"Traceable" Ribbon Bars That Won't Reveal Their Owners' Names!!!

[Rick Research]

Although some might suggest Ricky "lost it" a looong time ago, this is my pile of "I will NOT get up at 3 A.M. to look AGAIN" ribbon bars. Got some "possibles" on a couple of them...

Oddly enough, our very own Mike Dunn is "responsible" for three of these Sleepless Nights, while Stogie-Rick trails with two. One I got off eBay, and the other I've had longer than some of you have been alive

[Rick Research]

Numbered top to bottom, 1 to 7:

1) This was described as "off a cavalry uniform." Well, unreliable as eBay sellers' stories may be, the only Prime Suspect I can find was indeed a Bavarian cavalry officer, in 1st Chevaulegers Regiment in 1914 (alas, I only have the 1913 MHB!)--

Hans Ritter und Edler Ballan von THIERECK auf Rebenfels und Wranyck. No, that wasn't the REGIMENT-- that's all just him!!! Born 1873, Sek-Lt 1894, Oberlt 1902, Rittmeister 1908, Major 1914, retired as Oberstleutnant. Bavarian MVO4X 11.9.14, and crown thereto 25.5.18. I cannot confirm the Hessian Bravery Medal in 3rd place! The Austrian "war" ribbon presumably the Mil Merit Cross 3rd w/War Dec. The LAST ribbon is what gives hope for any ID- the Austro-Hungarian Marianerkreuz, for services to the hospitals of the Teutonic Order. Hans had the PRUSSIAN Johanniter Order, for Protestant noblemen in the same sort of duty, as well as this Austrian one--which I thought was for Catholics. (Maybe he was hedging his theological bets?)

2) This is typical 1920s 'anything goes" WEIRDNESS: Iron Cross, a Prussian War Order with Swords (presumably a Crown Order 4th), the M1825-1913 Prussian long service brooch for IX years (!!!!! ), 1904-06 Southwest Africa Medal, 1900-1901 China Medal, Prussian Long Service (XXV, XX, LD2, or M1913 XV, XII, IX-which until the 1930s was worn BEFORE campaign medals, oy!), 1897, WW1 unofficial veterans, WWI Kyffhäuserbund veterans, WW1 veterans.

This is a "Werner bar." The ONLY fellow, army OR navy, who comes up having had a COMBATANT Prussian War Order EVER with an IX (which he would have had to give back, oy oy!!!) was a Feuerwerks officer named SCHUBERT: FW-Lt 15.12.04-- confirmed in Southwest Africa in 1905, back home by 1907 with a Crown 4th X, FW-Oberlt 6.5.13, FW-Hauptmann 1,5,17, retired as Major beim Zeugamt aD, alive 1926.

But what else COULD that 2nd ribbon with swords be?

3) I thought this one would be soooooo easy. Nope! Iron Cross, Red Eagle Order, Prussian Long Service, 1897, Baden Zähringen Lion with Oakjleaves and Swords-- but a Knight SECOND for a Hauptmann lucky enough to have had a REO 4?-- or a Knight FIRST for an Oberstleutnant (which seems likelier????, Lippe House Order peacetime either Schaumburg- or -Detmold ("easy as pie"--hahahahahahahaha insane laughter), Hamburg Hanseatic, Lübeck Hanseatic, Austrian MMC 3rd wWD. Typical of many WW1 bars, there was never ANY backing cloth on this one. All searches of army, navy, and the Zähringen rolls have been fruitless. Curses, foiled AGAIN!!! moremad

[Rick Research]

4) I will NOT let this one drive me crazy. I won't! Iron Cross, Red Eagle, presumably Prussian Crown, Prussian Long Service, a WW1 Mecklenburg war cross--or the Schwerin 1897 Jubilee, a Saxon Albert Order peacetime--or the Altenburg 1903 Jubilee, SERIOUSLY out of place, a Lippe (either Schaumburg- or =Detmold) House Order with Swords--presumably 3rd Class for Captains/Majors, and either 1907 Schaumburg-Lippe Jubilee or a WW1 NONcombatant (and wouldn't THAT be "special") Cross for Loyal Service.

5) Iron Cross, Prussian Hohenzollern X, Mecklenburg war, Hessian bravery medal, Austrian MMC3wWD, Turkish silver Liakat or Medjidie Order w/Xs, Turkish war. This fellow later got the Württemberg Crown Order 3X (so he was likely a General Staff Major) and a Bulgarian St Alexander Order, silver crwn and swords. And howww do I know that? Because Daniel and I have been Shopping In The Same Places-- and HIS one matches with those extra two ribbons. 182 Wtbg CO-KnightsXs WW1... and we can't name THIS one!!!!

6) Iron Cross, Baden Military Karl Friedrich Merit Order-Knight (green enameled wreath device has fallen off, but the prongs are still in there like splinters), Hessian Bravery, Anhalt Friedrich, Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service, and Aust MMC3wWD. This is a SERIOUSLY "weird" combination! Baden being almost as peculiar about awards as Württemberg, of the 288 MKFVO Knights, 17 definitely never got a "lower" Zähringen Lion subsequently, and another 16 I cannot place as definitely getting an OZL from the occasionally splotchy roll.

My Prime Suspect is one Friedrich Franz von Unruh, born 16 April 1893, of Baden's Leib Grenadier Regiment 109-- Leutnant 1910, Oberleutnant 1915, char. Hauptmann aD. He received his MKFVO 8.8.15 as a company commander in the 109th, but spent 1916-18 as Adjutant of the Commander of Air Forces. Maddeningly, though in the 1935 "Wer Ist's?" he neglected to list his awards, the selfish rat!!!

Werrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnneeeeerrrrrrr!!!!!!???????????

and, finally (don't worry, this IS it! )

7) Iron Cross with the dumb Stogie-mini device, a ? Hohenzollern using just a CROWN device ( !), Baden Zähringen Lion with Swords (I think the devices with oakleaves were not generally available, so just swords doesn't necessarily mean this award wasn't a "mit Eichenlaub" grade), Hessian bravery (hmm... it must be The Curse of Hesse!!!! ), Turkish War Medal with incorrectly naughty swords, and the 1919 Baltic Cross. Wow! And yet.... no cigar!

[stogieman]

It would have been nice if......

...... Rick L. had followed his own recommendations about posting pictures that we can see without having to slide our monitor left and right......................

[Rick Research]

It's a Special Case because the top two are so long, shrinking it for them makes the rest too small. I wanted them all in ONE scan to be... brief.

[WNickel]

you are devils....................

[AOK4]

Re: It would have been nice if......

Originally posted by stogieman
...... Rick L. had followed his own recommendations about posting pictures that we can see without having to slide our monitor left and right......................

Buying a larger monitor could also be an option!

from a man with a 19 inch monitor... (great to view large pictures!)

[W McSwiggan]

What's a New Guy to Think?

This forum is marginally abusive! First we get all this talk about shrinkage. Now I’m victimized with monitor envy!

[Rick Research]

And what's all this that I'm hearing that some of you guys can see these scans in color????? !!!!!

[stogieman]

Oye!

You'se guyz crack me up!! I have a 19" one

[Mike Dunn]

Hey Stogie--that is not what your wife said!!!!!!!! HEHEHE