WW1 Austro-Hungarian Bravery Medal with rare Award Document.

The Austro-Hungarian Bravery Medal was first instituted on 19 July 1789 by the Emperor Josef II. Until 1915 it existed in three grades, A Gold Medal, a Silver Medal 1^st Class and a smaller Silver Medal 2^nd Class.

In 1915 a fourth grade, in Bronze was added.

In 1917 after the death of Josef II, the medals were minted with the head of Emperor Charles I on the obverse.

This Bronze example is particularly interesting in that it is accompanied by the large decorative award document issued for gallantry during the Isonzo campaign against Italian troops. The award was to a Reserve Unteroffizier Paul Studnicka.

The Isonzo campaign saw a horrendous number of losses, the Austrians suffering 200,000 casualties and the Italians 300,000.

The award document is far rarer than the actual medal itself.

Both are in very good condition.