Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/281

Rh in the year 1813.—It was founded by King Ernest Augustus, on the 11th May, 1841, and cast from the guns captured from the enemy at that period. The obverse represents a cross, a royal crown, the initials: 'E. A. R. and (the year) 1813,' while the reverse contains: '1813' within a laurel wreath. (Tab. III. No. 12).

The medal is worn by the still serving military of that period on the left breast, suspended by a white ribbon, with two yellow stripes, and by civilians, i. e., by those who have retired into civil life, at the button-hole.

6. War Medal for the Volunteers in the British-German Legion, until the conclusion of the Peace at Paris, in 1814. —The foundation of this medal is coeval with the previous, and was also cast from the captured guns. The front shows a cross beneath a royal crown, with the initials: 'E. A. R. within its wings, while the reverse contains the words: ' Königlich Deutsche Legion' (Royal German Legion) in the circle, and ' Tapfer und Treu' (Brave and loyal) in the centre, and the whole is surrounded by a laurel wreath. (Tab. III. No. 13.) Like the former, it is worn suspended by a white ribbon with two yellow stripes, by the military on the left breast, and by civilians at the button-hole. It is conferred on military men of all degrees and all nations (including military surgeons), who had entered that legion before the conclusion of peace in 1814, and stood before the enemy in some of the years from 1803 to 1814.

7,8 and 9. Medals of Merit in gold and in silver, and General Decoration of Honour, were founded on the 5th June, 1841, The two medals (gold and silver), bear on the front the efigy of the King, with the legend: 'Ernest August' and the year of his accession to the throne, and on the reverse an oaken wreath, with the inscription: 'Verdienst um's Vaterland ' (Merit of the fatherland). Both are worn suspended by a