Help identifying medals

[v dem Knesebeck]

Hi all,

 

I have a painting of an ancestor and am having trouble identifying the last three medals he is wearing. The first three are obvious enough: Iron Cross for non-combatants; Order of the Red Eagle 3rd Class with bow; Order of the Crown, 3rd Class with Order of St John device. Thereafter I'm less sure. From appearance and context I'm relatively certain that the first two must be the 1870/71 campaign medal and the 1864 Campaign Medal for Denmark. The third one is a complete mystery.

 

For context, the painting is of Alfred von dem Knesebeck, who served in the Gardes du Corps for a bit, then the Reserves. His presence during the campaigns 1864 - 1871 was actually through the Order of St John though, running an early form of battlefield medical care. This is why he received most of the awards he's wearing, including the neck-badge of the Bavarian Military Merit Order, 2nd Class. You can read a little more about him on wiki. 

 

As most of the family property/records were lost in the Second World War and aftermath, I don't have proper records of his medals, or many original family orders, so am a bit stumped.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help!

[VtwinVince]

Firstly, that is a fantastic painting. Secondly, his KO3 is with the Johanniter Kreuz device, which makes it extremely rare. I think you're correct about the KDM's, which appear to be on non-combat ribbons. The last medal is too indistinct to my tired eyes. But what a fantastic and unique medal bar!

Edited July 6, 2021 by VtwinVince

[Daniel Krause]

Last one is most likely the Prussian Coronation medal 1861.

 

Best,

Daniel

[Nicolas7507]

Such a well-made painting. Thank you for showing.

[Glenn J]

A super portrait. The baron wears the uniform of the 7. Schwere-Landwehr-Reiter-Regiment, his former Landwehr cavalry unit. He left active military on 16 May 1844 when he retired from the Regiment Garde du Corps and went onto Landwehr service.

 

Regards

Glenn

[VtwinVince]

My rolls show 16 awards of the KO3mJK, 5 for Denmark and 11 for the Austrian campaign, so exceedingly rare.

[v dem Knesebeck]

17 hours ago, Daniel Krause said:

Last one is most likely the Prussian Coronation medal 1861.

That's an excellent bet and I think most likely correct! Thank you so much. Thanks also for all the other comments, much appreciated.

[91-old-inf-reg]

Huh, I wonder why Knesebeck didnt serve in the 1866 campaign against Austria. Or at least he decided not to wear this medal 

[Glenn J]

5 hours ago, 91-old-inf-reg said:

Huh, I wonder why Knesebeck didnt serve in the 1866 campaign against Austria. Or at least he decided not to wear this medal 

 

He was under no obligation to serve in the 1866 campaign and his service in the wars of 1864 and 1870/71 was under the auspices of the Johanniter-Orden. He actually retired from the Landwehr on 8 September 1855. He received the Charakter of a Major a.D.  on 18 October 1861. 

 

Regards

Glenn

[91-old-inf-reg]

@Glenn Jthank you, very interesting. Non-combatants always interested me

[v dem Knesebeck]

On 07/07/2021 at 13:16, 91-old-inf-reg said:

Huh, I wonder why Knesebeck didnt serve in the 1866 campaign against Austria. Or at least he decided not to wear this medal 

@91-old-inf-reg According to his memoirs he was appointed to oversee the medical transport system and hospitals for the First Army, which meant he was based in Guben and was not at the front. Presumably this is why he wouldn't have received the campaign medal, despite technically being involved in the war. In the Schleswig War and Franco-Prussian War he was very much more on the frontlines.