Pamětní válečná medaile 1840

Commemorative war medal from 1840 - 1866
Felddiensabzeichen, allgemeine Kriegsdenkmünze.
The medal was established as early as 14 June 1840 by Grand Duke Ludwig II. It was intended to reward soldiers who took part in at least one military campaign in the service of the Grand Duke, under the banners of the Hessian monarch.
The medal was awarded in 1842, 1850, retrospectively for campaigns from 1780 to 1849. In 1867 it was awarded to all soldiers who took part in the campaign and war of 1866. The literature gives the exact number awarded, the number or medals awarded is 30,287 (no guarantee). All the medals were struck at the Darmstadt mint in bronze from old Hessian works.
The campaign of 1866:
Hessian troops were incorporated in the 3rd Division of the 8th Federal Army, Lieutenant General von Perglas was the commander.
Composition of the division:
- Two brigades
- a volunteer sharpshooter detachment
- a cavalry regiment
- an artillery detachment of two batteries
- a troop of trenchers
In all, about 10,000 men were put into the field.
Description:
Avers:
In the centre of the medal is the letter "L" surmounted by the Grand Ducal crown. Below the letter is a horizontal line. Below the line is the inscription: GESTIFTET AM / 14. JUNI 1840 (Founded 14 June 1840)
At the edge of the medal is a wreath made of laurel and oak leaves, the wreath is tied with a ribbon at the bottom.
Reverse:
In the central part of the medal is the inscription: FÜR / TREUEN DIENST / IM / KRIEGE (For Merit in War)
Around the description is again a wreath consisting of a laurel branch on the right and an oak branch on the left, tied with a ribbon at the bottom.
Bronze medal with a diameter of 31 mm and a weight of 17 g.
The ribbon is red-white-white-red (1:3:21:6:1). The width of the ribbon is given as 35 mm.
Literature:
Václav Měřička: Commemorative decorations from the war of 1866. Prague 1966
Herman von Heyden: Ehren-Zeichen Deutschlands ubd Österreich-Ungarns (reprint)