2nd class Saint Stanislaus order document issued in 1864 to the Major of Royal Prussian Army Bruno Hugo Karl Friedrich von François

Bruno von François was awarded with 2nd class Saint Stanislaus order on January 20, 1864. Document was issued on February 3, 1864.

 

Bruno Hugo Karl Friedrich von François (June 29, 1818 Magdeburg; August 6, 1870 Spicheren) was a son of Prussian Generalleutnant Karl von François (1785-1855 ) and his wife Betty, née von Vangerow ( 1799-1844). François studied at the pedagogical school in Halle and at the high schools in Koblenz , Cologne and Luxembourg. On December 29 , 1834, he enlisted as a musketeer in the 37th rifle regiment of the Prussian army, commanded by his father at the time. In January 1836, he was promoted to second lieutenant and from October 1, 1839 he was assigned for three years to the General War School to continue his training. During his military career, François participated in the war against Denmark in 1864. On January 4, 1866, he was appointed to command the 58th infantry regiment (pl) and on April 3, 1866, he was appointed commander of the regiment. As such, François became a colonel on June 8, 1866 and fought in the same year at Nachod , Skalitz and Schweinschädel against the Austrians. Wounded at the Battle of Sadowa on July 3, 1866, he was decorated with the order Pour le Mérite on September 20, 1866.

Under the position following his regiment, François was charged on July 14, 1870 with command of the 27th infantry brigade and was promoted to major general on July 26, 1870. Five days later, he was named commander of this brigade, with which he goes to war against France. As brigade commander, François commanded the 39th Rifle Regiment and the 74th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Forbach - Spicheren. Shortly after reaching the plateau of the heights of Spicheren after the assault on the Red Mountain, he was hit under the raised right arm and collapsed. Hit by four more sniper bullets, he died. His last words were said to have been: “It’s beautiful to die on the battlefield; I like to die because I see the battle moving forward".

His place of death, fenced and equipped with a commemorative stone, is located in the immediate vicinity of the memorial of the 74th infantry regiment. His grave is in the cemetery of honor in the Franco-German Garden of Saarbrücken.

The grave inscription reads: "He was hit by five enemy bullets during the victorious advance during the storming of Spicheren Heights on August 6, 1870. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. ‎Proverbs 21:31 KJV".​