Database: variants of the WWI Commemorative Cross

The Commemorative Cross of the 1916-1918 War has been established through Royal Decree 1744 of 8 July 1918 and has been awarded to the civilians and the military personnel that participated to WWI. The badge was a Byzantine cross with the cypher of King Ferdinand on the obverse and the years 1916-1918 on the reverse. Participation to particular battles was marked through the addition of metal clasps to the ribbon of the cross.

Several variations of this cross exist, the most easily recognisable one being that with the years 1916-1919 on the reverse which supposedly marked the participation to the 1919 campaigns.

Please post here images of the different versions of this medal as well as any information related to them.

The 'common' 1916-1918 variant:

1916-1918 cross with a different pattern on the arms:

1916-1918 cross with a cylindrical connection to the suspension ring (as opposed to spherical in the previous images):


Source: Internet auction

1916-1918 cross with a simple (ring) connection to the suspension ring:


Source: Internet auction

1916-1918 cross with a cylindrical/ring (?) connection to the suspension ring, "rough" pattern on the arms and different font ("8" with non-equal loops):


Source: Internet auction

The '1916-1919' variant of the WWI Commemorative Cross*


Source: Internet auction

*It was offered by the same seller who had the poor replicas posted by Dénes. Does this cast a shadow of doubt upon its authenticity?

Most of these crosses were apparently manufactured by Carniol.

Then what could the reason be for all these variations? I thought they were caused by various dies used by different manufacturers.

I guess there were other manufacturers, i just found a mention that Carniol made a large number.

I think there could also be differences between the crosses made by the same company. Since they made a lot of them in a short period, maybe they used more than one production line.

A ww1 commemorative cross 1916-1919



This post has been edited by Carol I on July 13, 2006 09:10 am