What is this?

[Bob Hunter]

It appears to be some sort of recognition of service in southwest Africa. Is it from a veteran's organization?

[HeikoGrusdat]

no, it is just an inofficial rememberence medal... most of them are on their own but I know some mounted on the medal bar. I have somewhere a picture with ribbon, maybe tonight...

Heiko

[Bob Hunter]

Thanks, Heiko. I appreciate the information.

[HeikoGrusdat]

Bob, here they are... one with some additionals on a black/white/red ribbon and another one on a blue/white/red ribbon - I think the last one is the original ribbon belonging to the medal...

Heiko

[HeikoGrusdat]

next one...

[Bob Hunter]

Thanks for showing the complete medal and ribbon. Now I know what's missing.

[Guest Rick Research]

So THAT'S what this is!

[attachmentid=18512]

This has been in my Unknowables Pile for eons-- I had assumed something thrilling like a FRENCH municipal employees' credit union long service award or similar--

but red, white, and blue were the COLONY colors of the German Schutztruppen, so this makes sense as a generic "Old Africa Hands" commercial ribbon.

Thanks Heiko!

And Bob-- PM me your address. You need this more than my Clutter Box does!

[Bob Hunter]

How absolutely gentlemanly of you, sir.

[Ed_Haynes]

This is truly the forum of GENTLEMEN. Good on ya, mate!

[Chris Boonzaier]

So THAT'S what this is!

[attachmentid=18512]

Thanks Heiko!

And Bob-- PM me your address. You need this more than my Clutter Box does!

I have a loose Victoria Cross ribbon... Rick, if you have a loose cross laying around... could you whip it my way?

[Guest Rick Research]

You'd be surprised what's lying around in odd corners here, after I moved into Jack Benny's old vault.

[Bob Hunter]

Rick, who's Jack Benny?

[HeikoGrusdat]

just to complete the confusion I want to say that red-white-blue are also the colours of the german state Schleswig Holstein and I know some regimental,veteran or rememberance medals from there having similar ribbons...

Heiko

PS: I really like this gentleman behaviour in here - great forum, great people, great world

[Bob Hunter]

...and here is Rick's nifty little Christmas present...

[Wild Card]

Gentlemen,

I would like to point out that this ribbon (sort of) appears again among Imperial German decorations. For some inexplicable reason, the impossibly rare Brunswick 1827 officers 25 year long service cross has this ribbon reversed, so it comes out blue, white and red in a 40 mm width.

I have always been intrigued by this ribbon because it does not fit in with any of the other Brunswick ribbon color patterns - blue/yellow and red/yellow. Also, while it obviously emulates the French tricolor pattern, the Brunswickers were among the fiercest enemies of Napoleons armies. Unlike many other German states, Brunswick never had any alliances with the French.

Any ideas out there?

Wild Card

[David Gregory]

Brunswick's connections with the British royal family might explain the red/white/blue colours.

[Wild Card]

Brunswick's connections with the British royal family might explain the red/white/blue colours.

David Gregory,

Thank you. Your suggestion, a totally new theory, makes as much sense as any I've heard so far.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Stogieman]

And........... to further confuse this issue... This popped up today in germany for 120- Euro asking.

[Stogieman]

Reverse......... the style is famililiar, but first time I see this medallion like this. Comments???

[HeikoGrusdat]

the first time I saw this combination but I have no problems with it.... medal is some kind of rememberance medal and the other thing is from the main german vets organization "deutscher Krieger Bund" with the possibility to put the cross or medal from your local warriors club on it - as happened here.

Heiko

[Stogieman]

Interesting...... was the medal a "local" award, or a national-issue/organization?

[HeikoGrusdat]

the southwest medal here was an national thing, but not official. The other thing with the ribbon was a national thing, too, of the "Deutsche Kriegerbund". Normally on that thing with the ribbon belonged some crosses or medals from local vet organizations... for example: the ribbon/badge on top and then a cross "Kriegerverein Massachusetts 2006" so you had the combination of national and local. The southwest medal here does not belong to the other thing but what is our most said sentence 2005????? : "Everything is possible" not only in Weimar times.....

Edited January 3, 2006 by HeikoGrusdat

[Stogieman]

Thanks Heiko, I have not pursued the knowledge of veteran pieces/1920's items as far as I probably should. There are times my brain feels full enough with respects to aviation pieces....... My buddy Mike Dunn has a pretty neat/extensive collection and interest in veteran's pieces.

[Stogieman]

This one is out there too...

[Stogieman]

I think the bar is real, but the SWA medal is not.