Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, Third Class With Small Decoration, C.1917 Hold with the face being protected

with the face being protected by period-original acrylic domed crystal

Returning soldiers wore colorful ribbons denoting their decorations and service medals

silver frame (top of the frame had been period re-enforced

1940 and signed in blue ink by Counter Admiral and Commander of Securing the North Sea

being reduced to the rank of Rifleman

Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, Third Class With Small Decoration, C.1917 Hold with the face being protected(Militrverdienstkreuz III. Klasse und Kleiner Dekoration). Issued 1914 1918. A silver cross pattee with red and white enamels; the obverse with a central white enameled medallion inscribed VERDIENST (German Merit); the reverse all in white enamels; on loop for suspension from its period original tri fold ribbon, with a miniature decoration attached to the ribbon for the second class cross with war decoration; marked with an Austrian silver mark for