Chile: Order of Merit. 4th Class 'Officer' enamelled breast badge. Customised with replaced centres for the Silver Campaign Star for the Campaign against Bolivia & Peru 1879-80

Important: The obverse and reverse centres on this Order are not those of the Order of Merit, but are the centres of the considerably rarer Chilean 'Star for the Campaign against Bolivia and Peru, 1879-1880' (Campana A Bolivia I El Peru 1879-1880)

In Spanish language the order is called 'Medallas Orden al Mérito de Chile, Oficial'

The order fitted with original length of riband and brooch buckle fitting as issued. The riband with silk rosette denoting the award to an 'Officer'

Unusually, this Order was originally instituted to reward both Chilean Military Officers who were training or on secondment to foreign and allied nations, and to foreign nationals who were military & diplomatic officers from friendly & allied nations (including officers from the armed forces of Great Britain & United States of Amerca)

The award criteria for what foreign officers ae eligible for this grade of the Order are:

First Secretaries of Embassies, Private Consuls, Majors and Army Captains, Corvette Captains and First Lieutenants of the Navy, Squadron Commanders and Aviation Flight Captains and superior officers of the Order and Security Forces,
Judges of Letters, members of the Municipalities and authorities of the same category

An interesting - and useful - customised Chilean order

Condition: GVF

Code: 20369