Orders, Decorations and Medals

Russia, St. George Cross for the Prussians 1839, Award Document, in German, to Underofficer Carl Heinrich Prehn, 4th Kurmärck Landwehr Cavalry Regiment, in recognition of his service at the battle of the Belle Alliance (Waterloo), dated, Berlin, 20 March 1840, 262 x 207mm., with fold creases and slightly torn, good condition, rare £450-550

The document refers to the award as the Russian Order of St. George 5th Class. The St. George Cross for the Prussian allies was instituted by Tsar Nicholas I in July 1839, concurrent to the unveiling of the monument erected near to the battlefield of Borodino. This one class award was presented to Prussian veterans who had taken part in battles against Napoleon. The decoration was in the form of the ‘standard’ St. George Cross in silver but with the addition of the cypher of Tsar Alexander I on the reverse. A total of 4,264 crosses were awarded.

The 4th Kurmärck Landwehr Cavalry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel von Schmeling during the Waterloo Campaign and had an establishment of 30 officers and 435 other ranks. It formed part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Colonel Count von Schulenburg, in turn a component of II Corps commanded by Major-General von Pirch.

Note: The lot consists of the award document only, not the cross.