Ribbon Bars With U.S. Awards to Allies

[Jtski]

Hello,

 

One of my collecting themes which become quite treasure finds as they don't come around too often.

 

Distinguished Service Cross - General Sir Gerald Lathbury - awarded as a fighting Brigadier with British Airborne Forces at Arhmen, famous for linking up with Easy Co., 2nd Bn, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne after escaping across the Rhine. The highest ranking Commonwealth recipient of the DSC during the War as a Brigadier (only 51 awards).

 

USN Distinguished Service Medal (6 awards) Army Distinguished Service Medal (19 awards) Legion of Merit (Chief Commander - 21 awards), EAME with 4 Campaign Stars (erroneously using an ACM ribbon) - mini ribbon bar worn on tropical mess undress uniform attributed to Admiral of the Fleet and Vicount Andrew Browne Cunningham. I could easily see the "American" Campaign Ribbon misleading a British tailor who likely never or rarely saw the EAME ribbon to a British officer! Don't be deceived with the last ribbon it is the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands, not an Air Medal!

 

Legion of Merit (Officer - 772 awards) - Awarded to an unknown Greek Admiral who served during WW2.

 

Legion of Merit (Officer) - Awarded to an unknown British officer who served during WW2.

 

Bronze Star Medal (1291 awards) - Awarded to an unknown South African recipient who served during the Korean War and likely was stationed in Japan when awarded BSM (there were at least 3 awarded serving from Japan!).

 

There are still Navy Cross (5!), Silver Star (271), Distinguished Flying Cross (176) and Air Medals (122) at least out there hopefully waiting to be found.

 

The numbers in brackets refer to British Commonwealth awards (and only for WW2) and demonstrate how prestigious every level of these awards truly were.

 

Jeff

 

 

 

 

[jmpmstr]

Outstanding and an interesting sub-sect of ribbon set collecting. That set of mini ribbons is the cat's pajamas....very impressive. 

[Jtski]

Thanks it really is, I have two more to add, both attributable to British artillerymen with remarkable citations:

 

Capt Greig, Royal Horse Artillery, Silver Star:

 

"For gallantry in action in Italy on 19 September 1944. When the Regimental HQ of the infantry unit which he was supporting was accurately shelled by enemy artillery fire which killed, wounded or partially buried most of the occupants and set fire to stores of ammunition nearby, Captain Greig demonstrated outstanding courage in assisting the removal of the wounded and in directing the fire of his Battery on hostile artillery until it was completely silenced. Then despite the burning ammunition which was exploding all around him, he maintained communications with forward elements of the infantry unit until other units arrived to assist in the counter assault."

 

Captain Jarvis, Royal Artillery, Air Medal:

 

"Captain Jarvis, Royal Artillery, a member of the 1903 Independent Air OP Flight, distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while engaged in aerial flight in Korea from 2 Aug 1951 to 22 September 1952. Flying a variety of missions, concerned with observation of artillery fire, tactical reconnaissance, and low level photography, he consistently exhibited a high standard of excellence in the performance of his exacting duties. Throughout this period he piloted his aircraft more than five hundred hours in flying nearly three hundred operational sorties over the divisional front. On one mission he accurately sighted twenty-seven hostile gun positions, and, by his transmittal of this information to friendly artillery batteries, was instrumental in causing the destruction of these positions. The flying skill, analytical perception, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Jarvis reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."

[Hermanus]

Hoi about this one. Dutch Major-General Nico Tack. Silver star and Bronze Star for Korea. Received a Legion of Merit as attaché in Washington.

[jmpmstr]

Fascinating and so interesting how many US awards were made...I always feel we tend to, as collectors focus on the foreign awards to our services, and forget the esteem with which our decorations were held when awarded. I look forward to sharing and seeing more and above all learning more...great stuff

[jmpmstr]

This is not original to the recipient, but I do believe a representative display made from period materials attributed to 

Air Vice Marshal James Edgar “Johnnie”Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO 

[ItemCo16527]

I don't know what country this ribbon bar comes from, but it includes the Legion of Merit.

 

[USMCR79]

4 hours ago, ItemCo16527 said:

I don't know what country this ribbon bar comes from, but it includes the Legion of Merit.

 

Netherlands - Order of Orange Nassau is the first ribbon

[ItemCo16527]

I finally found the picture of the back of the bar I just posted. Would this help confirm if this is a Dutch ribbon bar, or is it too generic?

[ItemCo16527]

On 1/14/2025 at 4:34 PM, Hermanus said:

Hoi about this one. Dutch Major-General Nico Tack. Silver star and Bronze Star for Korea. Received a Legion of Merit as attaché in Washington.

 

Somehow, I scrolled past this. Wow! Both a Silver Star and a Bronze Star, plus the Legion of Merit and several other foreign awards. Amazing grouping!