Portuguese War Cross

Portuguese War Cross. Unnamed as issued. A cross pattee with curved ends to the arms that have plain flat edges with pitted recessed centres. Obverse: A small central medallion with a laureated female head facing right surrounded by the inscription ' REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA - 1917'. Reverse: The arms of Portugal on an armillary sphere. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 32 mm red ribbon that has five equally spaced 1.5 mm green stripes.

Instituted in 1915, revised in 1916 and finally established by government decree on 28 July 1917, this medal was awarded in a similar manner to the French Croix de Guerre, with miniature crosses, 12 mm in diameter, attached to the ribbon to indicate the type of 'Mention': a silver gilt cross in a wreath for an Army or Fleet Order, a plain silver gilt cross for an Army Corps Mention, a plain silver cross for a Divisional mention and a bronze cross for a mention in Brigade or Regimental Orders. 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.