"Gallipoli Star" Medal of WW I
Discovering dad's Medal was from Turkey (the Ottoman Empire)
The story about an item I inherited from my father many years ago. It is a "star brooch" and it had been worn by my mother and myself, my mom must have known, but I always thought it was just an odd looking brooch. One day I was at the Library researching my husbands Vietnam Medals...I came across a book in the reference section with all kinds of War Medals, as I was flipping through the pages my eye caught a star! I turned the page back and discovered the very "star brooch" that I had, it actually was a Turkish medal given during the Ottoman Empire during WWI. This Star Medal was awarded to my father during his wartime during WWI fighting for Germany in Turkey. My husband said, most likely there is a ribbon that goes with it...Having my dad's WWI and WWII ribbons, I checked the ribbon colors, the red and white with a moon crest insignia pin on top. There it was, the ribbon with the crest! I searched in Google for this medal, finding the informative link (site now can't be found) information also confirmed on my fathers handwritten Ahnentafel (his German Genealogy chart). On the chart it gave confirmation of the dates and names of Medals awarded. I found this to be very interesting and wanted to share this on a webpage.
My search for information on his military duties in WWII has not been successful. Having searched the Internet and many German sites, my quest has gone dry...at this point I'm not sure I'll ever find more on his war duties or genealogy...I certainly had hopes in finding this information before I meet my maker.
Note ~ Scraper Protection: If you see this webpage anywhere else on the Internet besides here..PLEASE contact me...Thank You ~ Delia Pacheco
WWI Ribbon with Crest for the Gallipoli Star
WWl photos of my father
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Ottoman Empire Medal
the "Gallipoli Star"
image Hendrik Meersschaert collection
This is the Turkish War Medal of 1915....a medal referred to by a number of different informal names. The commonwealth nations often called it the "Gallipoli Star" even though it was not a campaign medal specifically for that battle. The "Iron Crescent," was another informal name, as it functioned similarly to Prussia's Iron Cross. From 1915 until the end of the war, the medal was given for acts of bravery or merit in action. Recipients of the Imtiaz and Liyakat medal were automatically eligible for this medal. The description of this medal is a star-shaped pin back badge of white metal (not iron) with a raised crescent around the bottom center, and the "Toughra" or monogram of the Sultan in the center. Flat surfaces of the badge were finished in a thin opaque red enamel. It was worn pinned to the tunic in a manner similar to the Iron Cross, and not suspended from a ribbon. When the star itself was not worn, a ribbon (red with white side stripes) was worn in the second button hole (like the Iron Cross 2nd Class)
Because the medal was frequently awarded to German and Austrian personnel who served with the Turkish forces during WW 1, many unofficial variants were made in Germany and elsewhere, of varying quality, but usually of higher quality than the originals. This difference in quality had led some early authors to speculate that there were two classes of the War Medal -- poor quality copies for enlisted men, nicer copies for officers. In fact there was only one class.
referenced from diggerhistory.com (site now can't be found)
My father -
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Friends of dad's
My dad knew many famous people in his life, one of the photos above shows him on the set with silent film star Pola Negri who he had dated, the other photo is of him and the Red Baron in the plane. I wish I had more, however we lost most everything during war and some of these are what's what's left.
Rare footage
Gallipoli: The Turkish Story
Please Respect the Copyright Law, you may not use, copy or save any part of my personal stories and writings by Delia Pacheco they are protected by copyrights, including images of photograph's. All rights reserved.
Originally Created 08/10/2007
What you are is God's gift to you, what you do with yourself is your gift to God: Danish Proverb
Reader Feedback Here!
What a wonderful family heirloom! And the unique history of it makes it all the more special. Thank you for sharing :)
Wow, this is really a treasure and I know you are thrilled to learn more about your dad's medal. I really enjoyed reading this and thank you for sharing your story.
I love history, your lenses are so very interesting and varied, thank you.
Great lens,thanks for sharing.
Fascinating post! Thanks a lot!
What a wonderful gift he has left you in not only the medal but also the story he created through living his life. You must be very proud.
This is precious. You are lucky. This is really worth sharing. I always enjoy your personal stories.
fascinating history. great lens
I'm so glad you were able to find the backstory, what a wonderful way to explore family history.
Your father truly was a very handsome and adventurous man. Your family history is fascinating.
WOW This lens is really awesome , I found it great read, and educational too. Thanks.
I was looking up stories about war and medals relating to Memorial Day, and this popped up. Great story, glad you found all this wonderful information about your family. Thanks for sharing it.
I have to say, you have some of the most interesting stories! Totally blessed!
Very interesting and so lucky that you stumbled upon that book in the library. Blessed.
- AUTHOR
@sittonbull: Thanks, one problem with Germans, they didn't allow a child to ask anything, you did not talk unless spoken to...what I know, is from listening to my mother relate stories, however one of my aunts was only too happy to share things about my dad that I never knew before.
Your dad had to be quite an interesting fellow and wouldn't you love to have a volume of the stories he could tell? Another outstanding lens here! I just discovered that you Squid liked my Learning lens also so thank you very much.
Hi
Can u help, my grand grandfather (danish) join the asien korps (he lived in the south part of jytland and his parrents was from Austria) in palastine etc. he left the Gallipo cross and german eion cross and I think the Liyakat medal. Looking for the arkiv u told about "Ahnnentafel (German Genealogy chart)"
Can u help ? pls chrvandschmidt@hotmail.com
What a fascinating history of your father's metal. Thanks for sharing this bit of history with us.
- AUTHOR
@Rangoon House: I think that is so interesting that your family (husband) also has one...How cool is that!
We have some common background. I also have a Gallipoli medal, but one that my husband's maternal grandfather was awarded by the Australian Army. My husband also has Vietnam medals. Blessings.
You must have seen my Dad's medals, I think I should also put up mine in a case now. I was delaying it as some times one needs to wear them on functions.
Wow, now this I called a good discovery and a rare honour for you and your family. The Star has some Arabic inscription I guess, if it is, did you find out what is written and its meaning.
Nice story. Your father seems to have led a very adventurous life!
What a fascinating story - thanks so kindly for sharing. Blessed by a SquidAngel!
I like these lenses of yours that take us back in time. Another wonderful lens on the Gallipoli Star!
What wonderful history. What a treasure. Your father and those with him were there when the world needed them. Thanks for sharing.
Great investigative work. You should be proud of the skills it takes to follow the medal down.
i am really glad to meet you. my husband likes documentaries about germany's past since his family came from schlessien (now polish) some 500 yrs. ago. your dad with the red baron? wow!
This is a really cool look into history. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, it seems your dad was a real adventurer!
My grandfather served in the German Army before coming to the US in 1911. So I am just getting started in researching his service records. Great site, lots of food for thought and research.
Your research into your family history and the way you have presented it merits a Squidoo angel blessing. I'll feature it on You've Been Blessed. Well-done!
Nice Historical Read !! Thanks for sharing.
Our beautiful story that congratulations should be very valuable this brooch star for you.
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Very informative and interesting lens, thanks for sharing the story...
What an interesting lens. Most UK and British Commonwealth people associate the Gallipoli (Dardanelles) with the ANZACS. I discovered that my great Uncle John was in the Royal Naval Division or Winston's Little Army during WW1 (lens here on Squidoo) The Dardanelles Campaign was Churchill's idea).The RND were sailors who fought on land and also fought at Gallipoli. Uncle John joined after that campaign so my uncle and your father would not have been adversaries but did fight on the Western Front.
How fascinating to discover these little bits of family history and research them further!
Interesting Lens. I like History a lot and I think there was an incidence in the battle of Gallipoli where a Turkish soldier lifted a shell which weighed much more than his own body weight.
another great one !!
Thank you for creating this lens, Delia. Gallipoli is very special to all Australians and, every year on ANZAC Day, (25th April) many Aussies, who are abroad, congregate for a Dawn Service at Gallipoli to commemorate the sacrifice of the troops on both sides.
That is pretty amazing. Great lens, history and photographs too.
Wow! This is certainly one of the more interesting lenses I've come across. Great photos. Great research. Great story! Best regards, P. :)
Great lens. I have a passion for genealogy. It helps connect the dots of your past to the dots of history. How exciting. 5stars
terrific lens! 5* and favorite it
Your father was such an interesting man and must have had many tales to tell. It's wonderful that you have his medal.
Wow, very cool! I lensrolled this to my Story of Vietnam Veteran lens and blessed it!
What a great story. You may even hear from others who have inherited this type of medal. I'm featuring your lens on my Squid Angel Diary this week.
What a tribute to your father. And how lovely that you have this memory of your father.
You've been featured on 100 Lenses for my 100th Lens.
Very nice lens, I'm always interested in history! 5 stars for the original pictures.
Glad you did this lens. I have a history of my father's WW11 experience complete with medals and letters from fellow soldiers who tracked him down later in life to thank him for saving their lives. I have thought of sharing it on a lens and you have, unknowingly, given me the incentive to do so. He died in '91, but I appreciate what he did in WW11 and am also very proud of him as a great dad! Thank you for sharing this about your dad. 5*
Ah, this is quite an interesting lens! Did you say how many of these were produced; how many are in existence; what they are worth? I think your lens is the first to talk about war medals.
An interesting lens on an interesting topic. May we remember the bravery of the men & women from all countries and all times who fight and risk their life. Great lens 5* I'll set up a related lens link on my Victoria Cross lens.
I am simply amazed that anyone would even mention Gallipoli. It is so unknown and I believe only one movie was ever made about the battle at Gallipoli, starring a very young Mel Gibson. I think it was an absolute crime how the British used the Aussies in that battle. It wasn't even a battle... It was an absolute massacre with wave after wave of brave Australian infantrymen being mowed down with Gatling guns before they could even make an advance. It was tragic and anyone who survived should be revered with more than just a medal. This was a wonderful lens.
what a great treasure! very inspiring lens!
Excellent reading – really enjoyed this entry. Well done
Thanks for taking the time to put together such a
great lens on GALLIPOLI
STAR!Thanks for sharing.TomCosmetic Face
Lift
We studied about this in school. 5* for you! Solve Dog Behavior Problems
My grnadfather fought in WW2 5* Dog Whisper Woman
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