Austria, I Republic. A Military Merit Cross I Class, By Anton Reitterer, C.1935 certificate_of_authenticity and listed as "dangerously ill"

and listed as "dangerously ill" with Cerebro Spinal Meningitis

spear in right hand

he proceeded to New Zealand with the 3rd Battalion

measures 45 mm (w) x 940 mm (l)

2mm(w) x 42

Austria, I Republic. A Military Merit Cross I Class, By Anton Reitterer, C.1935 certificate_of_authenticity and listed as "dangerously ill"(Militrverdienstkreuz I Klasse). Instituted 22 October 1849 by Emperor Franz Joseph I. (1849 1918 issue; ca. 1935 reissue). Constructed of silver with multi coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Patte, the obverse with finely detailed red and white enameled arms, with a central white enameled medallion bearing a raised gilt inscription of VERDIENST (MERIT), within a red enameled ring, with a gilt laurel wreath set through the quadrants, the reverse