Richarddwh

Is it possible that the EK would be considered foreign, as a Prussian award, and therefore the bravery medals would take precedence over them?

Hi Kev,

Nice bar, that is exactly the same set up with the raised lip and the same atachment hooks on the reverse. I am curious about how these bar would have been worn. I presume vets would also wear these on civilian clothes.

I recently bought this and it was sold as a cavalry medal bar, evidenced by the fixings on the reverse. But I can't picture a Franco-Prussian war veteran wearing this on a steel breastplate. It also has a raised lip to the edges of the obverse. Any opinions would be appreciated.

This second ribbon bar has an add attachment system to the reverse.

I recently acquired these two ribbon bars. Unfortunately the first has the pin missing on the reverse, I was wondering whether the combination was correct, and wondered whether it was possible to collect so many Franz Josef ribbons on one bar.

The zinc versions also appear to be marked on the rim, 'W&A', in the few I've seen.

Not backlighted yet, but will. The reverse does a look a bit on the fresh side.

Thanks everyone for the responses I've learnt something new. Rick, the medal is indeed the bronze version. Given the different comments, all carrying credence I am still confused. I've posted some pics of the reverse that might clarify.

I've had this bar for a couple of years it was the Verdienst Den Staat medal on the left that caught my eye, but I overlooked the ribbon of the Franco-Prussian medal, this appears to be the WW1 Widows HK but that doesn't make sense. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks to both of you for your comments, confirms what I suspected. At least the medal is good just needs the correct ribbon.

Apologies for the fuzzy photo

I recently made a spur of the moment purchase of this Franz Josef medal in Bronze. It is cased, I've never seen them cased before and now think this was perhaps a period case customised to fit the medal. The ribbon is clearly wrong for the medal. I would appreciate any comments.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments. I would never have had the guts to polish a medal, would be to anxious about ruining about piece !

I recently acquired this 1914 EKII and would like any opinions. I think the first thing that struck me was the shimmering silvering, and this led me to be perhaps unreasonably suspicous. I'm more used to seeing a fair amount of tarnish.

Am I right in thinking that if you were from Lubeck but in an entirely different regiment you could still receive it? In which case, maybe the proportion of naval recipients wasn't quite so high. I suggest in part to the fact that I haven't seen many Lubeck crosses mounted alongside the Flandern cross, I would like to see some more.

The reverse

A recent acquisition, given that approximately 8000 Lubeck crosses were awarded, I wonder how many Lubeck crosses awarded to naval members is. I like this bar, it is a shame I will never be able to trace the recipient.

Told you so!

You wouldn't know it but the guy to his right does a great drunken Napoleon impression.

After going through some more photos I discovered some more of him. Here the photo, dated 1.6.40 shows him with his recently awarded EKII, and the ribbon bar is clearer showing the 4year service and Sudetenland ribbon bar. Based on the brief synopsis I read of IR 76, he would have been likely to have won his EK in France or the Low countries. I assume he may have been sent East to the Ukraine in 1941. The writing on the reverse of one of the earlier photos shown above is the last dated photo 1941 that I have of him, if anyone could translate it I would be very appreciative.

On the back of one of the groups photos I have for him, it looks as though he started to collect signatures.

The reverse, I would be interested in finding out what is written on the reverse

With another lady! He sits on the right

A nice uniform shot, I think he has a two place ribbon bar, possiby a October 1st medal on the right, and a 4 year long service on the right.

A close up of te unit details on the second group photo, does anyone know anything about this regiment?