Bison

Hi, No, before 1963, the French ministerial orders used to be worn after all military medals... This was a great frustration especially for the professors and teachers and some other social categories. This has changed in 1963 when the Ordre National du Mérite was created, and worn in the 4th place after 1. the Légion d'honneur, t2. he Ordre de la Libération, 3. the Médaille Militaire. However, the Palmes Académiques survived this reform and climbed up just after the crosses and medals for bravery or gallantry, but before the campaign medals. I think this not the Palmes Académiques strictly speaking on this set, but the "Officier d'Académie" which was the name before becoming an order as such in 1955. It looks like the recipient was a musician, leading a (military?) band or teaching music, something like that. My two cents to this discussion. Regards Bison

TacHel is absolutely right ! Last unknown bottom middle is Le Dahir de Satisfaction, Morocco. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-2068-0-91605500-1417458218.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-2068-0-98559600-1417458198.jpg Cheers Bison

Thank you very much Tony! Then I was completely wrong. Can we know on the MIC if he actually retrieved his clasp? Kind regards Bison

I got recently this 1914 Star, to Pte Albert L. Hill of the 2nd Battalion of the Border Regiment. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-2068-0-21005900-1416679357.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-2068-0-43106900-1416679379.jpg I understand from his MIC that Private Albert L. Hill never picked up his bar ... There is a mounting system which seems to me to be the one he wore in 1918 when the BWM and the Victory Medal were not awarded yet. Am I right ? It is mentioned "Discl" on his MIC. Does that mean "Disclaimed"? Does this relates to the bar or to the BWM and the VM? Thanks in advance for your answers. Bison Today, 22 November 2014 is the centenary of the end of the 1st battle of Yper!

Periods of operations in Tonkin to be awarded the clasp corresponding to this Mourgeon design: - JAN 1917 to JUL 1919 - SEP 1919 to APR 1920 - DEC 1920 to MAR 1921 - OCT 1921 - JAN 1922 - APR 1922 - JAN 1927 to DEC 1927 - FEB 1928 to MAY 1928 Regards Bison

I am afraid it is Mourgeon and not F. Rottarch. The pearls around the frame are typical Mourgeon's style, which makes easy identification. Titles are above the pictures in the book of Patrick Binet. Regards Bison

Hi Andreas, I believe the right order is: - Légion d'honneur - Médaille Militaire - Croix de guerre - Croix du Combattant Volontaire - Croix du Combattant - Médaille Coloniale - Médaille interalliée - Médaille du Tonkin - Médaille du Maroc - Médaille commémorative 14-18 - Ordre du Dragon d'Annam Regards Bison

Yes for sure. The knight degree used to be awarded to the NCOs pending the duration of their tour. The officers used to be awarded the officer's degree and above according to their rank.

The bar "1900 Chine 1901" I didn't see is not going on the Médaille commémorative du Tonkin. It goes on the Médaille commémorative de Chine which is not on the group. I suspect he was too young to have a chance to have this medal with those of the great war. I wonder why it is here... But sometimes, one can find this kind of strange thing. Tonkin is OK with the Médaille Coloniale. I have to check with my doc I don't have with me at the moment if it is possible to have the bar on the Médaille Coloniale AND the médaille commémorative du Tonkin. Not sure. Incredible career! But not unbelievable. Regards Bison

And I forgot to mention that the identification of Andreas is absolutely correct!

Hi Andreas, That's really great. Just a comment: the bar "Haut-Guir" has nothing to do on the Médaille Coloniale. This bar must go on the Médaille commémorative du Maroc. Question: what is the first bar on the Médaille Coloniale? Again, this is really impressive to see the full set of a Légionnaire with so much campaigns. You are a lucky man. Regards Bison

I think it is: Le capitaine Mesnil, Cdt la Cie de Mses, which stands for commandant la compagnie de mitrailleuses. Regards Bison

Hi I read: "Laisser passer le sergent Rinuldi mle 25307 et le légionnaire (de première classe?) Dor mle 5672 se rendant pour le service à Masevaux." Regards Bison

Well... not easy to answer but let's try. 1. These clasps are not scarce. 2. Your clasp "MAROC" in this oriental style is normally for the Morocco campaign medal, not for the Médaille Coloniale, but it is common to find it on this ribbon. However, it exists for the Médaille Coloniale with the same design than your clasp "SAHARA". 3. The combination of "MAROC" and "SAHARA" is something possible starting in the 1910s (the campaign medal for Morocco is instituted in 1909). Your medal is a second type, after 1914. 4. How it looks like: http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-2068-0-79249700-1413220177.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2014/post-2068-0-77250700-1413220215.jpg Regards Bison

Jeff, This is very hard to say... The model with "1870" started in 1870 and ended in 1951. Concerning your model it is absolutely impossible to say because this is a standard from the Monnaie de Paris, the official mint. Regards Bison

Fusillez-moi ça !

I am afraid a fifth medal is also missing on the bottom right. Anyway, the service bar is missing on the Defense Nationale Medal, like "Infantry", "Artillery", "Airborne", "Foreign Legion" etc.. One cannot have this medal with only the "geographical" bar like "overseas missions" or "Antarctica territories" or "French Forces in Germany" which is just complementary to the service bar mandatory granted at the first award. Cannot believe that a veteran from the Foreign Legion is not bearing the bar "Légion Etrangère", at least. Regards Bison

Well, it depends where you take the measure. Let's say 2mm at 3 o'clock and 3mm at 6 o'clock. To illustrate what I told you before, here is the medal of my great uncle. It is made by Arthus-Bertrand, in bronze but silver plated, diameter 36 mm, marked on the edge. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2014/post-2068-0-69048100-1402759268.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2014/post-2068-0-14865000-1402759292.jpg Comparison with the regular Monnaie de Paris one, diameter 30 mm (note the "engagé volontaire" non-official bar) : The diploma : Regards Bison

You are correct. This is actually the Commemorative Medal of the 1870-1871 war. But it has been created in 1911, 30 years after. Then when you ask to know what are those of the "period", obviously, there are none. I have one of my grand uncle, attributed in June 1912 (he was almost 55), and the model is from Arthus-Bertrand, oversized, and silver plated. Therefore one can say that the private and 'official' models were made at the very early time of the attributions, but also later on... Yours Bison

First, no one of these medals is from the French Prussian war, since it has been established in 1911. The demand from the Veteran was high, so private makers produced this medal at the same time with the Monnaie de Paris. The private models are probably less numerous, and the special ones in silver, in gold or oversized are relatively scarce. Regards Bison

Hi Jim, The left hand one is made by the Monnaie de Paris, the other is probably made by Arthus-Bertrand, to be confirmed. You should find the maker's mark on the reverse for the Monnaie de Paris or on the edge for Arthus-Bertrand. Regards Bison

Ooops, sorry. This is the Mérite Militaire Tchadien, or Military Merit of Chad.

I am afraid this is the gold star of Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur...

We use to find these kinds of artefacts, metallic symbols and strange small insignias. Most of them were used on the traditional students caps, and represent the course, the specialty, the rank, etc.. Each High School or University used to have its own hermetic rules for that. However, one can often find some variation in the stars on the Croix de Guerre, but they are never as big as those Chris is showing. Here is an example of 'unusual' stars: Regards Bison

Yes it was. But after 1936 under conditions. Regards Bison