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n this Article, I will talk about an Ordensspange of a person who belonged to the Duchy of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, a very important German State, which has given the roots of many Monarchies in Europe, for example, the Royal houses of Great Britain or Belgium.

This is one of my favourite Medal Bars, because the mix of decorations is quite beautiful. It has the following medals:

– Preußen: Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. Klasse.

– Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha: Silberne Verdienstmedaille des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischen Hausordens mit Schwertern und mit Schwerterspange “1914/8”.

– Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha: Kriegs-Erinnerungskreuz.

– Preußen: Rote Kreuz-Medaille III. Klasse /// Prusia: Medalla de la cruz Roja de Tercera Clase.

– Bayern: Goldene Medaille des Bayerischen Roten Kreuzes für Verdienste im Kriege 1914-1918.

– Bayern: Dienstauszeichnung für freiwillige Krankenpflege für 20 Jahre.

– Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 für Frontkämpfer.

The medal bar belonged to person, who made a good and loyal service to the Ducal House of Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, as we can see in the second medal on the left. He also was in sanitary units or corps during the First World War. That can be deduced from the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Medals from the left side, as they were all Red Cross and Sick or Wounded related.

This person may be from Coburg or he lived in Coburg after the war, because he had 2 Post WW1 Bavarian Medals and that City decided to leave Thüringen and join Bayern. It could be, that his years of service for Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha was also valid to get those Medals, once Coburg decided to go to Bavaria.

It is highly probable, that this man served in the 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.95, which was made, mainly of people of this State. The First and Third Battalions were based in Gotha and Coburg respectively. The Second one was placed in Hildburghausen, which belonged to the Thüringen state of Sachsen-Meiningen.

This Regiment can be traced back to 1807 and sided the French Napoleonic Armies almost straight away. The IR 95 also fought in the Peninsular Wars and against the Russians in 1812. They changed sides and allied with Prussia a year later.

During the “Bruderkrieg” in 1866, Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha aligned itself with Prussians, but Sachsen-Meiningen sided Austria, so 2 of the 3 Battalion were in one side and the other Battalion was in the other. But this 2nd Battalion didn’t take part in the war.

This Regiment also took part in the Franco Prussian war, fighting in the battles of Wörth or Sedan. They were in the 43rd Brigade, 22nd Division, XI Army Corps.

This Regiment was part of the 38th Division, when the First World War started but still under the XI Army Corps. We have already spoken over this Division in a previous article over the 94th Infantry Regiment from Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach. You can find the link below. Just summarizing, it took part in battles like the Siege of Namur in 1914 or in the east front during the end of 1914 and 1915.Also, the IR 95 participated in the battle of Verdun in 1916, fighting in the terrible Cote 304. Also, the fought in the battles of Passchendaele in 1917 or in the Battle of Armentières in 1918.

Link for the Article over the IR 94.

Sources:

Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments (Chris Dale),