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Bar and Miniature with the Combatants China Medal
Photo © JW Collection
The medals on this bar in order of
seniority from left to right are-
Prussian 1914 Iron Cross, second
class
Hamburg
Hanseatic Cross
Saxon
Knights Cross of the Albert Order, second class with swords
Austro-Hungarian Military
Merit Cross, third class
1914-18 Honour Cross for combatants
1900-01 China Campaign Medal for
combatants Prussian Wilhelm I Centenary MedalThe original owner of this medal bar
was an officer combat veteran of the Boxer Rebellion and the First World War.
Note that he
wears his
Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross, probably earned in the First
World War, ahead of some German awards whereas imperial era regulations stated
that foreign medals should be worn after all German medals. This
shows that the bar
was made after 1938 when Austria was annexed into
the German Reich. From then, Austrian medals were no longer
classed as foreign and took an equal place to other German medals in
the order of seniority. Most of these medals could be awarded to
both officers and other ranks, the Austro-Hungarian Military Merit
Cross was however for officers only. This, along with a lack of
other ranks long service awards for someone who had clearly been in
service over nine years, shows the original owner was an officer.
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here if you have more information on this topic or if you have a medal bar
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