Award of Black Wound Badge

[Darren]

Hi all,

I am hoping that someone could tell me how and why a person was awarded the black wound badge. I understand that it was for 3 or less woundings (maybe I'm wrong on this), but would it be possible to have it awarded several years after the first wounding? Case in point, I read that a soldier was wounded in 1914, as well as twice in 1916, but the date given for his badge is 1918 (no month given). He was not wounded in 1918. Please let me know if this is plausable, or is the date definitely incorrect.

thanks,

Darren

[AOK4]

Hello,

The Wound Badge was only instituted in 1918.

Jan

[Tom Y]

The black was for 1 wound, the silver for 2 and the gold for 3 or more or a permanently disabling wound.

[Darren]

Thank you Tom and AOK4, you have both been very helpful. One last question: Would any wounding prior to 1918 count for the award? I ask this because the person was wounded three times, but only the award of the Black Wound Badge is mentioned.

regards,

Darren

[Tom Y]

It was retroactive to August 1914. Naturally there was a big backlog by '18, so maybe his subsequent wounds got lost in the shuffle or the higher classes were awarded later.

[Christian L]

tom, wasn't the black for 1 and 2 wounds, the silver for 3 and 4 and for 5 or more wounds the golden one?
and if you lost parts of your body, like a leg, or an arm ... or get crazy and you have to go into a psycho clinic you could be "qualified" for the silver or gold one (because of the bigger wounding like getting "only" shoot in your hand or something like this)
christian

[Darren]

Hi,

I would also like to know what would the cause of the wounds have to be for the award. Would an accident qualify for the award, or would the individual need to have been wounded under fire?

regards,
Darren

[Brian R]

Christian is right. The black was for 1-2 wounds, Silver for 3-4 wounds and Gold for 5 or more wounds. The Gold badge was also awarded for loss of sight or limb(s).

Darren - check out German Wound Badges 1914-1957 by William E. Hamelman. It won't answer all your questions, but it is, by far, the best book available. It is often available on ebay.

Brian

[Darren]

Thanks Brian for the information. I will see about getting the book you mentioned.

regards,
Darren

[McCulloh]

Interestingly, photographic evidence clearly shows that by late Summer, 1918 these badges had been awarded in abundnce-including for wounds going back to 1914.