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The Graveyards of Gallipoli; A Digger History Associate Site
French medals 2

A Tribute to the Men of all the Nations that took part in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915
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Medals available to the French troops at Gallipoli, Page 2  (Page 1)

For uniforms equipment & badges

1914-1918 Combattant Volontaire Medal. (Volunteer for Combat Medal)
  • WW1 French Medal, Cross of Valour.  First World War bravery medal. 
French Combatant's Cross (Republique Francaise Croix du Combattant) See below left for ribbon

Croix de Combattant (WW1)

French WW1 Commemorative
  • French Medal of Gratitude, awarded to nurses (male and female) who treated the war wounded in WW1.
 
  • French medal of Honor from the Great War, WWI.
  • This medal is for saving a life.
  • Probably a commemorative
French commemorative medal of the Great War, WW1.

This medal was authorised in 1920 for all serviceman and some civilian auxiliaries from 1914-1918.

There were various clasps.

French Escapee Medal. (1914/18) Awarded to French Servicemen who after being taken prisoner managed to escape and return to duty.

French WW1 Military Wounds Medal (Insigne du Blessé Militaire) with one ribbon star indicating one wound.

French Commemorative Medal Engage Volontaire-Patrie

description cont'd below

Médaille Commémorative Française 1914-1918 - Awarded to all members of the French Armed Forces who saw service between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Instituted on 23 June 1920, it could also be conferred on members of the Merchant Navy, medical personnel, local authorities, police of fire brigades of bombed cities etc. Before the Cross for Volunteer Combatants was instituted, a bar "Engagé Volontaire" could be worn on the ribbon.  
French version of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal of WW1.
  • It was resolved that each of the Allied and Associated nations should issue a "Victory Medal" to their own nationals to prevent a mass exchange of commemorative awards between the nations. 
  • It was further resolved that all the issues would have as a common feature the figure of Victory upon the obverse. 
  • More detail

 
  • French Certificate that accompanied the award of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal.
  • Bronze medal signed by Gustave MARTIN, about the monument for heroes of the French Orient Army and distant lands erected in Marseille.
  • We can read "homage of the author" on the back. 
  • Dimensions : 69X42mm.

 

How French Medals were Presented

Commemorative diploma awarded to a private of 55th Infantry Regiment, 2 times wounded and 3½ years of captivity. Identity photo and his medals : Victory Medal, Combatant Cross, Military Merit Medal, WWI Commemorative Medal and 1870-71 War Veteran Society medal.
A Memorial Certificate for a French soldier killed in action in WW1 with his medals shown on the lower section.

A rough translation of the wording is

In the Memory of

ANDRE, Marius Jules

A soldier of the Regiment of ?????

Died for France

8 July 1917

The Nation Honours Him.
  • French "Orphans of War" medal, presented to people who protected the interests of war orphans. 
  • Issue date: 1918 onwards
  • Designer: Rene Lalique

The word "commemorative" means non-official.
 
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Graveyards of Gallipoli:  a Tribute to the Men of all the Nations that took part in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915