Germany, Imperial. A Wound Badge, Silver Grade GTRexclude with Crossed Swords indicating an

with Crossed Swords indicating an award for bravery in the face of the enemy

possibly his mother

one that had existed before he joined the Army but the trenches and marching in France had made it intolerable

in gilded zinc

Germany, Imperial. A Wound Badge, Silver Grade GTRexclude with Crossed Swords indicating an(Verwundeten Abzeichen). Instituted by Emperor Wilhelm II on 3 March 1918. An ovular badge constructed of die stamped bronze, the obverse bears a helmet superimposed over two upwards facing crossed swords on a pebbled background, encompassed by a laurel wreath border tied with a ribbon at the bottom, the reverse is plain and bears a vertical pinback with round wire catch, measuring 39. 16 mm (w) x 44. 31 mm (h), very fine.