German Awards - Service Award for 18 Years of the Gendarmerie 1913

New service awards were established by order on August 7, 1913. The buckle-shaped service awards donated in 1847 were replaced by a new uniform. Since the military convention with Prussia on July 15, 1867, service awards of the Grand Duchy have been issued only to the state gendarmerie. The division into 3 degrees of service distinction remained. The 1st stage was granted after 18 years and was a copper cross. The 2nd level was assigned after 12 years, and the 3rd - after 9 years of service. Second and third. The stage was medal. The service awards project was drafted by Oldenburg medallist Richard Knauer, his father Bernhard Knauer's successor and court supplier. Persons who no longer belonged to the standing army and retired gendarmes could exchange the old form of service distinction (buckles) for a new form at their own expense. From 1913 to 1917, this award was presented only 18 times. However, Knauer delivered 50 crosses. Source: Friedhelm Beyreiss, Order of the House and portable honorary signs of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg 1813-1918, 1997.

Copper cross. Cruciform shoulders with 2 thin lines along the edge. The inner sides are smooth. Front and back round central shield (14 mm). On the upper cruciform shoulder is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• A circular central shield with a border, consisting of 2 circular lines with a small gap.
In
• a closed field, letters are intertwined - F A -.
• A crown hangs over it.

Downside:

• A circular central shield with a border, consisting of 2 circular lines with a small gap.
In
• a surrounded field, the Roman number 18-XVIII -.

Tape:

• red 35 mm wide, edges 1 mm, side stripes blue 4 mm.

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