Hendrik

And the reverse. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=60490]

Another cute Italian unofficial medal is the "Medaglia ai Minorati di Guerra" ('war invalids medal' would be a suitable translation). Created on the instigation of the "Associazione Nationale Tubercolotice di Guerra" in 1924. Two nearly identical medals were struck, one by the firm of "M. Pozzi", the other by the "L. Fassino" firm (as indicated on the medal's obverse at 9 o'clock). The designer was one Prof. A. Marco, whose name can be found on the reverse. [attachmentid=60487] [attachmentid=60489]

Hello Dave, I think you're 100 % correct on that. Had a look at what Brambilla has to say on them in his book and he calls them "campaign bars". That fits in nicely with those stabilization etc. operations you mentioned. Of course, as you know, those bars can also be found on the Libya Commemorative Medal instituted about a year later. I love Italian bars, both the nice ornamental ribbon ones as well as the ones where you can get a decent espresso or cappucino However, I'm stuck with a Libyan Commemorative Medal which has a silver bar for ... 1940 ! I find it somewhat hard to believe it belongs on that medal's ribbon but can't see what other medal would carry it. Any ideas ? Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=60485] [attachmentid=60486]

Hello Marcus, Looks good to me ... it should have the name of its designer (Mori) as well as a crown mark (Carlo Illario & F.lli maker's mark) on the reverse bottom cross arm. There are variations without those but, to my knowledge, on a slightly less wide and more square looking suspension. Cheers, Hendrik

Right you are, Dan - my mistake Thanks for setting this straight ! Cheers, Hendrik

Thanks Rich ! Here's another interesting one from the same era : the Fiume Medal or "Medaglia Commemorativa della Spedizione di Fiume". On Fiume being given to Yugoslavia as war reparation, an Italian force of about 300 under Gabriele d'Annunzio marched on Fiume in September 1919 and declared it an independant state (Reggenza del Carnaro). It was shortlived as just over a year later, in January 1921, the starved occupants had to surrender. Also, it's not without interest to know that Mussolini copied the form of government that had been created in Fiume for his fascist Italy later on. You might like to wander over to my website and have a look at a medal group to one of d'Annunzio's bodyguard ... nice story I think. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=60127] [attachmentid=60128]

Nice booklet, Eric ! I notice the gent in the picture served with the "Republican Guards" ... the guys that stand guard at the Senate and President's palace in Paris if I'm not mistaken. Cheers, Hendrik

My latest and I love the idea : The Service Medal of the Offices for Notification of Military Families (created in 1919). The number of stars on the ribbon indicates the number of years served in the department. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=60039] [attachmentid=60040]

Hello Rich, Great looking book ... I love the pagefinder ribbon : in the proper colours What are the contents ? Description of the various grades, regulations, anything else like perhaps a list of recipients ? Cheers, Hendrik.

Hello Michael, To my knowledge there's no "gold" class, the 1st class of this medal is gilt only which is also confirmed in the text on the France Phaleristique website (and I can vouch for the one with the palm on its ribbon not being gold ... unfortunately perhaps) . I quite agree that recipients of the 2nd type would have seen service in wartime but ignore whether posthumous awards would have been made ... interesting point ! Somehow, I doubt it and feel a deportation or resistance medal would have been more likely to have been sent to the next-of-kin. Still, it needs to be confirmed. Cheers, Hendrik

Nice one Chris ! You have a knack for unearthing those fine documents - keep at it ! Cheers, Hendrik

Stijn, you don't have to wait that long : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3770# Cheers, Hendrik

Nice one Greg ! Here's what I have on my website about it : The Badge for Disabled Veterans 1939-45. This badge was created on 18 May 1942 for those wounded or invalided during the wars of 1939-40 and 1941-45. A badge only for the Winter War disabled veterans does also exists but was discontinued. And here's a (small) picture of the earlier badge [attachmentid=58978] Cheers, Hendrik

Nice group Stijn !!! The rosette on the Italian ribbon has suffered as well and seems at some time to have fallen off and reaffixed on its ribbon ... obviously its recipient had plenty of occasions to wear his group of medals. Thanks for posting it. Cheers, Hendrik

This one was still missing in this thread, the 4th type depicting the TGV on its reverse. Three classes are supposed to exist : bronze, silver and gilt. However, the one here sports a gilt palm on its ribbon and I have no information on what that means (an additional number of years of service perhaps ?) - anyone have an idea ? Cheers, Hendrik. [attachmentid=58729] [attachmentid=58730]

The reverses [attachmentid=58728]

Hello Christophe & all, Refering to the excellent site http://www.france-phaleristique.com/ I found there are 5 types and the one with the "Minist?re du Travail" etc. reverse legend, being the latest type, would thus be type 5. Whatever the type, they were awarded in bronze, silver and gold classes as can be seen in the pictures below. The field of French civil medals is vast and complicated to say the least but these "M?dailles d'Honneur" do have a certain appeal One of the questions I've been asking myself is why the named reverses can be found with and without the year of award. As can be seen on the reverses of the medals below, the gold class bears the recipient's name only, the silver class one contains both name and year - yet both are of the same type and awarded by the same ministry. Any ideas ? Cheers, Hendrik. [attachmentid=58727]

The "Croce Commemorativa del Regimento "Savoia Cavalleria" nella Campagna di Russia nel 1942" (Commemorative Cross of the Savoia Cavalry Regiment in the Russian Campaign of 1942) was created in 1969 by the National Cavalry Association for award to members of the aforementioned regiment in remembrance of the two battles fought in August 1942 at Jagodnij and Isbuschenkskij (resp. 22 and 24 August). It is believed those battles were the last cavalry charges fought by western armed forces. For a loss of 86 men, the Italian cavalry charges inflicted some 250 casualties on the Russian forces of 2,000 strong. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=58705] [attachmentid=58706]

And finally, the Mauriziana Medal - you need 50 years in the armed forces for this one. The award is a gold medal (which recipients are supposed to take great care of) accompanied by a gilt one for wearing - the one in the pictures below is ... the gilt version, I'm afraid. Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=58691] [attachmentid=58692]

A bronze Red Cross Medal with RSI reverse : [attachmentid=58688] [attachmentid=58689]

The box : [attachmentid=58685] [attachmentid=58683] [attachmentid=58686]

Here's a few recent acquistions ... first, the Star of Labour Merit in its Italian Republic box by Johnson in Milano. [attachmentid=58679] [attachmentid=58681]

Hello Kevin, the postcard, being printed in Versailles, must be French but the handwriting on its reverse is definitely not. Could be an Eastern European language ... Cheers, Hendrik

Lovely stuff and a wealth of information - many thanks !!! And ... keep them coming Cheers, Hendrik

Thanks Gents, keep it going So, Luxemburg received the L?gion d'Honneur ... At a guess, the city would then also have received the French Croix de Guerre and possibly the Belgian one too ? Anyone who has a clue there ? Thanks too for the information on the class awarded ! Cheers, Hendrik