How The Mighty Have Fallen: A SELF Bestowed Award
This 1920 award document for the Prussian XXV Years Service Cross is typical of shoddy post-WWI paperwork.
awarding the Cross to Kriegsgerichtsrat (Judge Advocate Major) C. J. Arthur Horchler, the Demobilization Office Generalmajor was too "busy" to even scrawl his signature--it is pre-printed on the form. Only the recipient's details and stamp are applied.
So what? Check out the issue notations found on the back--
Postwar long service awards were handed over by the Senior Officer of the branch of service--signals, intendance, or whatever. In this case, as "senior serving Judge Advocate," Horchler has bestowed the cross upon HIMSELF, and so noted the fact with his signature! Gone were the days when the General commanding an Army Corps gave these out.
One can only hope he gave himself a hearty handshake as well!
For more on Horchler's career, see the thread on his Za"hringen Lion Order document, "Insanely Rare Documents...."
awarding the Cross to Kriegsgerichtsrat (Judge Advocate Major) C. J. Arthur Horchler, the Demobilization Office Generalmajor was too "busy" to even scrawl his signature--it is pre-printed on the form. Only the recipient's details and stamp are applied.
So what? Check out the issue notations found on the back--
Postwar long service awards were handed over by the Senior Officer of the branch of service--signals, intendance, or whatever. In this case, as "senior serving Judge Advocate," Horchler has bestowed the cross upon HIMSELF, and so noted the fact with his signature! Gone were the days when the General commanding an Army Corps gave these out.
One can only hope he gave himself a hearty handshake as well!
For more on Horchler's career, see the thread on his Za"hringen Lion Order document, "Insanely Rare Documents...."