Medal bar w/ 12 & 25 year LS

[Stepdale]

Hello,
I got this medal bar from a colleague almost 20 years ago and have never had anyone look at it. I'm pretty sure it's original, but just wanted to be sure. I would assume because of the 1897 medal that this would have been a very long serving soldier and most likely an NCO because of the lack of higher awards in WW1.
Dale

[Stepdale]

a

[Stepdale]

b

[Stepdale]

c

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Dale,

Looks really nice. Probably assembled in 1936, when this guy would have swapped out his Imperial long service decorations for the Third Reich counterparts. He was still on active duty at the time but he may have retired shortly thereafter. If he was still active by the middle of 1939 you would expect to see him sporting the 40-year oakleaves on the ribbon of his 25-year long service cross, provided that he had no unbroken service time and assuming he would have bothered to upgrade his bar.

Almost certainly the bar of a Prussian senior NCO and quite possibly bumped up to the rank of Leutnant außer Dienst for retirement.

Best regards,
Tom

[luftkrieg]

Hi Dale

This is a beautiful medal bar. The Centenary Medal should actually be after the long service awards but period mistakes did often happen.

I would be happy to own this piece.

Kind regards
Pierce

[Stepdale]

Thank you!

[Antonio Scapini]

I don't know the most part of the medals mounted on the bar, however I like the bar!

[McCulloh]

Id be inclined to guess ex-officer myself. 60ish ex NCOs were not often some of those initially recalled in 1935/36/37 .......whereas the officers were.
I'd bet Prussian artillery officer myself, Aspirant in 1897 maybe, discharged in 1919 ...recalled to his old career in 1935 as a Major...but hey, who knows?