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    Rare Photos of Bavarian Army members displaying an order from the 1900 China Expedition


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    Hello gents,

    it is not unusual to see photos of Imperial German troops who display medals/orders referring to the 1900 China Expedition.

    However I stumbled upon this IMHO "extremely rare" photo of a Bavarian Ulan member wearing a China campaign ribbon.

     

    So please feel free to post other photos of Bavarian Army members displaying China Campaign medals/ribbons and or those referring to the Herero uprising.

     

    Regards

    v.Perlet

    ul 1.jpg

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    Hello dedehansen,

     

    unfortunately the photo you posted is extremely unclear and small.

    The medallion seems to be that of the China expedition - but the ribbon doesn't match.

    From outside right - white stripe, black stripe (so far okay)then white stripe but double the width of the previous black stripe (this would already be wrong. Also the inner stripe is yellow and I think would not show as black on a B/W photo. You can see the ribbon of the Centennial medallion is dark yellow and shows up as light grey on the B/W photo - not black.

    See attached photos;

    And closeup of the Ulan ribbon

     

    But I am open to discussions as to what ribbon this Ulan is wearing.

    Regards

    v.Perlet

     

     

    IMG_1428.jpg

    IMG_1430.jpg

     

    Ribbon.png

    Edited by v.Perlet
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    1 hour ago, VtwinVince said:

    Looks like a MVK ribbon to me. I have never seen the ribbon of the China medal being worn in the Knopfloch.

    Hello VtwinVince,

     

    I agree it does look "very matching to a MVK ribbon" it is also what I thought first. But checking on diverse photos I do not see a convincing match yet to an MVK ribbon - since the blue stripe would be far more broader then the black or white.

     

    And the only difference between a MVK ribbon and a China ribbon would be red stripe contra blue and white contra yellow on a B/W photo - more or less I think not able to differentiate.

    The "Blue" or "Red" stripe on the Ulan ribbon is more or less equal in width.

     

    Also to my limited understanding this photo is a pre WW1 photo (The cap only displays the Bavarian Kokarde) so an MVK pre-war? on a combat ribbon - or do peacetime and war ribbon look the same?

     

    Ribbon 2.png

    IMG_1418.jpg

    Ribbon.png

    Edited by v.Perlet
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    Your photo shows still a MVK-ribbon!

     

    The inner stripe is yellow and in the most cases it is black on a b/w photos.

     

    454574102_VzadmiralWedding(Ordensspange).thumb.jpg.83de93fa29b76386a2ce8210abbba11b.jpg

     

    Furthermore the third white stripe is missing on your photo!

     

    white_black_white_red_white and the yellow inner stripe.

     

    I don´t think that your photo is a pre WW1-photo.....

     

     

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    I agree with Leutwein et al. The photographic paper then was ortho- not panchromatic, that´s why yellow and orange show as dark grey or black.

    GreyC941602957_China_Neumunster.thumb.jpg.2efe75c20cc660ec88e7465a472f8f77.jpg

    China.thumb.jpg.35ca9e558341cc777616da65c2e81d9c.jpg

    Edited by GreyC
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    On 05/02/2022 at 02:27, Leutwein said:

    Your photo shows still a MVK-ribbon!

     

    The inner stripe is yellow and in the most cases it is black on a b/w photos.

     

    454574102_VzadmiralWedding(Ordensspange).thumb.jpg.83de93fa29b76386a2ce8210abbba11b.jpg

     

    Furthermore the third white stripe is missing on your photo!

     

    white_black_white_red_white and the yellow inner stripe.

     

    I don´t think that your photo is a pre WW1-photo.....

     

     

    Hello Leutwein,

    Darn it, I was so happy about having found a really rare photo.

    I surely can't deny those colors appearing on the photos posted by you and others.

    Assuming that yellow and white won't differ on a B/W photo I ignored the not visible white stripe between the red and yellow.

    As for the Ulan, well I haven't come across a WW1 photo "yet" showing an e.g. Bavarian with only his state Kokarde.

    So the question still would be that of an pre-war MVO or MVK?

     

    Anyhow I would like to keep the thread alive as to its initial topic of Bavarian soldiers showing a China or Herero decoration/award - so if any photos should be posted I would be looking forward to them.

     

    The posted three photos are just in reference to the appearance of yellow off a China ribbon on a B/W photo

     

    Regards

    v.Perlet

    landwehrdswachin.jpg

    prussianofficialchinamedal.jpg

    uBildrkb3a.jpg

    Edited by v.Perlet
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