Great Dane

I believe the Base Leonore is only for French recipients? For foreigners, I have had most luck with searching the "Journal officiel de la République française" for official statements. However, my success rate is low... about 10%. The OCR is clearly struggling with the old papers and the scanning of them. They may have an official home page, but this is the link I have saved: Journal officiel de la République française - 70 Years available - Gallica (bnf.fr) For the GC class of LoH, there are books that list them (also for foreigners).

An interesting variation in the suspension... Was there more than one manufacturer? Or maybe the Thies one just looks 'squeezed' due to hallmarks?

I don't have exact dates, but: 2nd Lieutenant (1917) 1st Lieutenant (1919) Captain (1932) Lt. Colonel (1945) Colonel (1946) Maj.Gen. (1951) He is not listed with any rank of Major...

He received the French Legion of Honour around 1948, so the photo can be dated 1948-1950. Interesting sidenote: Until WWII, he was listed with the Order of the German Eagle (2nd class), but that... um... disappeared from the list after the war.

Breast star is Swedish Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class). Great photo, BTW. Looks like it is taken pre-1958 as he is still wearing a Knight Cross of Dannebrog. Promoted from Knight of Dannebrog to Commander on 11. March 1950. At the time of promotion in 1950, he had Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Knight) (awarded 6/7 1938) Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Silver Merit Cross) (awarded 25/11 1942) Denmark, The Army Long Service Medal Finland, Order of Liberty (3rd class) France, Legion of Honour (Commander) Denmark, The Danish Red Cross Comm. Medal for Relief Work in the War 1939-45 Sweden, Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class) which matches the photo.

I have shown this miniature bar before, but it fits the subject. Attributed to Dr. John Philipson.

I think I have a perfect match for you... let me do a little more research... Here is a 100% match: Thyge Karl Thygesen, Mj.Gen. (born 1895). Here are his COMPLETE set of decorations (in the sequence they appear on his ribbon bar): 1. Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Commander 1.class) (awarded 2/2 1958) 2. Denmark, Order of Dannebrog (Silver Merit Cross) (awarded 25/11 1942) 3. Denmark, The Army Long Service Medal 4. Norway, Order of St. Olav (Commander 1.class) 5. Finland, Order of Liberty (3rd class) 6. France, Legion of Honour (Commander) 7. Denmark, The Danish Red Cross Comm. Medal for Relief Work in the War 1939-45 8. Denmark, Badge of Honour of the Danish Reserve Officers' Organization 9. Sweden, Order of the Sword (Commander 1.class) 10. Denmark, Medal of Honour of the Danish Association of Rifle, Gymnastics and Athletics Clubs 11. Italy, Order of Merit (Commander) Notice how he use a wider ribbon for the Commander classes instead of using rosettes.

I can see the contours of a separate edge stripe on that medal's ribbon, so maybe the blue color is simply prone to heavy fading on those ribbons? Could be a period thing (lower quality materials used during a specific period)...?

Unfortunately I don't know of any copies of the Dannebrog Silver Merit Cross... A real one will set you back $5-600 if you can find one.

Not sure how good your Danish is, but some info about the military career of the first is found here: 362 (Dansk biografisk Lexikon / V. Bind. Faaborg - Gersdorff) (runeberg.org)

As reference, this is what he would be wearing

An impressive result. Congratulations. I have only one objection... his Dannebrog cross should be the Silver Merit Cross (all silver, no enamel). Awarded as an 'add-on' to his Grand Commander class It was awarded in 1864, so would be the Christian IX type.

The other ribbon colors look quite fresh... Check the reverse - It is normally less sun-faded than the front.

Could the last ribbon be Turkish?

No mentioning of him in the Danish Court- and State-Handbooks (any class of Dannebrog), so I think your doubts are justified. The Dannebrog is also the Christian IX version, which would mean he was awarded it before he turned 25... highly unlikely.

I'm not an expert, but I believe that center design was in use in 1936-1976. More knowledgeable experts may have more precise information.

Norway, St. Olav (Commander I) on Jan. 21st., 1892 Sweden, Sword order (Grand Cross) on Dec. 8th., 1894 Sweden, Seraphim on Aug. 4th., 1905 GB, Victoria order (GC) on July, 1st, 1904

Denmark, Order of the Elephant on July 21st, 1905.

Dannebrog Grand Cross on July 3rd, 1907.

Dannebrog Grand Cross on Nov. 19th, 1906.

Not sure if you are asking for award dates, but he got the Dannebrog Grand Cross on July 22nd, 1905.

@filfoster When you say 'court mounting', are you referring to just wearing the decorations from straight ribbons, or do you actually mean the mounting method where the gongs are resting (and fixed) on a piece of the straight ribbon? I believe the latter is what is defined as 'court mounting'.

I have seen this one a few times. I have a similar photo on file (also marked Sporrong) I made a note at some point, that this is for a Copenhagen 'shooting club' (or guild or whatever English translation works best - Danish word is 'skyttelaug'). Very popular since the end of the 1800s and well into the 1900s. Made by Sporrong in Sweden - probably because it was cheaper or more convenient. I also have a photo of a similar one with an added wreath and 'K S' (Københavns Skyttelaug) under the 3 towers.

My guess for the breast stars: Hungary, Order of St. Stephen Austria, Order of Leopold (also on the sash)

Maybe a stupid question (I'm not an expert in British orders): If he got the MBE (5th class), wouldn't it be the case with "MBE" on the lid? The other case was used for an OBE (4th class)?