St. Henry arrives ......

[Mike Huxley]

........ after a long delay and a trip half way around the world, going via Honduras. This poor little waif turned up on my doorstep. I just had to show pity and take it in!!!

Well at last I've got a bar that I really wanted, with the bonus of it being in a nice period case.

Knight’s Cross of the Military St. Henry Order. maker marked "S".
Knight’s 2nd Class with Swords of the Saxon Merit Order, maker marked "S".
Knight’s 2nd Class with Swords of the Albert Order, maker marked "R"
and an EKII.

[Mike Huxley]

A shot of the back.

[Mike Huxley]

and now the case...

[Mike Huxley]

with the suppliers name....

[Rick Research]

So THAT'S what weeks of sleepless nights and premature gray hairs looks like! (You should see what THIS end looks like! )

All's well that end's well, 'n all... but


YEESH...

that's a tale to type up and add to the Ongoing Saga of this medal bar!

[Mike Huxley]

Hey Rick, you say that "Stogie" has premature grey hair!! Well you should see me I've now lost most of mine along with my finger nails.

You’re right though, It's a long story that started back in early November of last year when "Stogie" posted a picture of his collection cabinet on the "Collectors Display and Groups Forum. I just happened to notice a very nice boxed Saxon St. Henry Trio and EKII Bar in the bottom right hand corner of the cabinet. Now I’ve always wanted to add a Saxon bar with these awards to my collection, so negotiations were started. At the time I couldn’t afford to pay for the bar outright, so “Stogie” kindly agreed to spread the payments over the next few months.

Suffice it to say that the final payment was made and “My Precious” was shipped on the 10th March this year. Now it usually takes about 9 or 10 days for Insured mail from your side of the pond, via U.K Customs to reach Cornwall, but not on this occasion. After 6 weeks of Rick and I exchanging frantic emails and contacting our respective Postal Services, trying to track it down, nothing is found. We both thought that this lovely piece had been lost. But then on the 28th April it suddenly turns up. It would appear that instead of coming straight across to me in the U.K it was diverted south from New England to Honduras, where it sat until some official decided that it should have been sent to the U.K.

As you say “All’s well that ends well”, but it was one hell of a lot of worry for both of us to go through.

As an aside, I would love to find out any more information on the history of this Bar?? Can you give any assistance

[Rick Research]

Alas no-- it is the classic "Grand Slam" of EVERYTHING a Lieutenant could get.

[JensF.]

WOW!!!

GREAT!!!!!!!

[Daniel Krause]

Nice set!
Everything what a brave Saxon Lt could brng home after WW1.

Best regards

Daniel

[Mike Huxley]

Rick, thanks I just wasn't sure if you did have any other background information on the holder of this Bar, as I know that the "League of the Two Ricks" often get together to ponder over such things.

Jens and Daniel, thanks for your comments. It sure is a great set and one that I'm pleased to have in my collection, at long last. However take a closer look at the "Zivilverdienstorden, ritterkreuz, 2. klasse, mit schwertern", there's something strange about it?? The swords have been mounted to the back of the piece and not as in my other "Zivilverdienstorden" on the front. All comments on this would be welcomed!!!

[Eric Gaumann]

Holy Toledo!

What a sweet bar.... I'd give my left noogie....

And then add that heartbreaking story of being nearly lost forever by the postal services. What an empty feeling that must've been for you two.

"All's well that ends well" don't even *begin* to describe my feelings after reading that story.

[Mike Huxley]

Left noogie........

...... I think I lost the right one as well, with worry!!! .
Yes Eric, it sure is a sweet bar, and thanks for your comments.
I still blame "Stogie" for getting me hitched on the St. Henry thing, I just can't resist them any more. A couple of years ago I was just a poor ignorant novice to Imperial awards and then "Stogie" came along with his Saxon temptations and I was hooked

All joking aside, if it wasn't for Rick and his deep understanding of this hobby, I don't think I would have become so involved. So I would like to take this oppertunity to thank "Stogie Rick" for all the help and guidance he has given me and wish him a speedy return to the collecting fold.

[Daniel Krause]

Mike,

I have no problem with Your VERDIENSTORDEN (ZIVIL- only beginning of the 18th century!)
There were some makers and everybody did it a bit different.

Best regards

Daniel

[stogieman]

Ya gotta just love that....

.... box!

Of course, the St. Henry RK sweetens it a tad...

whine, whine...

Anyway, the Verdienst orden was a pretty rare award. prior to 1918, they would have had to return it to the chancellry upon the death of the recipiant. My guess on this one is that it was probably awarded as a second class, no swords, then re-awarded with swords. the jeweler just had a bit too much schnapps that day!

[Brian S]

That is REALLY a nice set.