Comrades In Eternity: 2 KGL MGS Recipients in 1 Collection

[Guest Rick Research]

Here is an almost miraculous pairing, from my offline backlog of Traveling Museum gatherings, of two King's German Legion veterans from the same unit. In honor of the bicentennial of their siege of St. Sebastian beginning 17 July 1813-2013.

Meet Privates Frederick Kohne (he with his matching Waterloo MEdal) and Frederick Konecke of the 1st Light Battaalion, KGL.

Identical bars--these two saw all their fighting together--

Albuhera

Salamanca

Vittoria

St. Sebastian

Nivelle

Nive

[Guest Rick Research]

What's the almost miraculous part? Aside from ANY ancient (by the time these were issued!!!) warriors' PAIR remaining together....

There were 194 other ranks/10 officers "any 6 bars" MGS Medals to the KGL. But these 6 to this Battalion = 88/2 issued.

However, given the usual 1 in 4 at best survival rate, known to exist there are only 7 (or 8: an ambiguous 1936 auction catalog when names and units weren't important, sniff, to non-British units leaves us wondering) other ranks and no officers.

So here, now, together... you are looking at TWO of the SEVEN (or 8) medals known to exist to this unit.

[paul wood]

As was remarked about Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, two stunning pairs.

Paul