j-sk

I'll come back as soon as I get further informations... provided I can get some... Jean-Sam

Talking about "weird" groups, I wonder how far one can go to do some restoration work on a group that has obviously been "touched". Two years ago (June 2011), I bought the following group at Kuenker's auction. It was sold "as is" (see the picture on the left). After the original wearer (or his heirs) sold this group, someone had the obnoxious idea to "reassemble" the medals, removing the SMS MARS clasp from its blue ribbon and shift it onto the the "Flandernkreuz" ribbon (this latter cross disappearing in the process, being replaced by a "Treu dem Regiment" cross...!!!) and filling this new gap with a Prussian 15 Years cross. I could only guess - but my guess is as good as anyone's - that the new owner thought it weird to find the SMS MARS clasp on what he considered erroneously to be a "long service ribbon". It looks like he removed the five trapez plates from the back plate, remove carefully the SMS MARS clasp (without braking the shanks which is quite an achievement on its own), slid it in its new position (not fixing it) on the Flandernkreuz ribbon and reassembled the lot... the wrong way as far as the overlapping of the medals is concered. I have therefore decided to give this group its original appearance. Quite a challenge considering the risk of breaking the shanks. I reaffixed the SMS MARS bar and the "Bewährungsabzeichen" using the holes which originally were left in the ribbons and replaced the 15 Years service cross by a Flandernkreuz as well as a the "Treu dem Regiment" by a "Treu der Marine" cross (see the other pictures, observe and reverse, for the result). Was I right...? Was I wrong...? I personally thought it was acceptable since the group had already been "transformed". Jean-Sam.

In the mean-time I found a link particularly interesting for the Worcestershire regiment: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/a_foreign_panama

Thank you very much for this valuable information.

Hello Gentlemen, Does anyone know which US State or city issued this WW1 commemorative medal (and its price) ? Is it possible to get further information from the Internet (i.e.: is there a specific site dedicated to this category of medals) ? Thank you in advance. Jean-Sam.

Hello Claudio, I guess it's that part of mystery hidden behind these Weimar medal bars, linked to the personal experience of the wearer... almost as eloquent as a "Soldbuch"... 'Bye Jean-Sam.

Should you by any chance have other "Regiments-Erinnerungskreuz" for sale... In any case, I 'll try to be quicker the next time...

Thank you for bringing these details... which certainly increase the price of this specific group! ... Note to the lucky owner: I am still interested...!!! Jean-Sam.

Hello Claudio, Generally speaking, I find your "Ordensspangen" quite spectacular. Regarding the group mounted by Reimann though, I found it weird to find the 1870/71 Prussian war medal clasp PARIS among the other typical Flandernkreuz ones, since no German troops ever entered into Paris in WW1... Jean-Sam.

Should you be prepared to sell them, I would be ready to pay USD 500.00 for the lot, provided you could get close-ups of the SEEKRIEG clasp and of the reverse of the bars as well... Jean-Sam.

Hi Gents, Here is some Weimar "stuff" to be added to the list. Please note that the group of 8 - with two unit bars on the Regiments-Erinnerungskreuz..! : Garde Husaren Rgt and Garde Grenadier Rgt 1 - was lacking the Iron cross 2nd class and the Prussian 15 years service when I bought it. They were obviously removed after 1934 to be eventually reaffixed on a "3er Ordensspange" (EK2, 15 years service and Frontkämpferkreuz). After much thinking, I decided to fill both gaps and restore thee group's "original" appearance. Have I done the right thing or not...? I suppose some will consider it as a crime, some other will approve my decision... anyway. Regarding the Prussian 15 years service in grey metal, traces and bits of thread left by the former cross led me to this choice. Jean-Sam.

This time I was refering to Blueman's helmets. Still, I am not particularly satisfied with the white plume on the 1847 Dragoons helmet. It looks like a replacement from another post-1870ish Household Cavalry's helmet. Regarding the ones with Edwardian Crowns (QE2) I would keep away from them. From what I can see from the picture, I like neither the top of their spikes and their so-called "horsehair" nor the "roundish" look of their front visors. Jean-Sam

The Life Guards helmet is definitely not of the 1847 pattern (see the spike). This particular one was worn between 1902 and 1952 (Imperial crown on the helmet plate).

From my own collection: - Princess Charlotte of Wales's Dragoon Guards officer's helmet 1847 pattern (photo with any without flash); - 2nd Life Guards Victorian officer's helmet 1871 pattern.

Hello Gentlemen, Please note that the Garter on the Bues and Royal officer's helmet (red plume) is turned upside down. It could easily be reaffixed by unscrewing the helmet plate and re-put the central piece in its right position. Jean-Sam.

Dimension of the cross: 36,5mm. Ribbon: greenisch fieldgrey 30mm wide with a 6mm central red-orange stripe.

Yes, because the layer of red enamel on the central medallion is intact... as well as all the other bits of enamel though. No hairline, no hole whatsoever.

It is also interesting to note that the signature is the same as the one on the Preussischer Kriegs-Erinnerungs-Kreuz issued by the Vereinigung Preussischer Kriegsteilnehmer (see the first attachment of this thread).

And here is the matching cross (observe and reverse)

Another version of the Deutsche Ehrendenkmünze des Weltkrieges award documents. I bought it as a "Konvolut", including the award document, the (very interested) printed regulations of this "Orden" as they appeared then in newspapers, as well as the medal, ribbon and combattant badge still attached on its original brownish piece of paper and their small forwarding slip. Jean-Sam.

Here is an interesting one, including its shipping envelope... attributed to a NON-German veteran...!!! As a matter of fact, an Islander (at the time Island was ruled by Denmark). I have acquired it recently (June 2013) at a Kuenker's auction. Jean-Sam

Here it is (the one in the middle)

Actually it is not a hole but only a mere black dot.

Regarding the seven medals shown above (Minurso, Swisscoy, Peace Support, etc.) ONLY the ribbon is authorized for wear on the uniform. I.e.: NOT the shiny thingy hanging from a ribbon called medal !!! Although officially attributed, the medal must stay in its box... or framed and displayed on the chimney next to grandfather's General Guisan's portrait... or wherever it may seem fit... but, weird as it may be, NOT on the uniform... at least for the time being...!

This award was actually produced by Fa. Juwelier Lemcke, Berlin. The retailer for Germany was J. Godet u. Sohn, also in Berlin. The "Oesterreichischer Ehrenlegion" was created by the "Oesterreichischer Deutschen Kriegerbund", a nazi association. The wearing of this award was therefore forbidden at the time (before 1934) in Austria. Every German WW1 vet could buy one, weather he was serving with Austrian troops or not! (Reference: Internationales Militaria Magazin, November-December 2012; article "Im Felde unbesiegt...." by J. Nimmergut and U. Lautenschläger, page 12, illustration 12a representing a letter written on March 7. 1934 by J. Godet & Sohn and addressed to Fa. G. Scharffenberg, Dresden, refering to the Oesterreischiche Ehrenlegion).