Great Dane

Just a warning: Medals that were originally struck in "oxidized silver" or "matte bronze/copper" can be damaged by even this gentle method. They will end up shiny (I'm talking from experience here... ) /Mike

Here is a couple of more pictures. The starting bid is 600 Euros + buyer's premium (25%) + shipping from Hamburg. Here is a link to the auction: Auction It's one of those auction houses where the auction is extended if a bid arrives within the last 5 minutes. I have NO affiliation with them but will be happy to assist any GMIC member with translations and such... /Mike

Thanks Chris, I'll post the info - if not for anything else then just to preserve the pictures It is the Freiherr diploma for Bavarian general and Pour le Merite winner Jakob von Hartmann (wikipedia). The diploma is signed by King Ludwig II and two other persons and comes with the royal seal and a hand coloured crest.

I'm not sure... this seems to be the most relevant subforum... Currently there is a Freiherr diploma for a Bavarian general at a local auction (ends in 36 hours), but I don't know if such documents are of interest for any of you ODM collectors? It's signed by Ludwig II in 1871. Or is that too far away from ODM collecting? Just wanted to gauge the mood before I start posting more info... /Mike

Isn't the order of precedence kinda strange...? Austria France German German German German Austria France Sweden Unknown (apologize for not being able to identify the German stuff...) /Mike

The star is the Chinese Order of the Double Dragon The medal is the Siamese Rama V... um... can't remember the exact name... someone else? /Mike

Don't know how detailed information you want, but I can give you the award date for the Dannebrog order when I get home, if you like? /Mike

Whoops... I just realized this is the USA section, so you're talking about the American DSC. Just forget my post then /Mike

Hi Chris, "Jim Bullock Militaria" has a WWI version for sale: WWI DSC The naming looks like this: /Mike

Hi Lilo, I was browsing through my pictures and found this (unfortunately I can't remember where I got it from ). It shows the Grand Cross with what is supposed to be the original sash. /Mike

Nice find Well, the medals are Italian, so that will be my starting guess... /Mike

Kim, So no names on the Sui Memores versions? /Mike

Bearing in mind that we don't know for sure which medal it was, then YES. Generally, for Swedish medals you shouldn't use the special suspension as a unique identifier. In Denmark it is known as "the Swedish suspension" and seems to appear and diappear on various Swedish medals. Heck, even a Danish Medal of Recompense awarded to a Swede was equipped with "the Swedish suspension"... /Mike

I have a list of the recipients of the "Illis Quorum" ("For Merit") medal. Sometimes the Illis Quorum and the Sui Memores medals got mixed up when they decided who deserved what, because the award criteria changed over time and the two medals were so similar... Taprell Dorling is not among the recipients of that one, so we can rule that one out. Just an extra check... I hope that didn't make you more confused... ? /Mike

You wrote: "I read that the famous Capt Taprell Dorling (the writer of the book on ribbons and medals) was a British recipient of the so called : Sweden, Medal for Life saving at sea (King Gustavus V), Gold Medal, awarded to him in 1917." So I assume you're quoting from something you read...? And I'm referring to the words "at sea" in that sentence, which would indicate the "Medal for Bravery and Resource at Sea in Times of Danger", but it can't be because that one was apparently instituted in 1941. So yes, until proven otherwise, I would think he was awarded the "Sui Memores" medal, that is: "Gustavus V Svec Goth Vand Rex" on the obverse (like the obverse in post #2) "Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo" and his name on the reverse (in the same style as the reverse in post #2) /Mike

Hmm... the ribbon seems to be the dark blue with yellow edges used on so many Swedish medals, so at least we can rule out any life saving medals from local towns or associations. The suspension is used on many Swedish medals as well (including the ones in question here), so that can't be used as identification either. Your quote "Sweden, Medal for Life saving at sea" would point towards the "Medal for Bravery and Resource at Sea in Times of Danger", but if you follow the link I provided in post #2 it says that this medal was instituted in 1941(!)... So unless you dig up more info my money is still on the "Sui Memores" medal. /Mike

That's correct. It wil have either "Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo" or "F?r Ber?mliga G?rningar" on the reverse. The inscription on the obverse is a bit diffrent as well: "Gustavus V Svec Goth Vand Rex" on the Latin version and the same text but in Swedish "Gustav V Sveriges G?t o Vend Konung" on the Swedish version. /Mike

If the "Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo" ("F?r Ber?mliga G?rningar") is indeed the life saving medal you're looking for, then Liverpool Medals has an Oscar II version to a Swede: Liverpool Medals. /Mike

This is one of the medals I mention (this one given to a Swedish woman), but if it's the one you're looking for only you can tell... But I very much doubt it, since this "Illus Quorum Meruere Labores" ("F?r Medborgerlig F?rtj?nst") was a medal given for merit (40 years employment etc.). I only mentioned it above because it looks quite similar to the "Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo" medal but with another inscription. /Mike

There is a couple of Swedish medals that could qualify as 'lifesaving medals' over the years. Given the Gustav V period I would assume that it is the "Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo" ("F?r Ber?mliga G?rningar") medal. The gold verison was awarded in "size 5" (24mm). Foreign recipients got the medal with Latin text ("Sui Memores Alios Fecere Merendo") on the reverse. Swedish recipients got the medal with Swedish text on the reverse. The recipients name was struck (not engraved) on the reverse as well. The ribbon is dark blue with yellow edges. The picture below shows the 'sister medal' "Illus Quorum Meruere Labores" ("F?r Medborgerlig F?rtj?nst") Just replace the latin text and the name on the reverse. Another possibility could be the "Medal for Bravery and Resource at Sea in Times of Danger" ("F?r Mod och R?dighet till Sj?ss under Farofylld tid"), but I'm not sure about the award criteria for it. A Gustav V version can be seen here (site is a bit slow) Bravery and Resource at Sea /Mike

The '1870' on the front indicates a III Republic type (1870-1951). The grade is Knight (silver and enamel). Value: I'll let others be the judge if that... /Mike

"no officer may qualify for the Medaille Militaire" Are there exceptions to this rule? For high(est) ranking officers? I know that Field-Marshal John French was awarded the Medaille Militaire in March 1915 while being Commander-in-Chief for the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF). He was awrded the Legion d'Honneur GC in 1903. /Mike

Yes, no. 4 is definitely the Danish Home Guard Merit medal ("Hjemmev?rnets Fortjensttegn"). No. 6 is really hard to see - if the red stripes don't go all the way to the left/right edges it is probably not danish. /Mike

Fantastic GRA, you are right - the ribbon is blue and white striped (the reverse is much fresher in color). Kim, thanks for the link to the list. The miniature is marked D9 which should be 1954. There are only 18 recipients from 1954 on the list, but I'll research those from 1955 and 1956 as well (since I assume the hallmark is when the badge was made, not when it was awarded?). I'm off to my library to investigate further... thanks a lot gentlemen /Mike

Here is a close-up of the unknown Swedish medal. As mentioned the reverse is blank with Swdish hallmarks. /Mike