Spanish Order of Military Merit Cross

Order of Military Merit Cross (1st Class). Unnamed as issued. Pressed metal Saint George Cross surmounted by a Spanish crown. In the centre a convex disc with the Arms of Alfonso XIII comprising castles and rampant lions quartered with three fleur-de-lys in the middle of the field. Reverse: Plain stamping of the obverse. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of red 32 mm silk ribbon with a white centre stripe. A gilded brass buckle brooch pin is stitched to the ribbon.

The Order of Military Merit was originally introduced in 1864 and has two divisions (for war and general military service) with four classes in each. The First Class is the lowest rank of the Order. This pressed metal example was and economy issue produced during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 and has the war ribbon. The general service ribbon for the Order is white with a central red stripe. 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.