This medal, or more precisely this performance badge in the form of a medal, was established in 1883 at the same time as the medal of an excellent marksman (Službeni vojni list br. 37 24. IX. 1883).
Description of the medal:
The circular medal, which again in the early period was struck in iron, has a field gun (of the old type) at its centre with the gunner-sights the whole surmounted by a royal crown. All is set in a wreath made up of laurel leaves (left) and oak leaves (right).
The inscription on the back of the cartouche reads.
The cartouche is surrounded by rays as in the case of the medal of the outstanding rifle shooter.
In the first types of this medal, the flat lug is struck at the same time as the medal.
Medals struck in iron are treated with what is known as "brinelling", which was intended to protect the medal from corrosion. The ribbon of these medals is triangular and black or this color was reserved as the color of burnt black powder, the honorary color of the artillery.
After the end of the World War, the medal continued to be used in the Kingdom of SHS and in the army of Royal Yugoslavia (Regulation of the Ministry of War and Navy-Službeni vojni list, br. 27.2.19271).
The medal changes only slightly.
Description of the medal from 1927:
The medal is made of base metal (bronze, tombak). The field gun is visibly placed against the mountains and the royal crown is completely missing. The wreath is woven of laurel leaves (left) and oak leaves (right).
On the back is a practice shooting target and the inscription is in Cyrillic at the top and in Latin at the bottom. The medal has a diameter of 37 mm and was worn on a ribbon of the national colours ( Slavic tricolour ). The medal of this type again has several variations, which differ slightly in size, hanging tab and appearance of the obverse .
The last change is made on the eve of the war ( Službeni list br. 22, 15.6.1940 ) .
The medal changes and looks more like the oldest model of the medal. The obverse shows a modern type of field gun but is surmounted by a royal crown . However, the reverse side undergoes a significant change where there is a decorative cartouche in the central part which bears the inscription in Cyrillic as well as Latin ( the target disappears ). The cartouche is inserted in bright rays. This reverse side bears a striking resemblance in appearance to the reverse side of a medal intended for an excellent rifle shooter. The literature lists the ribbon as 40 mm wide, which is light blue in colour. In our conditions, we find all medals suspended on a ribbon in the national colours of the Slavic tricolour. Medals in royal Yugoslavia were issued with a decree of award.
Type I medals are rare and it is very rare to find a medal of the last type from 1940.
Literature: Pavel Car -Tomislav Muhič: Odlikovanja Srbije i Yugoslávie 1859 - 1941 Sources and archive : Ing. Petříček
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Medaile-dobreho-delostrelce-t105233#376618
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