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Thanks a lot Haynau ! It's good to have a starting point to unravel this mistery. On closer look the shape of the other medal don't really look like the milit?rverdienstkreuz, the edges not being as gently curved but more abruptly shaped ; that's the best view I can get :

Wonderful medals ! would any of you gentlmen be able to help me, I'm clueless as to identifying the uniform on that Carte de Visite : The photographer is from Frankfurt. Here's a close up on the orders ; I was wondering if the left one might be a Medjidie (though it looks a bit small) : And a close up on his hat that somehow has some turkish flavour : Any idea ? Thanks

Hi gentlemen, Might anyone perchance be able to identify the 2 medals on the right of this photo ? Now I suspect them not to be Bulgarian ; would they rather be Serbian or Romanian ? Photo is a cabinet card from Poruchik Stoikov probably early 1890s. He was serving in the Leib Gvard : Thanks !

Hi David, Can't help you much, but there's a website where they can (though for a fee I understand) : the Institut Deutsche Adelsforschung - They have a page showcasing different army lists and details they hold : http://home.foni.net/~adelsforschung/ind03.htm - They have a page listing nobility serving for the "Schwarze Husaren" : http://home.foni.net/~adelsforschung/husar.htm - They seem to have the details for your man (though there seems to be some missplelling somewhere) : Dreisen gen.v.der Oste, Paul v. (18./19.Jh.)

Here is a view of the band of the Leib-Garde-Husaren ; the postcard was shipped 1903, so the kettle drummer must be Arara : And a very interesting photo taken in Kamerun by Rudolf Oldenburg (c. 1905-1907) : "King Njoya and his guard in Hussar uniform with the German sword" Ibrahim?Njoya ruled the Bamum from about 1886 to 1930 ?; he is supposed to have been a very shrewed man and was quoted thus : "Njoya said: 'All kings who resisted the white men were defeated. . . . Bamum, you see, if I had foolishly accepted your decision to resist them, they would have destroyed us all.'" I read a story that some ruler from Kamerun was presented a painted portrait of the Kronprinz (Kaiser ?) in Hussar uniform fo some celebration. That may be when the inspiration for this Guard came from ?

Elo Sambo was kettle drummer in the Leib-Garde-Husaren from 1907 to 1919, when the regiment was dissolved. It is interesting to note that he replaced another African (named Arara) at this highly honourable position. The drums were awarded to the Leib-Garde-Husaren by Whilelm II through an AKO on 19 june 1888, i.e. straight upon accession. Another interestign tidbit : the kettle drummer's horse was white (Elo Sambo's last one was called Otto). It is not due to chance as you obtained a color combination : - BLACK drummer - WHITE steed - RED Hussar Dolman That's your imperial flag ! One may also surmize that having an African parading in such a highly ceremonious position flattered Kaiser Wilhelm's Imperialistic ego. And did he crave for Grandeur and did he like flattery !