Two Bars with the
Combatants Colonial Medal and
Cameroon Clasps
Photo © Heiko Grusdat
The medals on the upper bar in order
of seniority from left to right are-
Prussian Iron Cross, second class
Prussian Crown Order, fourth class with swords
Prussian Lifesaving Medal
Prussian Officers Long Service
Award,
for 25 years service
Colonial Service Medal, with clasps for "KAMERUN 1904/05" and "KAMERUN 1905"
Prussian 1897 Wilhelm I Centenary Medal
Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
Lippe-Detmold War Merit Cross
The original owner of these medal
bars was Paul Königs, a Cameroon Schutztruppe officer, veteran of two colonial
campaigns in Cameroon between 1904-05 (see
Clasps of the Colonial Service Medal at
Traditionsverband)
and the First World War. He is listed in the 1910 rank lists as an Oberleutnant
since the 16th October 1906.
The second bar below also belonged
to Oberleutnant Königs.
It is probably an earlier bar without the Long Service Award and Lippe-Detmold
War Merit Cross, though still after 1915 judging from the Iron Cross and
Hanseatic Cross. The Principality of Lippe-Detmold's War Merit Cross was
instituted in 1915 and awarded to bravery or merit during the First World War.
It would seem that Königs removed the medals
of the Crown Order and Lifesaving Medal along with the Kamerun 1904/05
clasp from his earlier bar to make up the later bar. The Hanseatic Cross has
been demoted in seniority from ahead of the Colonial and Centenary Medals on the
earlier bar to behind them on the later bar.
NB In 2006, these medal bars were stolen from
their rightful owner. If you have
seen either of them recently or know of their whereabouts please
Contact the Webmaster
Here, who
will pass the information onto the relevant authorities.
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