Hendrik

Picked these up in Paris last Sunday : 1. Officer in the Order of Maritime Merit (a merchant navy award) [attachmentid=36547]

The reverse is not half bad either [attachmentid=35278]

One of my favourites : the M?daille de la Fid?lit? Fran?aise. Awarded to inhabitants of the Alsace and Lorraine regions who had been imprisoned or exiled by the Germans during WWI, in recognition of their loyalty to France. The stars indicate the number of years in prison or exile. [attachmentid=35277]

Ha, the things one can get medals for : the Order of Tourism Merit, knight class ! [attachmentid=35276]

and the Order of Public Health Merit, knight class [attachmentid=35275]

Some more French niceties ... the M?daille Militaire, 2nd Empire type [attachmentid=35274]

Dan, Here's one but you'll find more on my website : Hendrik's Medal Corner Happy viewing, Hendrik [attachmentid=35273]

M?daille d'Honneur des Epid?mies Created on 31 March 1885 and originally awarded by the Ministry of Commerce (Hygiene Dept.). Later the responsability for this medal's attribution changed quite a number of times or was shared with other ministries which lead to the following types, in chronological order :- Commerce Int?rieur Hygi?ne Sant? Publique Guerre Alg?rie (within the framework of the Ministry of the Interior) Marine Colonies France d'Outre Mer (= type replacing the previous, colonial, one) and, finally, the present type as awarded by the Ministry of Health (Sant?) The medal is, of course, designated to reward those that rendered distinguished services during epidemics and was created following a cholera epidemic in 1884. Other important epidemics casualtywise had to be combatted in 1892-93 (cholera), 1893 and 1908 (typhus) and there was also the widespread flu epidemic at the close of WWI (1918-19). Source : Guide des Ordres Civils fran?ais et ?trangers, des m?dailles d'honneur et des m?dailles de soci?t? - Author : Andr? Souyris-Rolland

Christophe, Well spotted !!! It is indeed not the correct ribbon but one that has blue (and a lighter shade at that) and red inverted and I've been puzzled by it myself. I gave up on identifying it after not finding it among the French colonial awards. My best guess is that it might belong to a non-official veterans' society award but I'm clueless on those. Cheers, Hendrik

Please do !!! I'm quite enjoying reading this thread ... Captain Oudenne's awards are exceptional - Do you have the texts of the 8 citations as well ? Hendrik

Hello Chris, Too right ! In view of its history, you've done excellently Hendrik

Reverse of the Epidemics Medal [attachmentid=35126]

And closing for today : an Epidemics Medal as awarded by the War Ministry, obverse and case of issue [attachmentid=35125]

And now for some military enamel : Order of the Combattant Merit (for lack of a better translation of "Ordre du M?rite Combattant"). [attachmentid=35124]

More enamel for Dan : a Knight's class of the Order of Agricultural Merit [attachmentid=35123]

Hello Ed, I think (and it is indeed only an assumption of mine) that, as the fourrag?re is a unit distinction worn on the uniform, veterans use these mini-fourrag?res once they're out of the armed forces and in civilian clothing to show their having been awarded one. They are, of course, non-regulationary ! Cheers, Hendrik

...and a bit more enamel for Dan : Commander of the Order of Social Merit [attachmentid=35120]

Guess these will make Jan's eyes go all watery [attachmentid=35111]

More enamel ? Like on the one below ? The subject of French ODM's is a large one : lots of nicely designed military and civilian ones, non-official or semi-official medals (e.g. the WWI commemorative medals such as the Verdun medals, Chateau-Thierry, Somme etc. etc. etc.) and, in a class of their own, French colonial awards ... I agree : "Keep 'em coming" Happy Easter, Hendrik [attachmentid=34920] [attachmentid=34921]

Hello Jan, Yes, even a private could get these medals awarded to him although it's fairly safe to say he would not remain one for long : the action(s) for which he received the Leopold II with palm and the War Cross would, in my opinion, be likely to entail a promotion if the recipient was a sergeant or lower in rank. In any case, he was not a professional soldier as the Civil Decoration (for long service in the administration) shows. Happy Easter ! Hendrik

Alas no : no maker's marks etc. (at least none that I can see) or any other information available from the then seller ... Hendrik

Just finished scraping myself off the floor rolling with laughter till tears poured from my aged eyes ... mirth galore ! Thanks for making my day Ed !!!

Hello Dan, Just wished I had the old China one to show - alas, my medal collecting purse doesn't hold that much coinage If anyone of the Forum's Gents could post a picture of that ... ? In the meantime and just for the fun of it, a Legion d'Honneur breast star (cost me less than the aforementioned China medal !). Have a great Easter ! Joyeux Paques !! Vrolijk Pasen !!! Frohes Ostern Hendrik [attachmentid=34836]

Hello Igor, In your group there's the Commemorative Medal of WWI missing. Have you the name of the soldier (and even better : name + unit) that had those medals awarded to him ? If so, it might be possible to find out what devices should be on the ribbon of the Commemorative Medal and see if one can be found ... Cheers, Hendrik

I'll second that : always nice to see French ODMs. Three different sizes of Croix de Guerre in that picture - lovely !!! Here's one with a cute ribbon ... Cheers, Hendrik [attachmentid=34745]