Mecklenburg Schweirn 1870 Military Service Cross 2nd Class and Urkunde Wilhelm Meyer.

This is a simply marvelous group which consists of the 1870 Military Service Cross 2nd Class and its Urkunde (award document) from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, Friedrich Franz II (1823-1883) ruled the duchy. He sat on the throne from 1842 to 1883. Mecklenburg-Schwerin had long been Prussia’s ally. It fought with Prussia during the 1864 Danish-Prussian War and the 1866 Austro-Prussian War.

The document and decoration were awarded to a young officer by the name of Wilhelm Meyer. Meyer served in Hannoversches Pionier Bataillon Nr 10. The regiment was raised in 1804. It was garrisoned in Minden and assigned to the X. ArmeeKorps. The Bataillon was a former Hanoverian unit. It fought proudly in the Peninsular Campaign and at Waterloo with the Duke of Wellington. Its men carried the bandeaux for those campaigns on their pickelhauben. Meyer went on to become a Generalleutnant in the Prussian Army. He was assigned to the General Staff for matters relating to Pionier-Bataillons.

The document is quite ornate and measures 12 1/4″ x 7 1/2.” It is dated 31 December 1872 and signed by Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The embossed seal of the Duchy appears on the document.

The decoration is the same size as an 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class. It is gilt-toned. A short length of original ribbon, measuring 4 1/2″ x 1 1/2,” is present. The silk ribbon is light blue, yellow, and red. The Military Service Cross 2nd Class was awarded in far fewer numbers than the 1870 Iron Cross 2nd Class.

This is a fine presentation to a future German Army general. In the coming weeks, we will be offering a fine assortment of Meyer’s documents from throughout his military career.