Hindenburg Cross

• The German General Service Medal. The Cross for frontline service is bronzed and has crossed swords between the cross's arms. The combatants cross was awarded to all who had served in a battle. 6,202,883 combatant crosses were distributed.
• Someone seems to have added black paint to his medal, as it is not one of the "standard" colours. Experts tell me that a black and gold version like Michael Keoghs was never produced, so the implication is that it has been coloured at home.
• However the "black and gold" medal does not tie up with the certificate that he has, which shows he was awarded a non-combatants medal as an "Engineer". The three types of medal produced were
• Honour Cross for Combatants (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer) – for soldiers who fought on the front.
• Honour Cross for War Participants (Ehrenkreuz für Kriegsteilnehmer) – for non-combatant soldiers
• Honour Cross for Next-of-Kin (Ehrenkreuz für Hinterbliebene) – for the next-of-kin of fallen soldiers

The medal was only instituted in 1934, and one had to apply for it. In other words it was not sent automatically. His certificate says that he is entitled to the Ehrenkreuz für Kriegsteilnehmer but the medal is Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer as it has the crossed swords

The name on the photo of the cert is a bit fuzzy, it appears to say "Georg Kehoe" which I assume was an alias (could say something quite different.)

Michael Keogh has added something in his own hand that I cannot make out on the cert