Great Dane

Hi guys, If it can help your search for the recipient, then note that in "The Olympic Games of Stockholm 1912 - Official Report" (page 164 in the report. page 242 in the PDF file), there is a description of who got this medal (no names though): The Gustaf V. Olympic Medal . H. M. King Gustaf V ordered a medal to be struck in memory of the Olympic Games of Stockholm, 1912, to be worn on the left breast, like the insignia of the Swedish Orders of Knighthood. H. M. the King has been graciously pleased to present this medal to the members of the Swedish and foreign Royal families; to the members of the International and the Swedish Olympic Committee; to the official representatives of the various nations; to the members of the special committees; to the leading officials, and to the Swedish prize-winners at the Games. /Michael

Really enjoyed reading the story Excellent job getting it all back together Did you manage to track down his actual medals or did you have to substitute with something similar? /Mike

Doesn't it look a bit more like the russian order of St. Alexander Nevsky? /Michael

Thanks Peter, that's a good point. /Michael

Greetings everyone, I was wondering if anybody knows which QSA bars field-marshal John French (a major-general at the time) was awarded for the Boer war? I know he had 7 bars, where 3 of them were "Elandslaagte", "Relief of Kimberley" and "Driefontein". And based on his merits in the war, I can guess that he probably had "Paardeberg", "Transvaal" and "Cape Colony" too... but it is only a guess... Does anybody know? Thanks, Michael

Well, my guess would be Dutch, but I didn't want to suggest that initially, since you - being located there - would probably know all about the Dutch keys... ? Are the initials "W R"? /Michael

Definitely not a Danish box Thanks for the photo. /Michael

Hi Paul, The box looks very Danish to me (I have several similar ones). Any photos of the inside? /Michael

Hi Christophe, I waited to see if anyone else would chip in, but apparently not... I don't know about Sweden, but chances here in Copenhagen are slim since Bent Larsen retired. His shop "Collector" was dedicated to decorations. There is a small shop (the size of a closet) by the same name in Kronprinsessegade (close to Rosenborg Castle), which normally has a small selection. The shop closes for good mid-September though. No other shops come to mind, unfortunately... For museums, the best bet is Rosenborg Castle which has some old versions of orders given to Danish Kings. The Arsenal ("Tøjhusmuseet ") has a VERY small collection, but is mostly arms. The Museum of Danish Resistance has its stuff in storage since the museum burned down earlier this year. /Michael

Very interesting. Is it possible to have a larger image (not so compressed)? The Swedish state calendars ("Sveriges Statskalender") would have lists of recipients, but I only have the 1882 and 1900 versions. /Michael

Since I've been called to action, I better contribute with what I know No, this is NOT an official medal, but whether it's an award associated with something masonic or a veterans association or something third, I can't tell for sure. My best guess is, that it is an award for a veterans association for a specific Danish town. /Michael

Fantastic! That list is great! I see that the whole crew of Hejmdal/Heymdal received the silver version of the first medal. Thanks a lot /Michael

Thanks Elmar, Do you have any similar medals with different reverses? /Michael

Thanks for the interesting story about Yuan. Reading this thread again, I realize I haven't corrected an earlier mistake. Kinch was recalled for duty in Naval Intelligence in Denmark. Probably as a part of the mobilization force during WWI (in which Denmark was neutral). The above 3 decorations were all he received. /Michael

Ahh, I see... thanks a lot, Jeff /Michael

Hi guys, I have a Danish guy who received this medal, but can anybody tell me what the name of the medal is and what it was awarded for? The text on the back is "Roma Copenaghen Maggio 1966" The guy had a "permission to wear" the medal, so it must be quite official. I don't have the permission paper, so I don't know what the medal was called there. Thanks, /Michael

Well, I believe the Order of Charles XIII is quite official. It just had limits to how many could receive it at any one time and a requirement of the recipients being both masons and protestants. I don't think Edward VII broke any rules (without knowing the English rules specifically)... /Michael

It's the Swedish Order of Charles XIII (a masonic order). Edward VII received it in 1868. /Michael

Despite the similarities between the two portraits, I don't think it's the same man. In the Danish Court and State Handbooks, a "Axel Otto Grüner" is listed as: 1909: "Norwegian captain" 1913: "Norwegian lt.col." which would fit nicely with a rank of major in 1911. He was awarded the Order of Dannebrog on the 1st of May 1907 (Commander in 1917). There is no "Grünner" in the handbooks. There is also a "Johannes Prætorius Dahl" listed, but his Order of Dannebrog Knight cross was not awarded until 1917. /Michael

The width of the Dannebrog ribbon is 27mm. The height of the ribbon bar ribbons are 10mm. /Mike

I don't know, but it could be due to his French heritage (his grandfather was Jean Bernadotte who became King Karl XIV Johan of Sweden)? /Michael

That's the Swedish King Oscar II /Michael

Ulsterman and Owain, I stand (a little bit ) corrected after researching a bit. Since 1981 recipients of this medal are recorded and are asked to provide a short biography of themselves. Unfortunately that is too late for Owain's medal. /Michael

Hmm... that's new to me. Besides the Chapter of the Orders (who doesn't have any lists), I wouldn't know who would keep such lists... But if the - more recent - information is listed on a website, I'm sure it can't hurt to ask the persons behind the site. /Michael

I could be mistaken, of course, but I have no knowledge of - or ever heard of - such records. /Michael