French civilian wound medal?

[Chris Boonzaier]

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=13847

[JBFloyd]

Civil Wound Medal. Relatively uncommon, but apparently manufactured in same bewildering array of design variations as the military version.

[Kev in Deva]

From: Wound Medals, Insignias And Next of Kin Awards Of The Great War, by Arthur H. Houston & Vicken Koundakjian.

Published by OMSA Book Service 1995.

Page 22, (French Section):

" . . . . Similar awards were also created for civilians wounded by enemy action. A wound ribbon was authorised on 1 July, 1918.

This was 37mm wide with a central 10mm yellow stripe, flanked by 9mm blue stripes. On either side of the latter are a pair of approximately 2.5mm yellow stripes inset 2mm from the edge of the ribbon.

A five pointed star in white enamel is centered on the ribbon. A medal similar to the military wound medal was established.

Several variations are known, the most common being a five pointed white enamelled 35mm star, edged in gilt, resting on a laurel and oak leaf wreath (Figure 11). Purves (1975) notes that the youngest individual qualifying for this award was a two-month old infant, one of the 620 civilians killed or injured during the German bombardment of Paris 1918."

Kevin in Deva

Edited January 3, 2007 by Kev in Deva