bolgarin Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 This is very rare bulgarian officer ribbon bar. If enybody interest, i can post the possible biography researh of the recepient.....
bolgarin Posted October 24, 2008 Author Posted October 24, 2008 (edited) Ok. Know problem. The story begans. On the ribbon bar we can find from left to right:1. Order for Bravery 4 class (so called emission 7 dots) - awarded till the beginning of WW12. Order For Merits (Ferdinand emission, so call "Young head emission"3. Officer long service cross for XX years (rare type of this cross with small letters on averse) Ferdinand emission4. Officer long service cross for X years Ferdinand emission5. Independence cross of Bulgaria6. Coronation medal of kniaz Ferdinand (2 class)7. Silver medal for Serbia-Bulgarian war 1885 years (for those who take part in battles)8. Wedding medal between Ferdinand and Mari in 1893 year (silver class with out a crown)The owner of this ribbon bar served for Bulgaria for many years. I suppose that in the middle of 80-th in 19 century he received his first officer military rank. During the Serbia-Bulgarian war he take part directly in military operations and received his first award - Silver medal (number 7 on the ribbon). In 1887 he served in the garrison of one of this cities - Sofia, Vidin, Lom, Svistov, Russe, Veliko Tirnovo, Kazanlik, Pazardzik, Plovdiv. All this garrisons were visited by future bulgarian czar Ferdinand on his way to the coronation ceremony in Sofia. Thats whay he was given coronation medal of kniaz Ferdinand (number 6 on the ribbon bar). Only 1019 recepients were awarded with this medal. In 1893 he take part in wedding ceremony between Ferdinand and Mari and thats why received "Wedding medal" (number 8 on ribbon bar). Only 800 officers and officials were awarded with this medal. Very rare item.For his long service he was awarded with 2 service crosses X and XX years (3 and 4 medals on ribbon bar). My suppose that his XX year service cross he received in 1905-1910 years.His first order For Merits (number 2 on ribbon bar) the owner of the ribbon bar received in the end of 19-beginning of 20 century. And the rad ribbon show that order was received for the exceptional merits during his service. In the 1909 in a year of official proclamation of Bulgaria independence our Hero received "Independence cross" (number 5 on the ribbon bar). This also shown that in this period he stay on official military service.I think exist 2 variants of occasions of receiving by him his main battle order - Cross for Bravery 4 class (1 award on the ribbon bar). This award is very honorable because it can be received only for bravery in the concretic fighting episode. On first version he can received it for bravery during Balkan wars in 1912-1913. But on my opinion this award was given to him for valour and bravery in Serbian-Bulgarian war 1885. Something like "award find his owner after many years".Ufffff, that all...... Will be glad to hear any additions.... Edited October 24, 2008 by bolgarin
Guest Rick Research Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 BEAUTIFUL Bar. I suspect that with all that long Court service-- this was a General, with many many OTHER awards arround his neck. :catjava:
bolgarin Posted October 25, 2008 Author Posted October 25, 2008 Hi Rick. Really i dont think so. My opinion that he was an officer, which not began a general. Maybe colonel maximum. Of course he can have some additional high ranking awards. But i dont think that more than 3-d classes..... :cheers:
sambolini Posted October 25, 2008 Posted October 25, 2008 Hi,A beautiful bar indeed. I believe it's the first I've ever seen (Bulgarian). Thanks for showing it.Regards,Sam
ccj Posted October 25, 2008 Posted October 25, 2008 Oh yeah, that's a beauty. I'd love to put a similar bar into my collection. This would look great in my Bulgarian collection.Super :jumping:
Theodor Posted October 26, 2008 Posted October 26, 2008 Very nice! I would also think he had a long service, but was not a very high rank. See, there's no St. Alexander or Military Merit. An officer close to the Court or of a high rank would never get away without receiving these. And even if he had the high grades /neck awards and breast stars/, he would still be wearing the lower grades, even several at a time /it is not unusual to see officer with St Alexander and next to it the same St Alexander but with Crown; or Military Merit on the neck and in the same time a 4th grade of the same among the other orders/
Guest Rick Research Posted October 26, 2008 Posted October 26, 2008 Ahhh... I did not know that! The Imperial German practice for "still breathing" everybody-this-rank-got-one awards was to REMOVE lower classes when a higher one was presented.
bolgarin Posted October 27, 2008 Author Posted October 27, 2008 Very nice! I would also think he had a long service, but was not a very high rank. See, there's no St. Alexander or Military Merit. An officer close to the Court or of a high rank would never get away without receiving these. And even if he had the high grades /neck awards and breast stars/, he would still be wearing the lower grades, even several at a time /it is not unusual to see officer with St Alexander and next to it the same St Alexander but with Crown; or Military Merit on the neck and in the same time a 4th grade of the same among the other orders/Hi, Theodor. Sometimes in bulgarian award system can be anouther situation. Neck orders with out orders in lower classes. Please check fotos
Theodor Posted October 27, 2008 Posted October 27, 2008 (edited) Yes, but the other way is often seen, too /by the way, the General with the neck order can not be an example for any theory - he wears his highest award and his real Bravery award. I am sure he has many more - merit, service, etc. etc. but for this occasion he wears only the most important/.Here are some examples of multiple awards. This gentleman has been on service when Ferdinand arrived to Bulgaria. Also I think he has the 1885 Serbian-Bulgarian war medal, though hard to see. Also 20 year long service medal, obviously took part in the WW1 and got the EK, but the interesting for this thread is: he has a Military merit neck award AND a military merit IV class on the medal bar. And in the medal bar he has a IV St. Alexander AND a IV St. Alexander with crown and swords. Edited October 27, 2008 by Theodor
Theodor Posted October 27, 2008 Posted October 27, 2008 And this guy - Military merit on the neck and Military merit Ion the medal bar. Two pieces of St. Alexander. Bravery on the medal bar and higher Bravery on the pocket. I think even the Long Service crosses can be considered a double wear - in other conditions, IMO the 20 years would eliminate the 10 years.
Theodor Posted October 27, 2008 Posted October 27, 2008 And this guy - two Military merit in his medal bar. And both are not wartime /the ribbon is not the Bravery type ribbon, but black-yellow stripes/.
bolgarin Posted October 27, 2008 Author Posted October 27, 2008 (edited) Very interesting fotos. Thanks......Aspeccialy second one foto - not often to see when 20 and 10 years service crosses stay not together on the ribbon bar.....As i know Military merit orders and St. Alex orders and Civil merit orders shell goes one by one from the lower classe to higher. But sometimes it was given High classes with out lower. Thats why (concerning my ribbon bar) impossible to say for sure if he have or not have some high ranking orders...... :cheers: Edited October 27, 2008 by bolgarin
Theodor Posted October 27, 2008 Posted October 27, 2008 Is it the medal bar only? Is there any other clue about his identity - photos, documents, anything?
ccj Posted October 29, 2008 Posted October 29, 2008 Only ribbon bar...... Super medal bar and great photos. I've been hoping for a topic such as this. I have a fascination for Bulgarian militaria and this is interesting.
bolgarin Posted October 29, 2008 Author Posted October 29, 2008 Thanks..... Please check anouther bulgarian ribbon bar http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31750&hl=
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