German Awards - Order of the Buckle for 15 years 1888

Service award shown here 2. The class was awarded after 15 years of service to non-commissioned officers and field jaeger corps from 1888 to 1913. The 3rd form was introduced formlessly by Duke George and was awarded from 1888 to 1913. The new project was developed by Professor Ferdinand Hellfricht from Gotha. As before, my relatives received II. Battalions of the 6th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 95 and soldiers of the courier corps. The award included credentials. Silver was prescribed for the manufacture of the 2nd class. However, buckles were also made of silver-plated white metal. The awards to officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men were first presented in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen on 17 December 1852 by Duke Bernhard II. donated. Officers were awarded the cross for 25 years of service. NCOs and enlisted ranks received buckles in grade 3. The first form of buckle was awarded for 24, 16 and 8 years of service. Years of service in other German states were credited. The war years, as usual, were counted doubly. Among those eligible was a field jaeger corps. The 1st grade was made of gilded bronze, the 2nd - of silver, and the 3rd - of blackened iron with a silver border. The first uniform under Duke Bernhard II. bore the letters - B.- H.- z.- S.- M.- (Berhard Herzog zu Sachsen Meiningen). After a military convention with Prussia, Duke George remade the buckles and equalized the terms of service. 1st class was now awarded after 21 years, 2nd class after 15 years of service, and 3rd class for 9 years of loyal service. The letters on the buckles were printed in - G.- H.- z.- S.- M.- (Georg....) These 2. Service award buckle uniforms were awarded from 1866 to 1888. The 3rd and last form of buckles shown here was replaced in 1913 by the joint awards of the duchies of Altenburg, Meiningen and Coburg-Gotha. Due to the small size of the contingent and the short lease term, all service awards are very rare. Source: Jörg Nemmergut, "German Orders and Insignia until 1945," 1999, vol. 3.

Silver rectangular buckle with wide smooth edges. On the back is a loose wide bridge. It is applied to a metal plate connected to the tape. The tape is sewn up at the back. On the back of the plate above it is a horizontal pin with mating hooks.

Front side:

• The base of the buckle is finely punctured.
In the
• center rises an ornate Gothic letter - G -.
• Above it is a large 5-beam, open ducal crown.
• Left and right curved oak branch.
• These are 6 groups of leaves and acorns.

Downside:

• A wide jumper is stretched over the plate with the tape.
• Suture is applied on tape from behind.
• Above the soldered needle with a reciprocal hook.