History

The Red Cross decorations were instituted on February 20, 1931 for meritorious service.
A number of members of the Finnish Guard fell ill and were wounded during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 . To tend to them, the Finnish Red Cross was founded on May 7, 1877.

The face of the Silver Medal shows a Geneva cross within a circular double oak leaf wreath. The Medal has a loop for ribbon suspension.

The obverse circumscribed inscription "INTER ARMA CARITAS" translates to "Mercy between armies". The reverse is inscribed "SUOMEN PUNAINEN RISTI" and "FINLANDS RODA KORS", Finnish and Swedish for "Finnish Red Cross".