Kev in Deva

Hallo Hendrik nice example of bars you have, with regards the bars and order of precedence, I am trying to compile the history of the battles in order of fighting, logic then dictates which order the bars would have been worn, and depending on the various units which saw action, for instance the BUCARESTI bar, was it awarded only to combatant units or units involved in the defence of the city?. This I hope to clarify soon. But I know for sure the 1919 bar has to be the last bar, but then the question is would a soldier involved in the 1919 campaign in Transylvania and Hungary have exchanged his 1916-1918 cross for a 1916 -1919 cross, or did he just add the 1919 bar to his first cross! What dates have you on your cross? Kev in Deva.

The veterans pin came with the Cross with the Marasesti bar and 1918 with it was also the mini cross, looking at the spaceings on one of the ribbons (Cross 1) I also believe a bar is missing but one has to take what one can get Also it is common to find them having been worn with the dates outward and the King Ferdinand Cypher FF outward as well. Kev in Dev

Close ups of the individual crosses as good as I can do with the picture size restriction to a newbie

To the gentlemen Tonight I would like to post some pictures and information with regards a Post WW1 Royal Romanian award: THE COMMEMORATIVE CROSS OF THE 1916 - 18 WAR. The cross itself had been established through a Royal Decree, number 1744 of the 8 July 1918 and was awarded to civilians and military personnel that participated to WWI. Designer: (for the moment unknown.) The cross was of a Byzantine cross design with the cypher of King Ferdinand on the obverse and the years 1916-1918 on the reverse. The cross measures 40 mm by 43,5 mm (including the ribbon ring mount). There are variations in the cross caused by contracts to different manufacturers, also there is a cross which appears to be in gilt and I am told this was for officers, leaving the more darker coloured crosses for the other ranks. The ribbon is with 4 dark blue stripes interspaced with 3 green stripes, variations in the ribbon can be seen, but are normaly caused by exposure to light, age, and wear, some home made replacements have also been encountered, as there is nobody making replacement ribbon of the quality, size and style of the WW1 & WW2 awards. Miniture versions also exsist for the 1916 - 1918 and the 1916 - 1919 Crosses. The participants to the 1919 campaign* received a different version of the cross that had the years 1916-1919 on the reverse, but the front was identical to the 1916- 1918 Cross. Battle-Bars for the Commemorative Cross of the 1916 - 1918 War; Participation in a number of Battles was commemorated by the addition of a bar or number of bars to the Cross, the bar or bars were accompanied by a Brevet or certificate of entitlement. 1916. 1918, 1919, and 1 9 1 9 (note the spacing of the numbers.) ARDEAL and A R D E A L (note the spacing of the letters.) BUCUREŞTI, (Bucharest) CARPAŢI, C A R P A Ţ I (note the spacing of the letters.) English translation the Carpatians. CERNA. DOBROGEA. DOBROGIA (note the spelling of the word.) DUNĂREA. German-English translation the Donau or Danube) ITALIA. (Italy). Very Rare. (some Romanian Collectors say there is a ROME bar but I have not found one yet or seen any pictures of one. JIU. MĂRĂŞEŞTI, M Ă R Ă Ş E Ş T I (note the spacing of the letters). MĂRĂŞTI, MĂRĂŞTI ◊ (with symbol at the end of the word.) OITUZ. SIBERIA (rare issue to the Romanian Volunteers Legion of Siberia.) T?RGUL-OCNA, T.G. OCNA (note Variation in spelling). TURTUCAIA. TRADITIE. English translation TRADITION, a rare bar that can be confered along with at least 3 otherRomanian decorations, as far as I understand it was awarded to a Father who was an officer if his son a officer was killed in war or vice versa, the number of father and son combinations would make this a rare award. * the reason for the 1916 -1919 Cross and 1919 bar was that at the close of WW1 the Romanians took back the area of Transylvania**, and marched on and occupied the capital Budapest, only leaving when preasure was brought to bear by the Allied Powers in 1920. ** Which had been a bone of contention for many years, the Hungarians claim it belongs to them (and they briefly re-occupied the area in WW2) even today it is a bitter subject both to the Hungarian communities who live in Transylvania and Romanians who live across the border in Hungary.) Points to note; other battle-bars can be found for the Romanian Crusade Against Communisum Medal of 1941, while some bear the same names as some of the WW1 bars, they are strictly for battles fought in the same areas in WW2 and of a slightly different design. Names of Bars in Bold are in my collection at the moment, (please see photographs.) As more information is discovered and more bars added to my collection updates will be posted. Kev in Deva.

Hallo Me lover the backsides too probably taboo to say this as well, but the picture is more interesting than the fronts Nice to see so many versions and congratulations on your collection. Kev in Deva.

Hallo Mike, thanks for your reply, to my eyes some of the items are identical in the photos, my concern is that the same item gets sold twice, or one "good photo" is used to sell similar items, so therefore what you see, might not be what you get. And a new or beginner collector might not notice this. Take a look at the Pour le Merite though looks nice with a skull in the centre piece Kev in Deva.

To all the gang and a word of warning to any new potential collectors beware of buying anything listed by these sellers, nearly all the badges and medals are very poor quality copies in base metal and I believe they are the same person and they change their trade name like other people change socks. Avril has more items listed in her online shop (53 Pages!!) than Sunshine, but they use similar code numbers among the title description. AVRIL 390 located in Leicester. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/17-31-OCTOBER-1914-Y...1QQcmdZViewItem AVRILS SHOP Sunshine x10 located in Nuneaton. (close enough to be neighbours?? ) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STORMTROOPERS-MEDDAL...1QQcmdZViewItem ZENA'S EMPORIUM formerly trading under Tsunami Relief, if anybody else knows any more of their former trade names feel free to add them to this post. Kev in Deva.

For the Military Fag Ash Collectors Guild Just spotted these items on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAZI-AFRICA-CORP_W0Q...1QQcmdZViewItem Kev in Dev.

Hallo to all the Gang It must have British connections due to the representation of the shamrock, & thistle on the design which can only mean a Irish & Scottish connection, also the representation of Saint George, all we need to track down is the information to a British Regiment connected with a double eagle-head insignia, piece of cake Strange though how the rose and leak are missing!!! Kev in Deva.

Hallo and good evening to the Gentlemen, With regards this document I was talking to the receipients grandson and he comfirms the following: Name: of Soldier, MARIS TRAIAN. UNIT: BATTALION 18 LIGHT INFANTRY (USOARA). Attached a postcard style picture of the Military Hospital where he was treated for wounds, dated 12th 9th 1945 at BAILE HERCULANE, Sanatoriul Militar, (Military Hospital & Spa). I am trying to confirm if he would have been eligable for a German Black Wound badge or any other awards, the Grandson is making enquires. Kev in Deva.

Hallo Guys. Spotted this clip on the net, probably not the intended customer base the manufacturer was hoping for when the gun was designed. http://www.break.com/index/grannymachinegun.html Sure is a laugh though, Kev in Deva

Hallo Don, this must be a brother to yours, nice story on how I obtained it, I was looking at items for sale on Ebay USA WW1 militaria section last year, when I saw a WW1 medal bar that had been stripped of the medals EKII, Baden Service Medal, and Hindenberg Cross, when I looked up the guys other auctions he had the medals listed seperately and this incorectly identified Baden Volunteer Firemans Bar & Box, I sent the guy an email to tell him it what is was and he asked me if I could tell him its value, which I did after consulting my Orden & Ehrenzeichen 1800-1945 (2005-2006) edition and he pulled the auction with no bids, told me as I had been nice enough to let him know what it was, and its worth, I could have for 100 Dollars, so I grabbed it fast. Seems sometimes honesty is the best policy. Kev in Deva

This link leads to 9 WW1 EK IIs identified by stamp where possible, and ranging in price from: 55 US Dollars to 150 US Dollars, but all are buy it now, might be of intrest to the Gentlemen of the EK II collecting fraternity http://cgi.ebay.com/Prussia-German-Iron-Cr...5QQcmdZViewItem Kev in Deva.

Direct from a local vet's estate as brought back in 1945 and untouched since. Very fine condition vaulted Iron Cross 1st class with 100% of the original black paint finish. Has unusual screw back with smaller iron cross cut out washer and circular screw cap with bar handle. Cross is marked with double headed eagle stamp on the back and "800". It is magnetic. The smaller cross is also marked "800" and the screw cap is stamped "100" and also in raised letters"DRGM Gesish?. Silver parts are tarnished. Untouched completely original, never before touched or seen by a collector. a gem!!! Guaranteed 100% authentic (and pre 1945) . http://cgi.ebay.com/Iron-Cross-1st-Class-w...1QQcmdZViewItem Opinions please gentlemen

Also if you copy whats written on the badges onto the search engine, results will turn up, quite a few in English. all the best with your search from Kev in Romania.

Hi, I have a similar patch but with H V O (Croation Defence Forces) on it, putting HVO and Croatia, Jugoslavia, Serbia on a search engine will get results, but be warned one site is a very gruesome record of pictures of people who had their heads smashed in, definatly not one to view with any young children in the room, I found it disturbing to say the least. Kevin.

Dear Blitz, here are the marks on my EK IIs, the first list are on Spanges. Maker Marked: E.O. Maker Marked: D A G.? Maker Marked: N. Maker Marked: K? Maker Marked: K.O. = K?nigliches M?nzamt Orden. Maker Marked: undecipherable stamp. Maker Marked: No stamp, (Light weight?). Maker Marked: S-W. Maker Marked: with 800 - C D, unusual thick ribbon ring, (Cross feels light.) Maker Marked: `? A. Maker Marked: K.O. Maker Marked: Λ or V. Maker Marked: Z. Maker Marked: W&S. Maker Marked: A. Maker Marked: Unknown poor stamping. Maker Marked: Unmarked ring. I also have 5 more Eks whose ribbon ring is hidden under tight ribbons so therefore not possible to determine. Singles Crosses: Maker Marked WILM ? Maker Marked K.O. Maker Marked, (No marking on ring.) Replica?One-piece construction. Also are there a list of explanations for the Maker's Marks posted on the site, being new I havent seen every page / thread yet Kevin in Deva. Romania

Hallo to all the Gang With regard this thread, is it just going to be limited to the single greatest loss of life, by a sinking?? Would it not be more consistant and interesting to divide the losses by years / century etc, as with the various types and sizes of craft, from Sail, Steam, Oil, in the Royal Navy etc ?? Battle, Aerial Bombardment, Torpedo, or Natural causes or just plain bad seamanship Shiver me timbers, Just a thought, Kevin in Deva.

Thanks for the input gents. With regards the spelling on the document the handwritten Romanian is dificult for me to read however I will get a translation from the Grandson and I dont have the Romanian characters enabled on my Keyboard only German and English. The mistake spelling of the GeneralFieldMarshal name however is entirely my own. Still I believe its a unique document Kevin.

Hallo Joe, it looks like a rubber stamp :-( what would be nice to get was one of his (MANNHEIM'S) KRIM badges, apparently he had six made in GOLD for himself, and six in GOLD given as a present to ANTONESCU Head of the Romanian Armed Forces With regards my set of items, from talking to the receipiants grandson, he had at one time a German Black Wound Badge as well. but like a lot of WW2 items they were misplaced or lost under the communist rule.

Picture of the rear of the badge, covered in card which is stuck to the rear steel plate.

Hallo Gentlemen, while cleaning the old medal cabinet, on the bottom shelf where the III reich stuff is located I took two rare items in my collection to share to the Club. The document is the German award / Urkunde to a Romanian soldier during WW1 part of which is printed in Romanian: "BESITZZEUGNIS" BREVET Im Namen des F?hrers wurde dem In numele F?hrerului s' a conferit Soldat Maris T Bat. 18 Infant. Usbova, Der Krimschild Scutul Crimeei verliehen. A.H.Qu., den 25th Sept. 1942- C.G., la Mannheim Generalfeldmarschall. The rear is stamped H. Qu., 31.Aug.1943.

Dear Sir please find under reference to "IRISH LIGHTS" the information was taken from the book: DECORATIONS AND MEDALS OF THE REPUBLIC of IRELAND by the late EAMONN O'TOOLE. Page50 MEDALS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS. "The Commissioners of Irish Lights, established in 1867, are responsible for the superintendance and management of the lighthouses, light vessels, bouys and other aids to navigation throughout Ireland and its adjoining seas and islands." After the South of Ireland became a Republic, the uniform and badges were changed to something reflecting more of an Irish flavour Kevin in Transylvania, Romania

Hallo PK, A Dia Duite, of the topic a bit BUT,another military related fact with regards your picture is the Military Policeman (P.A. to the Irish Military Vets) with Cap (back to the Camera) the Irish Army truck ( either a 1940s pattern Ford V 8 2-3 ton truck or a 1939 pattern 28 hp Bedford ML. ?) in the back ground, also the guy in the door way might be in a blue uniform? Navy or Slua Muiri, and the buildings are also in the style of the construction of the British leading me to surmise this shot was taken outside one of the Dublin Military Barracks, but which one? McKee is out as it has a red brick wall around it. so that leaves Collins, Griffith, Clancy or ?? please forgive my ignorance on all the barracks in Dublin, I was mainly stationed in Donegal myself, with time off for good behaviour in the Military College in the Curragh Slan lat, Kevin In Transylvania, Romania.