redeagleorder Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Hi all, I've come across a medal bar which strikes me as rather strange. It consists of only a China Colonial Combatant's Medal (no clasps) and the Hindenburg Combatant's cross. Would such a combination be possible? If the man fought in China and in the First World War, how can it be he has no long service award or any bravery or merit medal from World War 1? Thanks, Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Extremely unlikely combination, can you post photos of the bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeikoGrusdat Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 I see no problem generally....many people served in china as volunteers but not long enough in the army to get a long service medal....and for what he has got the Hindenburg - only god knows....some days in ww1 would have been enough to get it....of course a photo of the bar would help ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 Here is the photo guys. Thanks for your help . Bar with China medal and Hindenburg Cross: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Definitely a good one, I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Definitely a good one, I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Thank you for that answer. I suppose the below bar is also an original? It certainly has a more likely combination of awards, but I haven't seen many mounts that are consist only of straight vertical ribbons. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dond Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'm not convinced of the first bar. The backing material has been messed with. Note the different colored threads used and the stitching styles. Have you blacklighted it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Hi Dond, No, I haven't blacklighted it as the bar is not currently in my possession. The backing material indeed seems to have used two different coloured threads, white on the left and a grey thread (which seems to be original as it blends in more with the backing) on the right. On the other hand, the second bar shown has red stitching which blends in with the backing. What is your opinion of the second bar? Thanks, Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) The wear on the Centenar medal ribbon on the second bar is much greater than that of the China medal, which seems odd. Edited October 24, 2012 by VtwinVince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dond Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saschaw Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Not saying any of them is bad, but I like the 1st one much more than the 2nd. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted October 26, 2012 Author Share Posted October 26, 2012 The white thread seems to be just around the mount of the Hindenburg Cross. Could it be it was added later by the man himself, bearing in mind that at least 33 years passed between the two awards, or do you think its a more recent add-on, and that there was a different decoration before it? Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dond Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 That and the Hindy ribbon is on top vice where it should be, under the other ribbon makes it a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Hi guys, Just thought you might lke to know that I managed to win the first medalbar shown! Hopefully it will be in my hands in a few days, and I can examine it more closely. Now, I realise i've already asked for this twice , but knowing no collectors personally i've come to depend a lot on you guys, and the fact that you have far more experience than me gives me confidence. I'm also interested in this small medalbar from Reuss, but once again I've problems about the back. Apart from having what looks like the remainder of a price tag, the ribbons are strangely folded in a rectangle shape rather than in a semicircle. The metal backing plate has two holes in it where I think there should be hooks, and finally in the hole behind the iron cross there is a red ribbon, not a black/white ribbon. Thank you for your opinions once again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 This looks like a good one to me, with different colored ribbon scraps to hold the medals in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Dale Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Interesting bars... On a similar note, here's a veteran in 1938 with the EK2 and China Medal. I don't know much about RKB uniforms but his white hatband suggests to me that he may also have served in East Africa. Yet no Hindenburg Cross or Long Service either... suggesting it was possible to have China and Hindenburg without the Long Service too. and blurred but closer- This photo is from the Frankfurt Colonial Archives by the way. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Thanks Chris for that information! The bar arrived around a week ago and it looks great, with just that small amount of wear and fading to the ribbons that shows it has age. In cases like this, were soldiers got a china medal and a ww1 award such as an ek or a hindenburg cross with no long service award, I think they volunteered for China but then dropped out of the army soon after. Some may have joined up willingly in WW1, but in my case i think the recipient was conscripted towards the end of the war, as he has no ww1 awards Regards, Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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