Military Cross

Silver cross with splayed ends bearing a crown at each end. The centre of the cross overlaid with a facetted cross with a central monogram GR. Plain single link suspender from a plain bar. Ribbon - white, purple, white equal stripes.

Ortweiler underwent initial training in the RFC at Denham and was then posted to the School of Aeronautics at Oxford on 4th April 1917. He went to an unidentiofied training school at Hendon ND, and then on to 69 Squadron ND, 81 Squadron ND and was appointed Flying Officer on 11th August 1917. He was posted to the Expeditionary Force and into 29 Squadron on 29th September. He was shot down and became a Prisoner of War on 16th October. Ortweiler escaped from German captivity and returned to England. After leave he was posted to South East Area for disposal on 21st November 1918. He served at 42 TDS and the Repatriation Camp at Winchester, attended an Anti-Gas Course in the Isle of Wight from 31st December to 4th January 1919, went back to 42 TDS until 22nd April and was then posted to Crystal Palace. He was placed on the Unemployed List on 19th June 1919.