The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Saxe-Meningen War Merit Medal. Unnamed. Obverse: A cross pattée convex with a 'B' in the centre and surrounded by an oak leaf wreath on the circumference. It has a crown on the top arm and coronets between the arms. Reverse: A cross pattée convex with the arms of Saxony in the centre and surrounded by the inscription 'FUR VERDIENST IM KRIEGE 1914/15' (For Merit in War 1914/15) around the outside edge. Coronets between the arms. Fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 32 mm ribbon that has a black centre with yellow side stripes and white edges containing small green squares.
Duke Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen established the War Merit Cross and the War Merit Medal on 7 March 1915, to serve as the duchy's basic award for bravery and military merit, for both combatants and non-combatants. The cross and medal are comparable to the Prussian Iron Cross, but unlike the Iron Cross, rank determined which award one received. The War Merit Cross was a decoration for officers while the War Merit Medal was for non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. The Merit Medal was similar to the officers' cross but not pierced between the arms and the wreath. It was manufactured in grey zinc later in the war as an economy measure. A total of 24,038 awards of the Merit Medal were made. This medal forms part of a collection assembled by the Memorial in the 1920s for display.
Saxe-Meiningen War Merit Cross. Unnamed as issued. A bronze cross pattée convex within an oak leaf wreath, with a coronet in the void between each of the arms. Aat the top a double sided, hinged crown
Saxe-Meiningen Women's Merit Cross. Unnamed as issued. A bronze cross pattée convex surrounded by an oak leaf wreath, with a void between each of the arms. At the top a double sided hinged crown. Obv
Saxe-Meiningen Cross for Merit in War. Awarded by the Duke of Sachsen Meiningen to officers who showed special merit. Instituted on 7 March 1915. Bronze cross pattee with curved ends to arms and a duc
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Silver War Merit Medal with swords on the suspender. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The bust of Carl Eduard facing right with the inscription 'CARL EDUARD HERZOGV SACHSEN COBURG U GOTHA
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Carl Eduard War Cross. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: A Maltese cross with 'CE' surmounted by a crown on the centre disc and surrounded by a green enamel laurel wreath attached to the a
Wurttemburg Merit Cross with Swords. A silver cross pattée convex with gold swords between the arms. Obverse: A crown over 'W' (Wilhelm) on a central disc. Reverse: 'VERDIENST *' on a central disc. Th
