German Cross to a Victoria Cross holder

[lilo]

Dear Sir



I’m studying the life of a winner of the Victoria Cross : Surgeon General William George Nicholas MANLEY (1831-1901).

In particular I’m interested in his medals and orders. Reserching his life I have known that, during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, he was placed in charge of the British Field Ambulance Division supporting the Prussian 22nd Division taking part in the actions at Chateauuneuf, Bretoncelles, Orleans and Cracaut (Cravant). For attending the wounded in these battles he received the thanks of the Prussian general in command of the division to which he was attached and the follow GERMAN medals :

1) German Iron Cross 2<SUP>nd</SUP> class (1870 non combattant);

2) German War medal (steel, for non combattant);

3) Bavarian Order of Merit.



Regarding the Bavarian Order, in all the sources that I saw, it was called : ‘Bavarian Order of Merit’;only in one source I found that it was called : Bavarian Military cross of Merit. Putting apart the Military Merit CROSS (for other ranks) because He was an officer and so He would have received an ORDER, what remain is the ‘Bavarian Order of Merit’.



However analising the picture of Surgeon Manley and his medals (unfortunately I cannot attach the photo, but for all who want I can send them a copy requesting it to the following address : hunka@libero.it), it shows a cross which is on the 2nd row down in between the Iron Cross and the Franco Prussian War medal (seeing the photo, on right breast). It isn’t clear but seeing it with attention it has a particular shape. Confronting the shape of the "Bavarian Order of Merit" or "Bavarian Military cross of Merit" with this cross, none of the two correspond to the shape of that in the photo.



Moreover taking in mind that the Bavarian Military cross of Merit is a MILITARY Honour and that Manley was part of the British Field Ambulance (non a fighting Unit !!!!) and was a foreign, it should sound strange that he was awarded a Military Order by the Prussians or the Bavarians. This should be confirmed by the two Prussian awards, both (German War medal 1870 and Iron Cross) for NO COMBATTANT.



The question to which I would like to have an answer are:

1. Is it possible that he was awarded the "Merit Cross for Sanitatswesen" (Medical Decoration awarded to medical personnel in the 1870-70 war)and that it is the real medal awarded to Manley instead of that, in my opinion, wrongly described as ‘Bavarian Order of Merit’ or ‘Bavarian Military cross of Merit’ for the reasons above described (the shape of the medal in the photo and the fact that He wasn’t in a fighting Unit and was also a foreign) ?
   
   
   
2. What colour has the ribbon of the "Merit Cross for Sanitatswesen" ?
   
   
   
3. Does exsist a roll where one can check the foreign awarded this cross ?
   
   
   
4. If yes can you check if Manley was in it ?
   
   
   
5. Is it this cross a Bavarian award ?
   
   
   
6. How difficult is to find one to buy ?
   
   
   
7. As Manley was attached to the Prussian 22nd Division, why He received a Bavarian award and not a Prussian one?
   
   
   
8. If in your opinion this isn’t the cross I guessed, then what order it can be ?
   
   
   
9. Can you recognize the cross in question from the ribbon in the attachement ?
   

You can find attached a good photo of Him wearing his medals from which you can see the medal in question.

Thanking you in advance for any help you can furnish or if you cannot for any person to which you can address my question or put in contact to me

Yours Sincerely

Lilo<HR>







<CENTER>[img]CID:{A4F503B2-49B1-11D9-B8B4-444553540000}/Manley.jpg[/img]</CENTER>

[lilo]

Hi again

You can see the Manley photo at : http://medalcollectors.com/forum/sho...ghlight=manley

A larger and more clear photo can be requested to the former email address

Lilo

[Stijn David]

the picture

Hello,


Here is the picture from this Highly decorated VC holder. Mayby this thrad is better placed over at the imperial forum ?


Cordial greetings,

[Stijn David]

German imperial awards

Hello,


I believe his German awards are the following (as shown here on the picture)

* Prussian iron cross 2 e class with non combat ribbon
* Prussian Crown order with the red cross ( ? ) => or is that the Bavarian one ?
* War medal 1870 non combat

Cordial greetings,

[lilo]

Hi David thanks for the answers and for posting the photo.

Lilo

[Eric Stahlhut]

I think it is the VK for Sanitatswesen 1870/71.

Here's the 1914 version, which has a different style arms to the cross. The 1870/71 version has straight arms on the cross.

[lilo]

I think it is the VK for Sanitatswesen 1870/71.

Here's the 1914 version, which has a different style arms to the cross. The 1870/71 version has straight arms on the cross.

Hi Eric

thanks for the interest !

Regarding the "VK for Sanitatswesen 1870/71", I know that :

This decoration was awarded to medical service volunteers who served in the armed forces. It was first awarded in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. It was awarded during that conflict with a spange attached displaying the dates "1870-71." After the war it was awarded without the spange until the beginning of WW I. At that time, a 1914 spange was added back. During WW I a higher grade of the decoration was also awarded with both the spange and a crown.

Till now I believed that the difference between the 1870 version and the WW1 version was for the different dated bars but now I learned from you that there is another difference that concern the style of arms to the cross.

Can you tell me how difficult is to find the 1870 version and how much it can costs ?

Thanks in advance

Lilo