incident', and the German awards granted, that was published in the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal of Winter 2000.

Henry John Murphy, a native of Islington, London, England, was born there on 29 May 1893. By occupation a Draughtsman's Assistant, Henry joined the Royasl Navy as a 'Boy' rating on 29 May 1911. Evidently a person of considerable talent, it did not take long before Henry gained rapid promotion from the lower decks to being commissioned as an Officer. His naval carrer included; several years in the Submarine Service between 1918-1926; Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief (Far East) in Hong Kong from 1928; posted to Gibraltar in 1935, where he was commanding the shore base H.M.S. Cormarant, as well as being Chief Naval Intelligence Officer. He ended his career as a Captain in Port of Rangoon, Burma, and for which services in Burma he was awarded a well deserved 'Mention-in-Despatches' (ref London Gazette 17 December 1946)

Sold together with a quantity of hard-copy associated research including;

- Copied 'Service Sheet'
- Copy of offiical German award document for Verdienstkreuz Steckkreuz
- Copy of Admiralty letter granting unrestricted permission for the German award
- Details of his Subnarine service

The British campaign medals mounted in the swing-style, and presumably as-worn by the recipient. Suspended from contemporary silk weave ribands, the mounting brooch bar retains the original long hinged pin and clasp fittings.

On the Air Force grouping, what is the second to last medal?

It's an RAF Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EII).