Italy, Republic. An Order Of Merit Of The Italian Republic, Grand Cross Badge in Frame consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac black leatherette exterior marked PURPLE

black leatherette exterior marked PURPLE HEART

and was attended by many past members and friends of The Sherbrooke Hussars and members of the public

the left cuff with seven of the eight buttons intact

Footnote 2:

then returning to HMCS Shearwater in March 1957

Italy, Republic. An Order Of Merit Of The Italian Republic, Grand Cross Badge in Frame consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac black leatherette exterior marked PURPLE(Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana). Instituted in 1951. A framed Grand Cross Badge in silver gilt, featuring a white enamel cross with a Goldfive point star in the centre, ball finial at each end of each arm, with eagles in each quadrant, reverse mirrors the obverse, the cross is surmounted by a large crown of the republic, measures 70. 45mm (w) x 94. 60mm (h inclusive of crown suspension and integral ring), on a period full length green and