Austrian Medal for Military Merit (Signum Laudis)

Emperor Franz Joseph I facing right and the legend 'FRANCISCVS.IOS.I.D.G.IMP.AVST.REX.BOH.ETC.ET.REX.APOST.HVNG*' around the circumference. Reverse: The motto 'SIGNUM LAUDIS' within a laurel and oak leaf wreath. The medal is fitted with a loose ring and crown suspender and a piece of 37.5 mm plain red ribbon folded in a triangular format.

The Medal for Military Merit, commonly known as the Signum Laudis, was introduced by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1890. It was awarded for meritorious service in both war and peace. Wartime awards for officers were worn on the ribbon of the Medal for Bravery which was white with red horizontal stripes, while awards for other ranks and for all peacetime awards, of which this medal is an example, were suspended from a plain red ribbon. In 1911 a silver version of the medal was added for officers, and from October 1915 the striped wartime officer's ribbon was worn on the medals awarded to other ranks as well. In April 1916 a Large or Grand Medal for Military Merit was introduced as the highest class of the award. It too was worn with the striped war ribbon. 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.