ii;i
The Bavarian State Ministry changed the form of the medal by a
De-, tree of the Bavarian State Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated
9 Jan. 1932, changed the then eurren~ principles for award of this
medal.
Previously, the inscription proper to this award was. on the
reverse. the inscription no~ only was changed, but was henceforth
used as the ob- verse. The new reverse depicts the Bavarian coa~ of
arms.
This new medal, also struck in silver, has a diameter of 41mm
and a weight of approximately 31.5 grams, The ribbon remained
basically un- changed, but had a white edge thread,
The new medal, issued until the creation of a Lifesaving Medal
of the German National State in 1934, was no~ awarded very
frequently. The Bavarian state mint struck altogether only 30
examples.
By a law, concerning Bavarian state awards for the saving of
human life from danger, dated 22 Dec. 1952, Bavaria created a third
and new lifesaving medal design. These medals are produced by the
Bavarian Chief Mint in Munich.
The design and sculpture of the newest medal was rendered by the
engraver Franz M~ller in Munich. The first striking of the medal
oc- curred in Feb. 1953 with an output of 150 specimens. In Sept.
of this same year, 30 additional pieces were struck.
The metal is i000/i000 fine silver. Its diameter is 41mm.
Through the loop is a wire ring for taking the ribbon,
Within the raised edges, the field is encompassed by a circle of
oval dots. The obverse depicts the Great Coat of Arms of the Free
State of Bavaria, which is quartered with a centered escutcheon,
all s.-~mount- ed by a leafy crown. On either side are the lion
supporters. The in- scription is "FREISTAAT" ("Free state") above
and "BAYERN" ("Bavaria") below, in Roman style lettering. At either
side of the horizontal ex- tremeties of the center field, is an
ornamen~ of four lozenges.
On the reverse, within an open oak wreath bound at the bottom by
a double-bow is the inscription in four lines: "F~R / RETTUNG / AUS
GEFA~R" ("For Rescue from Danger").
Incused on the latera! edge is struck: "BAYER. HAUPTM~NZAMT
FEIN- SILBER? ("Bavarian Chief Mint, Fine Silver"). The weight of
the medal without the loop is 30 grams and with the loop is 31
grams.
The ribbon is 35mm wide and is watered, being light blue with a
white thread edgin~ and two white 7mm stripes 7½mm apart. The
ribbon for medals issued to ladies is only 25.5mm, watered, light
blue with a white thread edging, and two white 4.Smm stripes 5mm
apart.
(Translated by Walter P. Huber and Gary C. Krug)
NOTE: The obverse of the medal, used from 1889-1931, is also
found used on the silver and bronze Colonel-in-Chief Jubilee Medals
issued in 1904 by Prince Regent Luitpold on the occasion of his 50~
Anniversary as Colonel-in-Chief of the Imperial and Royal Austrian
(Galician) Corps Artillery Regiment No. i0 (H.S.-#326 and
#327).
Also note medal Form I (1889-1931) is inscribed "F~r Rettung"
("For Rescue") while the medal Form II (1931-1934) has "F~r Rettung
aus Lebensgefahr" ("For Rescue of Life from Danger"). Thus, all
three forms have a different inscription relating to the purpose of
the medal.
W.P.H.
CIVILIAN VALOR RECOGNIZED - On March 8, Queen Elizabeth II
presented the George Medal to a London newspaper photographer for
an unusual act of civilian valor. "It was very brave of you," t~e
Queen told Herbert Davis of the Evening News as she handed him the
highest civilian award for heroism. A girl had shot a policeman
with a rifle before Davis persuaded her to let him take a eloseup
picture. He then grabbed her rifle, thus successfully disarming
her.
From a news account.
MEDAL OF THE VETERANS OF LEOPOLD III by E. Ho 0’Toole
This Belgian Society is sufficiently like an orthodox decoration
as to confuse collectors and, as far as I know, it has not been
previously recorded in numismatic journals. It was instituted in
1955 by the League of Veterans of King Leopold III and is still
given to members and others who defend the name and honour of the
ex-King of the Belgians.
The badge is a gilt cross with V-notched arms, 4Omm across, with
gilt balls at the tips and surmounted by a gilt crown. The obverse
is white enamelled with the King’s head in gilt on the centre
medallion. The reverse is gilt and bears on the centre medallion
the legend: "VETERANI REGIS LEOPODI TERTII". The ribbon is j7mm
wide, watered, deep purple with 7mm pale green edge stripes. The
award is accompanied by a document headed "LIGUE NATIONALE DES
VETERANS DU R0I LEOPOLDIII" and the citation is hand-written.
The piece illustrated here was awarded in 1957 to Lt. Col.
Gilbert Monckton of the 5~h Royal Inniekilling Dragoon Guards, of
which regiment King Leopold is Colonel-in-Chief. The recipient, now
Major General The Viscount Monckton, Chief of Staff of the British
Army of the Rhine, went to Brussels as soon as the city was
liberated in World War II to convey his regiment’s continued
loyalty and attachment to King Leopold. Nei- ther insignia nor
ribbon are worn in uniform.
RIBBONS DECORATE ENVELOPE - Reproductions, in full color, of
thirteen UoS. decoration and service medal ribbons are depicted on
the mailing envelope of the brochure advertising "The American
Heritage Picture His- tory of World War II". All of these are of
awards relating to those which would have been given during WoW.
IIo An identification of the ribbons, which appear in their correct
order of precedence, is given on the reverse side of the
envelope.
Fred Vo Allendorfer
15
