Question About Eiserner Halbmond Ribbon

[RAF_Louvert]

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Hello Folks,

I have a question concerning the ribbon for the Eiserner Halbmond, (i.e. Harp Madalyası, Turkish War Medal, Gallipoli Star, et al). This week I purchased a very fine BB&Co example of the Star, (after a long and enjoyable quest), and am waiting for it to arrive from England. It will be accompanied by a ribbon that was found with the medal, (in amongst a collection of Turkish items discovered during an estate clearance). Here is a small photo of the medal and ribbon, (I can post HQ images once I have the items here):



My question is: Does anyone here think this is the origianl ribbon? I have never seen one for the TWM with the thin white band along each edge. I believe the non-combat version was the reverse color scheme from the standard combat pattern of a red ribbon with a narrow stripe of white set in from each edge. But I have never seen an example that looks like the one paired with this medal. Opinions?

Many thanks.

Lou

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[saschaw]

That's an Imperial Russian ribbon, Order of Saint Stanislaus, also used by some merit medals I think.

Close to the meant Ottoman ribbon... but not close enough.

[RAF_Louvert]

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Aha, I knew I had seen that ribbon somewhere before when researching WWI era awards and orders. Thanks Saschaw. Now, I wonder how a ribbon for an Imperial Russian order got married to a medal of the Ottoman Empire? I'd actually like to know the story behind that from however many years ago.

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[RAF_Louvert]

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Hello Folks,

I returned home from work yesterday and was pleased to discover that the Eiserner Halbmond had arrived from England. Here a few photos of it to show a bit better detail.












It is a very crisp, clean example with beautiful patina, (my cheapy digital camera really does not do this Star justice).

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[Ferg 1]

Hi Lou, nice example of a BB&Co . A possible answer to your question regarding the ribbon ending up on an Ottoman award is quite often a ribbon will be ' added ' or ' married ' to a star to enhance its value. There are several Imperial German ribbons that fit the bill for this use . Not always of course ,but it is hard to tell whether the ribbons on these awards our entirely period with the medals. Ferg

[RAF_Louvert]

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Hi Ferg,

Thanks for the response. You are quite right of course about it being hard to tell whether the ribbons are period with these awards. I can say that the ribbon which came with this Star has been 'married' to it a long time as it has permanent creases where the ends have been folded into a point and stained pin holes where the Star has been attached through those folded points. Also, it is clearly of vintage quality. But whether it is a 30-year partnership or a 90-year is pretty much impossible to tell.

Lou

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[Tan Berk]

Hello Lou
I know you have learned that is not the right ribbon but I wanted to show you some detail photos of the one I have. It has to be 36mm wide and 6 loops per centimeter.

Best
Tan

[Brian L.]

It may be a long shot in connecting this to a German vet. But, the St. Stanislaus ribbon illustrated was also used for the Freikorps: Freiwilliges Landesjägerkorps - Medaille für gute Pferdepflege, 1920 (Nimmergut 3362). Attached is a scan from Nimmergut.

That might explain why it's with the TWM.

[Tan Berk]

There iran extra white stripe on either sides of the ribbon than the TWM.

[Tan Berk]

There is an extra white stripe on either sides of the ribbon than the TWM.