Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, III Class with Swords, by Vincent Mayer, c.1914 Heer. A Flak/Artillery Hauptmann’s Service Tunic constructed of a silvered and

constructed of a silvered and patinated bronze centrepiece set within a lacquered black wooden frame

After the conclusion of hostilities

on open worked crown

pin and catch assembly missing

He crashed his aircraft behind enemy lines and was captured and held as a POW in France

Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, III Class with Swords, by Vincent Mayer, c.1914 Heer. A Flak/Artillery Hauptmann’s Service Tunic constructed of a silvered and(Militrverdienstkreuz). Instituted on October 24th, 1849. Type II (1914 1918 Issue). A Military Merit Cross III Class, of multi piece construction, in silver with red and white enamels, consisting of a Cross Patte with red and white enamelled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central white enamelled medallion inscribed with VERDIENST (Merit) with the letters on a silver bar in two lines,