Blog

Medal Bar of a Herero Campaign Veteran- Swakopmund Museum, Namibia

Chris’ Curious Museum Finds
Will you spot the oddity straight away on this medal bar?
Medal Bar of a Herero Campaign Veteran- Swakopmund Museum, Namibia
Those of you familiar with German medals will know that the original owner was a Mecklenburg veteran of the Herero Campaign in German South West Africa and later the First World War. The medals on this bar in order of seniority from left to right are–
Prussian Warriors Merit Medal
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Military Merit Cross, second class
1914-18 Honour Cross for combatants
1904-08 South West Africa Campaign Medal for combatants
Prussian 1897 Wilhelm I Centenary Medal
What makes this bar particularly interesting is the undated Mecklenburg Military Cross. This medal was usually awarded with the date 1900 on the cross for service in the Boxer Rebellion or 1914 for service in the First World War. Very few undated crosses were awarded for service in colonial campaigns in Africa such as the Herero Rebellion as seen here. Can anyone here then, suggest who this recipient might be?
Swakopmund Museum- Strand St, Swakopmund, Namibia
https://www.museums.com.na/museums/coast/swakopmund-museum
Here’s my quick guided tour of the Schutztruppe exhibits in the museum-
https://youtu.be/YpUx3cBQ2cw
Subscribe to my channel to see more military museums like this.