Great Dane

It would. Translates in English to something like "exemplary service proficiency"

Dienstliche? (with lower case d, so "dienstliche")

According to Stevnsborg "Kongeriget Danmarks Ordener, Medaljer og Hæderstegn" a total of 2995 medals were struck (about 2990 awarded).

I'm using ReCollector too and I love it! Very flexible and customizable. So much better than my old home-grown MS Access solution.

PM sent. Thanks!

Gentlemen, Does anyone here own (or have access to) the 2-volume work "The Distinguished Flying Medal Register for the Second World War" by Ian Tavender? I have a family member who received the DFM in 1943 and was wondering if there was more to be learned than just the award date... Any help is appreciated.

Doesn't look like Schumacher either. this is from the 1907 volume (also not a good match):

It can't be Schillings. In the 1914 volume he is listed with these decorations, and they don't seem to fit. Joseph Kopf is listed, but without any list of decorations. The remaining three are not found (at least not recognized by the OCR).

Not much help, but I have a related horror story... Some years ago I bought an auction lot comprising of a Danish Medal of Merit (named) and the Allied Subjects medal in silver (unnamed as issued). I bought the lot for the Medal of Merit, and quickly sold the Allied Subjects medal to a GMIC member for a fair price. Some months later I stumbled upon an article in the Danish OMSD Journal titled "Danish recipients of the Allied Subjects medal", and - I'm sure you guessed it - the recipient of the Medal of Merit was indeed a recipient of the Allied Subjects medal in silver. Now, a sale is a sale and I hope the new owner still enjoys his medal. Had I read that article before I bought the lot, I might have connected the dots and kept the 2 medals together. What probably threw me off was the fact, that the Medal of Merit was on a ladies bow, but the Allied Subjects medal wasn't...

I have no specific information about this one. Most of these unofficial decorations were made as a 'private enterprise', meaning someone saw a market and manufactured them to sell to the public. I have seen quite a few, in various qualities. Many had a suspension ring (the cheaper variety where the suspension was part of the strike), but I have only rarely seen them attached to an actual ribbon.

When King Christian IX was crowned after the death of the heirless King Frederik VII, he was not very popular (being German etc.), but it changed over the years of his long reign (1863-1906). Due to his family relations, he became known as 'the father-in-law of Europe'. At the time of his (and his wife's) golden anniversary in 1892, the royal couple was quite popular, and many, many unofficial tokens and medals were created to celebrate the event. This being one of them. I agree, it is quite a nice medal and ribbon.

Not the RAO, but according to "Königlich preussische Ordensliste 1886" (page 613), he was promoted to the 2. class of the Kronen Orden on 18. January 1883.

Is this him? From "Königlich preussische Ordensliste 1877" under "Königlicher Kronen-Orden - Vierte Klasse" (page 835) The award date is 16. November 1867.

I don't know this medal, but I'm sure you have deduced it has something to do with theater? The two masks from ancient Greek drama (the two sides of the human psyche - sometimes referred to as comedy and tragedy). And "Strolling Players" probably referring to touring actors who would perform at small venues around the country. Maybe something made and awarded by an actors' guild?

Generaladmiral Karl Witzell: -Knight's Cross of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog 30/7 1906 Vizeadmiral Joachim Lietzmann: -Knight's Cross of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog 19/9 1933 Konteradmiral z.V. Heinz-Eduard Menche: -Knight's Cross of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog 9/7 1908 Regarding Witzell: His first name is not listed, but there is only this one (listed as a navy first lieutenant, which might have been his rank in 1906)

Ahh... that went above my head ? An interesting medal for sure, which I had never heard of until this thread...

I was referring to JohanH's Swedish recipient, that he is trying to identify...

Yes, the order of the sword indicates a military recipient, but I would have expected at least the UN Korea medal if he had been directly involved in the Korean War. The linked site (and bear in mind that this is all the information I have about this medal) says "Created to honor the long and devoted service of U.S. and other foreign military personnel in defense of the Republic of Korea" Could that include, say, a Swedish military liaison officer stationed in South Korea some time after the war for example?

Yes, because it is a different medal. The one shown in that grouping is the Korean War Service Medal. The one in you first post is the Korea Service Medal - instituted more than 20 years later in 1974. Your Swedish recipient with that 1974 medal may or may not have any connection with the Korean war. BTW, this is the first time I have seen that 1974 medal, so thanks for showing it ?

Something along the lines of: Dearest! Thanks so much for [... some kind of card?...]. I'm coming back on the 15th of t(his) m(onth). See you.

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.