Prussian Alsen Cross 1864

Prussian Alsen Cross 1864. Unnamed as issued. A cross pattée with an oak leaf wreath between the arms. Obverse: The head of Kaiser Wilhelm facing left in the centre surrounded with 'WILHELM KAISER VON PRUESSEN'. Reverse: A boat at sea flying a swallow tailed flag with a cross and a flying German crowned eagle clutching a wreath in its claws above. The arms of the cross have 'ALSEN', '29', 'JUN' and '1864'. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of ribbon that has a broad royal blue centre with stripes of gold, white, black and white on each side radiating outwards.

Awarded to combatants that took part in the assault on Alsen, an island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Schleswig, on 19 June 1864 during the Prussian War with Denmark. 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.