Mystery bow

[Tom Y]

Here's a 3 ribbon bow I can't figure out. Sandwiched between the EK and Hindenburg is a ribbon with cornflower+ blue, yellow, and a black center stripe. There appears to be spread out white laddering on the blue, about 1/8 in. apart and half that width. The button is black cloth covered and marked C.W. & Co Olide. Any clues?

[JensF.]

Looks like the Sachsen-Meiningen Cross or Medal for war merits (Kreuz/Medaille Für Verdienst im Kriege). Actually the cornflower-blue is a green stripe.

[Rick Research]

Yup! Meiningen it is! You will find some more of this ribbon in the first secton, Complete Overview: WWI section (top south German style) and in "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" section on the double Waldecks ribbon bar in The Ribbon Bar Article.

[Rick Research]

Here's the officer's version, crown and pierced medal, early war bronze. The enlisted men's medal had no crown and was solid. From Ted's collection:

[Tom Y]

Thanks, guys. I had thought that, but the blue was so blue, even on the protected back, that I thought it might be some Bulgarian or Turkish award. On closer inspection what seems to be laddering is very evenly spaced wear. Anybody got a medal to go with it?

[Tom Y]

Now that we've got the colors right, and I 've discounted the laddering, how about a Saxe-Weimar DA?

[Rick Research]

Not wear--it IS design laddering. That's what distinguishes the frontline combat ribbon from the "war merit" version.