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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