Miniature bronze cross pattée alisée, the arms stippled, fixed wire bar for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing a laurel-crowned female head facing right representing the Portuguese Republic encircled by a ring inscribed ‘REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA 1917’; the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing the national arms of Portugal; diameter 17.28mm (0.68 inch); on replaced correct ribbon bearing a bronze cross pattée alisée within a laurel wreath denoting a first class award. The Cross was established on 30 November 1916 to recognise acts and feats of courage on the field of battle (‘actos e feitos de bravura praticados em campanha’) signalled by citation from the various Portuguese military units then engaged in conflict. Portugal had remained neutral at the outbreak of World War I but when she acceded to a British demand to confiscate the German ships interned in Portuguese ports, Germany declared war. In all, Portugal sent 56,000 soldiers to the Western Front in France and also fielded forces in its African colonies, Mozambique and Angola. These forces showed great bravery and endurance and suffered terribly; 8,145 men were killed, 13,751 wounded and 12,318 prisoners or missing. The 1st class Cross is especially rare in miniature.
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