German Awards - Service Award Buckle for 9 years 1888

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. Shown here 3. The uniform 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. In 1913, these buckles were replaced by general 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. The third grade is painted in iron or bronze. Source: Jörg Nemmergut, "German Orders and Insignia before 1945," Volume 3

Rectangular buckle made of blackened iron, bordered by a raised, wide silver frame. It is applied to a metal plate connected to the tape. The tape is sewn up at the back. On the back is a horizontal pin.

Front side:

• Buckle base is hatched in horizontal direction.
In the
• center rises an ornate Gothic letter - G -.
• Above it is a large 5-beam, open ducal crown.
• Left and right diagonally upward directed oak branch.
• These are 5 groups of leaves and acorns.

Downside:

• The order ribbon is sewn up at the back.
In
• a horizontal position - a pin with a hook.

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