War Commemorative Medal for the Royal German Legion
The War Commemorative Medal for the Royal German Legion (German: Kriegs-Denkmünze für die Königlich-Deutsche Legion) was established by King of Hanover Ernst August I (1771–1851) from the House of Hanover.
History
The date of the foundation was 11 May 1841, and coincided with the date of the foundation of an award of the same name, the Hanover War Commemorative Medal of 1813. The difference between the two medals was the reason and the design of the medal. This award was intended for volunteer soldiers who joined the Royal British German Legion (Königlich-Deutsche Legion) from 1803 until before the First Peace of Paris in 1814, while the other award was intended for volunteers of the regular Hanoverian Army (de) who joined from 1813 (Wars of Liberation).
The award was intended for military personnel of all ranks and military doctors, with "Hanoverians and foreigners equally eligible". After the death of the owner, the medal remained with his heirs.
The decoration of the order was made from the material of a captured cannon. The bronze medal has the founder's name on the front in a cross under the royal crown. On the reverse was the motto "BRAVE AND LOYAL" (TAPFER UND TREU) surrounded by a laurel wreath. There was also a reference to the reason for the foundation, "ROYAL GERMAN LEGION" (KÖNIGLICH DEUTSCHE LEGION).
The ribbon of the order was a white ribbon with two yellow stripes. The recipient received a certificate from the Royal General Adjutant's Office as a right to wear the medal.
War Commemorative Medal of 1813
The War Commemorative Medal of 1813 was also founded on 11 May 1841 by King Ernst August of Hanover and could be awarded to anyone who had voluntarily joined the Hanoverian Army in 1813 to fight in the War of Liberation against Napoleon. The medal's symbol is a bronze cross. The upper arm of the cross shows the royal crown and the lower arm shows the year 1813. The medallion contains the initials of the founder E. A. R. (Ernst August Rex) and on the back, surrounded by a laurel wreath, the year 1813. The decoration was worn on a white ribbon with yellow stripes on the left chest.
