✚11083✚ Austro-Hungarian Empire pre WW1 Volunteer Fire Service Medal Linz 20 Y

Original Austro-Hungarian Empire pre WW1 Volunteers’ Fire Service Medal of the City of Linz (Feuerwehr-Ehrenzeichen Dienstmedaille der Stadt Linz für Freiwilligen) for 20 Years' Service, IN AMAZING CONDITION, ON GOOD GENUINE TRIFOLD RIBBON, A BEAUTIFUL SILVER MEDAL, VERY RARE AWARD 

HISTORY OF THE AWARD:

Volunteers’ Fire Service Medal of the City of Linz (Feuerwehr-Ehrenzeichen Dienstmedaille der Stadt Linz für Freiwilligen) - the medal was instituted on 5th August 1896 to honour the volunteer members of the fire service of the City of Linz. There were three grades: Bronze (10 years of service) or Silver (15 and 20 years of service). Diameter: 37.5 mm. Description of the medal: the obverse shows the coat of arms of the city of Linz with a mural crown in the middle, surrounded by two oak branches. On the reverse the fire brigade emblem at the top and below it the text: "DANK DER GEMEINDE LINZ FÜR 10 / 15/ 20 JÄHRIGE EIFRIGE TÄTIGKEIT BEI DER FREIWILL. FEUERWEHR” (THANKS FROM THE COUNCIL OF LINZ FOR 10 / 15 / 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED WORK AT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT". After the word "FÜR” (FOR) the number of years of service was individually engraved. On the occasion of the first award on August 23, 1896, 15 medals were awarded for 20-year membership, 19 for 15-year membership and 56 medals for 10-year membership. The pre 1901 examples still have the old spelling “THÄTIGKEIT” (ACTIVITY) in the inscription. The award is not often seen.