This medal was created as part of a public fundraising campaign to benefit Swiss soldiers and their families who were in need at the end of the First World War. The image below shows the two sides of the medal. Find out more below... (updated 2 August 2014 with new information)

This cap belonged to a soldier of the Swiss 78th Fusilier Battalion from around the time of the First World War, which I bought on the internet a few years ago. The reason why I developed an interest in Switzerland in the First World War was because my grandfather served in the Swiss Army during that conflict. In fact, he served in the 78th Fusilier Battalion - the same unit as this cap! So when I saw this cap for sale, I just had to buy it, because what were the chances that I would see another one from this unit for sale again in the future?

I have been collecting material about Switzerland and the First World War for some time. I found the painting shown above on a well known internet auction site in 2005. Unfortunately its full history is not known, but there are a few clues.