Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/27

Rh black iron buckle mounted in silver: the middle contains the Arms of the ducal house, with the initial 'H' to the right, and the cypher 'IX' to the left (indicating nine years' service). That of the second class is a silver buckle with a black edge, and the cypher 'XV' (fifteen years' service) on it. That of the first class is a similar buckle, but of gold, mounted in silver, with the cypher 'XXI' (twenty-one years' service) on it.

The decoration for officers consists of an octagonal golden cross (worn with the same ribbon); the round middle scutcheon is white enamelled, and contains on the obverse the initial of the Duke, with the ducal crown above it, and on the reverse the cypher 'XXV' in gold (indicating twenty-five years' service, including the period of subordinate rank).

Also in Anhalt-Dessau was established, on the 1st of February, 1848, a similar decoration of honour: known as the Military Distinction for Anhalt-Dessau.

For sergeants and common soldiers, the badge is a silver buckle; the centre contains the ducal arms, with the initial of the Duke to the right, and the cypher 'XII' (for the second class), or 'XX' (for the first), to the left. It is worn on the left side of the breast, suspended by a green ribbon, the half-width of which protrudes on each side of the buckle. For officers and military surgeons, the decoration is a golden octagonal cross, white enamelled in the middle, bearing on the obverse the initial of the Duke, with the ducal crown above it, and on the reverse the cypher 'XXV,' both in golden letters; it is likewise worn by a green ribbon upon the left side of the breast.

When the decoration of the higher class is obtained, that of the inferior must be returned.