Orders & Medals Society of America

Saxe-Meiningen Cross of Honor for NCOs?

Tagged: Saxe-Meiningen Cross of Honor (Kreuz für Verdienst im Kriege))

This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 4 months ago by Tom.

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July 21, 2020 at 6:46 pm #65868

Tom
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I attach a photo of an interesting medal bar with a Friedrich August Medal in Bronze and Saxe-Meiningen Cross of Honor for Merit. The former would only be granted to NCOs or lower ranks in the Saxon Kingdom, but the latter was presumably reserved for officers. Does the existence of this bar show that an NCO was promoted to the rank of officer, or rather that Saxe-Meiningen would bestow these medals on NCOs? Likewise, would it potentially be a Saxe-Meiningen award to a Saxon Kingdom soldier? Any advice would be welcome. Best, Tom

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July 26, 2020 at 7:39 am #65877

megan
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The Kingdom of Saxony’s Friedrich August Medal (Friedrich August Medaille) was awarded to recognise merit displayed by sergeants and more junior ranks in the army and civilians of similar status. The Saxe-Menigen Cross of Honour for Merit in War (Ehrenkreuz für Verdienst im Kriege 1914-15 für Kombattanten) could be awarded to any rank, as far as I am aware.

July 30, 2020 at 6:11 am #65890

Tom
Participant

Thank you very much Megan. That is good to know. I wonder why there is no iron cross on this bar. Would a soldier with a Friedrich August Medal have to apply for an Iron Cross second class? Just curious.
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The only information appearing to be available for this unclaimed clasp can be found in the London Gazette issue of 1849, where the approved NGS clasps were published:

Boats of ‘Fawn’ under Lieut. Morgan. Action with cutter and schooner ‘Guadaloupe’, and capture.

A search of the Navy List from 1793-1815 reveals a total of 18 commissioned officers with the surname of Morgan. Of these, 9 have a Lieutenant’s commission date after 25 July 1809 or died before that date and can be ruled out. Of the remaining, three died between 1817-22 before receiving a promotion and must also be ruled out. Out of the remaining six, four have entries in either Marshall’s or O’Byrne’s Naval Biographies, two with service records, but these two do not mention anything about the action, which would be highly unlikely if it resulted in the man’s promotion. This leaves four potential candidates, one being promoted as late as 1827, he is probably not the man. The remaining three were promoted to Commander between 1814-16, and could all have been the man in charge. Unfortunately, all died between 1817-43, and it’s not likely much biographical information on either of them can be found.


Name	Lieut	Cmd	Died
MORGAN, John Fortescue	15 Sep 1806	12 Oct 1814	9 Dec 1843
MORGAN, Thomas	10 May 1809	16 Nov 1814	Apr 1843
MORGAN, Charles	15 Jun 1781	1 Jan 1816	1817
MORGAN, James (1)	2 Sep 1783	25 Apr 1827	1835

One would have to search the muster books for HMS Fawn to identify who the Lieutenant was.