The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Reuss War Merit Cross 1914. Unnamed as issued. A cross pattée in black enamel with a green enamel laurel wreath entwined between the arms. Obverse: In the centre a crown over an antique 'H' cypher and 'XXVII' on a silver disc. '19' and '14' across the left and right arms. Reverse: Plain with a large vertical brooch pin stamped '800'.
The Reuss War Merit Cross was instituted on 23 May 1915 and was to be awarded for bravery or military merit without regard to rank. To be eligible for the Cross, one must have already received the Prussian Iron Cross 1st Class and been have been serving in a Reuss unit (later in the war, natives of the Reuss principalities serving in other units were also made eligible). It is unknown how many were awarded, but given the requirements and the small size of the pool of eligible soldiers, it may have been awarded no more than 100 times. This medal forms part of a collection assembled by the Memorial in the 1920s for display.
Brunswick War Merit Cross, First Class. Unnamed as issued. A dark bronze convex cross pattee with the highlights polished. Obverse: In the centre 'EA' with two oak leaves on the left and right arms.
Brunswick War Merit Cross, Second Class. Unnamed as issued. A dark bronze cross pattee with the highlights polished. Obverse: In the centre 'EA' with two oak leaves on the left and right arms. A crown
Prussian Military Merit Cross. A cross patee in silver. Obverse: A crown over the royal cypher 'FW' on a disc in the centre. Reverse: The inscription 'KRIEGS VERDIENST' (War Meritorious Service) on tw
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-Weimar-Eisenach Wilhelm Ernst War Cross. Obverse: A white enamelled cross pattée, with green laurel sprays crossing the horizontal arms and just overlapping the top arm. There are crossed swords