Spain, Kingdom. A Royal & Military Order Of St. Ferdinand, Officer’s Star, By S. Garcia, C.1868 Auction Archive Bougainville in 1945

Bougainville in 1945

on reverse of the bottom  arm of the cross

436 Squadron was the last to leave for England

V (OOC) Richebourg St

with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam flag above

Spain, Kingdom. A Royal & Military Order Of St. Ferdinand, Officer’s Star, By S. Garcia, C.1868 Auction Archive Bougainville in 1945(Orden Real y Militar de San Fernando). Instituted in 1811 by King Ferdinand VII. Isabel II (1833 1868) issue. Of early Spanish manufacture, a silver Maltese cross with separately overlaid Gold ball finials, obverse centre applique in Gold, consisting of a superposed enameled red swords united by the hilts with an enameled white background, surrounded by an enameled blue border inscribed AL MERITO MILITAR (To Military Merit), reverse with flat pin