Germany, Imperial. A 25 Year Long Service Cross Document To 1870 War Plm Recipient

The certificate for the 25 Year Long Service Cross for service in the army, instituted on June 18, 1825, is made out to royal Major and Battalion Commander in the 10th Infantry Regiment, “Mr. von François”. The cross was awarded on June 19, 1860. The certificate is dated to Berlin on June 27, 1860. Measuring 220 mm (w) x 344 mm (h), presenting multiple folding creases and light creasing and fraying of the edges, remains very fine.

Footnote: With almost absolute certainty, the certificate was awarded to Bruno von François. Bruno Hugo Karl Friedrich von François was born on June 29, 1818 in Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt) as the son of Prussian Lieutenant General Karl von François (1785-1855). He joined the Prussian army on December 29, 1834 and was placed in the 37th Infantry Regiment, commanded by his father. François became a Second Lieutenant in January of 1836. He fought in the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864, as well as in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In the latter, François served as a Regiment Commander in the rank of Oberst (Colonel). He was wounded in the Battle of Königgrätz. On September 20, 1866, François was awarded the Pour le Mérite. He was promoted to Major General on July 26, 1870 and appointed Commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade, which he led in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71. During the Battle of Spicheren on August 6, 1870, François commanded the Niederrheinisches Füsilier-Regiment No. 39 and the Hanoverian Infantry Regiment No. 74. With sword drawn, François led his troops during the storming of Rotherberg Hill. He was killed by five bullets shot by snipers. The German triumph in the Battle of Spicheren is seen as one of three vital victories leading to the overall victory of Germany over France in the Franco-Prussian War. To this day, the memorial walkway to the cenotaphs on the Spicheren heights is named after François. Among his children were Major General Alfred Karl Bruno von François (1849-1911), Hugo von François (1861-1904), Curt von François (1852-1931), founder of the city of Windhoek (present day capital of Namibia, former German South-West Africa), and Hermann von François (1856-1933), General during the First War and recipient of the Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves and the Grand Cross of the Red Eagle Order with Oak Leaves and Swords.