History

This medal was instituted by Emperor Franz Joseph I to celebrate his 50th anniversary as Commander and Chief of the Imperial Russian Kexholmian Lifeguards Regiment.

The medal dies were cut by J. Tautenhayn. The obverse inscription in Cyrillic translates “To the Kexholm Lifeguard Regiment “Kaiser von Osterreich” from their colonel in chief 1848-1898.”

The Silver Medal was conferred upon all active Doctors, Officers, and Paymasters within the Regiment. A total of 191 silver medals were created, and a total of 91 were known to have been issued.

The Bronze Medals were awarded to the highest-ranking NCOs or each of the sixteen field companies and four administrative companies and the regimental and battalion staffs. A total of 70 bronze medals were created and 30 were known to have been issued.