Hesse, Grand Duchy. A General Merit Medal, Silver Grade, By J. Ries, C.1890 Auction Archive credited with having served forty-nine

credited with having served forty-nine months overseas

the badge with a horizontal pinback

You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Lieutenant or in such other Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to

A pair of Imperial era service medals

suffering a gun shot wound to his left hand

Hesse, Grand Duchy. A General Merit Medal, Silver Grade, By J. Ries, C.1890 Auction Archive credited with having served forty-nine(Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen Fr Verdienste). Instituted 8 June 1889 by Grand Duke Ludwig IV. (1889 1894 issue). Constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse with a rightward facing profile of Grand Duke Ludwig IV, circumscribed by name and title, the reverse with a central inscription of FR VERDIENSTE (FOR MERIT), within a laurel and oak leaf wreath, the obverse maker marked J. RIES, measuring 33. 14 mm in