Crown Jubilee Cross 1908 Accession Number: RELAWM14763

Description

Crown Jubilee Cross 1908. A cross pattée with an oak leaf wreath between the arms. Obverse: In the centre is the bust of Emperor Franz Joseph in military uniform facing right and the legend 'FRAC.IOS.I' on the left. Reverse: '1848 1908' on two lines in the centre. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 40 mm white ribbon with a broad red stripe near each edge, folded in a triangular format.

Contextual Description

Awarded to commemorate the 60th Jubilee of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary in 1908. The medal was presented to all officers, military officials and soldiers who had served a minimum of 3 years in the regular army between 2 December 1898 and 2 December 1908; to all personnel who had taken part in aleast one engagement during the 1848/49 war; and to all persons, including the civil employees at military schools, cadet institutes and military orphanages, who were on active duty on 2 December 1908. It was also awarded to all those on duty on that day who had undertaken at least 2 years of military training in the militia. On 31 December 1914 Franz Joseph I addressed the men of his army and navy in order to express his appreciation and decreed that all officers and officials of the reserve who had participated in the current war [i.e. First World War to date] and who had been an officers (or officials) on 2 December 1908 but who had not previously received the Crown Jubilee Cross, should now also receive the medal as a special honour. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.