Bar with the
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Africa Medal and a Belgian Award
Photo © Seeheld
The medals on this bar in order of
seniority from left to right are-
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Griffin Order with crown
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Africa Medal
Belgian Order of the Crown, Knights Cross The original owner of this medal bar was
Dr. Werner von Raven, Government Doctor ("Regierungsarzt")
in Togo. All three medals were awarded for service on Duke
Adolf-Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's expedition across
Africa in 1908. The Belgian medal was awarded by the Congo
Free State on 7th October 1908 (one month before the
so-called "Free State" ceased to exist and the Belgian
Government took over control of the colony, reforming its
administration). The Mecklenburg-Schwerin medals were both
awarded in 1909, though take precedence over the Belgian
medal as all German awards did over foreign ones. This style
of folding medal ribbons is curious as it is not usually
seen on German bars and was more commonly worn by the
Russian or Danish armies.
Werner Alborus von
Raven was born in
Berlin on 14th January 1873, the son of a Prussian army
officer, Premier-Lieutenant Otto von Raben. He studied
medicine at the Kaiser Wilhelm Academy between 1896-98,
after further studies he qualified in 1902. As recorded
above he served in Africa before the First World War as a
government doctor in Togo and on Duke Adolf Friedrich's
Expedition of 1908. After the First World War he worked
in the German Ministry of Agriculture.
Thanks to Seeheld,
Rick Research, Glen Jewison and
Stijn David at the
Gentlemen's Military Interest Club for identifying
this very interesting bar.
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