Figure 43: Camp Chief Musician. Figure 44: Department Patriotic Figure 45: Department Graves Instructor (1939 addition). Registration Officer (1939 addition). Figure 46: Camp Adjutant Figure 47: Camp Quartermaster Figure 48:Pre-1910 version of (Note the narrow ribbon) (1939 revision) (Note the narrow ribbon) Officer of the Guard Figure 49:Pre-1910 version Figure 50:Pre-1910 version of Figure 51:Pre-1910 version Camp Commander. Camp Quartermaster. Senior Vice Camp Commander. Figure 52:Pre.1910 version of Camp Adjutant Vol. 54, No. 6 11 Camp Surgeon- A modified Maltese cross USWV and pre- 1910 activities documented by primary centered on the rank strap. source materials. Endnotes The Pre-1910 Observed Insignia 1. The author has been unable to locate a primary source with the Junior Vice Commander- Two gold bars, one at date of formation. Harvey S. Eisenberg in his March 1973 article in each end of the rank strap on a white enamel The Medal Collector states that the USWV was organized on April field. 18, 1904 but provides no reference. Eisenberg also gives a January 1, 1904 date for founding of the Military Order of the Serpent, again Officer of the Day- The block capital letters "OD" without reference. Since membership in the USWV was required to centered, on a white enamel field. join the Serpents, the USWV may have formed before 1904. 2. Rules and Regulations United Spanish War Veterans 1910, A number of numismatic variations in officer pin-bars page 2, Addison C. Getchell & Son, Printers, 1910. have been observed over the years. These variations 3. lbid., p. 3-5. 4. Ibid., p. 251-255. include differences in the curvature of the rank strap, 5. Ibid., p. 48-52. the degree of pebbling in the rank strap background and chevron, the size of the colonel’s eagle and other elements of distinctive insigne, the presence or absence of enamel on the distinctive device, the amount of detail in the design elements, the type of catch on the pin-bar, and the presence of maker’s marks. The 1910 statutes provided for Past Officer Medals. Upon retirement from office, members were allowed to wear the distinctive insigne of the highest office held centered between the regulation pin and suspension bars. While the color of the ribbon was not specified, it has been observed that the ribbon usually corresponds to the highest level of office, Camp, Department, or National. Past Officers’ medals are illustrated in Figure 53. The author would like to thank the many OMSA members who allowed examination of USWV medals in their sale cases over the years, especially Everitt Bowles and Robert G. Wilson who recently sold large collections. Ronald L. Fischer kindly provided a photocopy of pertinent sections of the 1939 Rules, which was of value in documenting officer insignia changes made that year. Hermes Belen photographed the medals. Member comments are always welcome. The author would especially appreciate Figure 53: Past Officers’ medals for Department (left) and Camp information on the formation of the Commander (right). 12 JOMSA The Distribution Process of the Polish and Matulewicz,who were the lowest bidders, in September 1920. The first crosses were distributed in Order of the Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, the field during the summer of 1921. The crosses 1920-1941 (Figures 3 and 4) were especially made by W. Wabinski for award to foreigners and high-ranking officers from Zdzislaw E Wesolowski the same dies as the Polish crosses but in sterling silver with a hollow center in which a center disk of gold was Military scholars interested in Polish orders, especially placed. The serial numbers on these crosses were hand the Virtuti Militari, the highest honor awarded during a engraved. Most of the crosses awarded to Polish time of war for personal bravery, have always wondered recipients (Figures 5 through 14) in this period were why there are irregularities in the disposition of the Order, made from brass materials with silver or gold plate, and especially in the 5th class. The Virtuti Militari is the the Ministry expressed dissatisfaction with these crosses oldest decoration of its kind in the world still in use. Its because of their low quality. The harsh economic times stature is equal in importance with the U.S. Medal of and very limited defense budget forced the Ministry to Honor and the British Victoria Cross., continue to accept the lowest bidders as the manufacturers of the highest Polish military decoration. The Polish Ministry of Military Affairs ordered 10,000 silver gilt, 5th class crosses of the Order of Virtuti Militari The firms of Knedler and Gontarczyk were selected as from Polish jewelers between the years 1920 and 1923. prime contractors for the 5th class crosses (Figures 5 They were to be awarded for the Polish War for and 6) while the firm of Krupski and Matulewicz won Independence against the Germans and the Russians and the contract to produce the first three higher classes of Soviets between the years 1914 and 1923. The Polish the Order subcontracting the 5th class to Gontarczyk. Government in Exile awarded some of these original For a time the firms of Reising and Wabinski produced numbered-crosses from 1939 to 1941. In addition, the several hundred crosses (Figures 13 and 14) delivering awarded crosses did not follow a numerical sequence them to the Ministry on October 4, 1921. One hundred corresponding to the period of the award. For example, specially made sterling silver crosses with gold center the Polish Government in Exile awarded crosses serial disks were produced by Gontarczyk and delivered on numbered 8209-8331 during World War II, while crosses November 23, 1922. These crosses with a lot of the same numbered 9704-9924 were awarded between 1922 and type made by Krupski with serial numbers from 9700 to 1923. 9799 were for distribution to foreigners. The first awards of the Virtuti Militari in the form of In addition to the five official manufacturers of the insignia and diplomas were made on January 22, 1920 regular Government Issue crosses with machine pressed to the highest-ranking officers of the Temporary Order serial numbers, there were over 20 other so-called Chapter, (Kapitula Orderu). However, only the higher jeweler’s versions (Figures 19 through 26) made in classes of the Order were made, the silver crosses of the Poland before 1939. These crosses were sold to 5th class were not distributed to the soldiers in the field, recipients as replacements and duplicates for wear. Since because the crosses were not available at that time. In regulations required all personnel to wear the Order at July of 1920, during the first ceremonies, soldiers all times, some were lost or misplaced and duplicates decorated with the Order were given a short piece of the were necessary. These jeweler’s crosses (Figures 51- cloth ribbon of the Virtuti Militari to wear on their 52) were in many cases identical to the Government Issue uniform with an accompanying award diploma (Figure except that they were unnumbered. Many recipients 1) that was designed by Lieutenant J. Golinski. The ordered duplicate crosses in sterling and gold. Some of insignia in form of the cross was to be issued at a later these crosses bore the jeweler’s initials, hallmark and date. Living recipients were issued an identification card assay marks. The serial number was hand engraved. (Figure 2) that was used to enter military bases and public Government awarded crosses were issued to the recipient events and to use public transportation free. Recipients free of charge, but duplicates had to be purchased directly were required to carry the card anytime they wore the from the jeweler. These crosses are considered to be pre- insignia of the Order and also when collecting their World War II copies. monthly pension. The original government-issued, machine-stamped The Polish Ministry of Military Affairs first awarded Virtuti Militari 5th class silver crosses are extremely rare. the production of the cross to the jewelry firms of Krupski The majority of these original government-issued crosses Vol. 54, No. 6 13 .