4 Bavaria: Military Order of Medical Merit 1st Class Neck Badge.
Gold and enamel, without ribbon. On the medallion cylinder the maker's mark "GH" of the court jewelers Gebrüder Hemmerle, Munich, as well as the gold hallmark "750". In the ribbon ring for the neck ribbon gold hallmark "585".
Extremely rare, awarded and worn, flawless original example from the award period 1914 - 1918.
As the last of the former highest German decorations for valor, King Ludwig III of Bavaria established the Bavarian Military Medical Service Order on October 16, 1914. This order, established exclusively for the valorous conduct of medical officers in the foremost combat zone, represents in many respects an extraordinary decoration. Due to its short lifespan from 1914 to 1918, it is also of the greatest rarity.
The Medical Service Order 1st Class was awarded a total of 11 times, of which 10 examples were issued in gold and one in silver-gilt execution.
The recipients were:
23.12.1915 Dr. Mayr, Assistenzarzt, 1. Btl. 2. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
20.3.1916 Dr. Paulin, Stabsarzt, Rgt.-Arzt, 22. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
20.3.1916 Dr. Thurmayr, Assistenzarzt, Btl.-Arzt, 3. Btl. 22. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
25.5.1916 Dr. Ott, Stabsarzt, Rgt.-Arzt, 12. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
16.6.1916 Dr. Oesterlen, Oberarzt d. Res., 3. Btl. 2. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
1. 7. 1916 Dr. Eber, Stabsarzt, Btl.-Arzt, 1. Btl. 16. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
7.7.1916 Dr. Driesch, Assistenzarzt d. Res., 3. Btl. 16. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
20.10.1916 Dr. von Heuß, Rgt.-Arzt, 1. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
11.8.1917 Dr. Ansprenger, Oberarzt, Btl.-Arzt, bayer. Res. Jäger-Btl. 1
6.9.1917 Dr. Westermaier, Oberarzt d. Res., Btl.-Arzt, 1. Btl. 3. bayer. Inf.-Rgt.
14.4.1918 Dr. Schellhorn, Oberarzt d.Res. Btl.-Arzt, 2, Btl. Bayer.Res.-Inf. Rgt.2
The Medical Service Order, highly esteemed in both classes, ranked among the highest decorations for valor of World War I.
An example identical in manufacture to the piece offered here is held in the collection of the Wehrgeschichtliches Museum in Rastatt.
Significant decoration for valor of the greatest rarity.