WW1 Victory Medal

[Guest Darrell]

Here is a Salty WW1 Victory Medal c/w the France, Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne Clasps (Wrap Broach).

[Ed_Haynes]

The British medal has no clasps and is of totally different design. This is the US medal. Can someone move it.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Guest Rick Research]

Uh oh! Somebody naughty mounted a "France" that could only be alone with two battle bars.

Note no tiny end stars on the France, versus the other two?

Must have had the usual generic "Defensive Sector" bar worn lower-most get lost and the "France" slipped on for only the near-sighted to see.

Theoretically the "France" bar was given to base area etc types who never saw combat, but it was also given to units that DID see combat outside American divisional orders of battle-- and was still only worn as an orphan solo. My mom's first boss was such a case, having been a company commander in a "negro" (as then called) unit which served with high distinction under the French. And I remember old vets like my great uncle very bitter about having been detached and under fire but only being authorized the

rear area shirkers

solo France bar, without any battle stars on the ribbon bar.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Rick,

I agree entirely with your comments, the following is stated in the book: The Inter-Allied Victory Medal of WW1.

2nd Revised Edition by Alexander J. Laslo.

Army Service (Country) Clasps.

The following service (Country) clasps were awarded to Army personnel who served overseas but, were not eligible for a battle clasp. Officer and enlisted crew memners of Army and commercial transports operating from the uS also qualified for those service clasps which encompased the destination of the transport; however, only one service clasp could be awarded to a crew member. About 1,000 men of the Army performed transport service to France and England.

It is implied in W.D. G.O. No. 48 and W.D. Circulars No. 188 and No. 46 that more than ones service clasp could be awarded. The possibility is confirmed by W.D. Circular No. 261 of 10 July 1920 which states that "More than one of the country clasps can be awarded. . . . .", but there are two exceptions.

The two exceptions are the officer and enlisted crew members of the Army and commercial transports discussed above and the ENGLAND Clasp. The England clasp was awarded to personel who served over seas exclusively in England and no other service clasp country. Victory medals issued with multiple service clasps are extremely rare. The only documented example known to the author has both the FRANCE and ITALY service clasps and was forwarded to a retired Army Major General.

FRANCE: For service in France between 6th April 1917 and 11 November 1918.

(Approximate number entitled - 621,600)

Eligibility for the Victory Medal with France service clasp presumedly extended to the survivors of a group of 223 French-speaking American women who volunteered to serve as uniformed telephone operators for the Army Signal Corps in France and who were granted veterans status during May 1979.

At least 25 of these women served in the combat zone at the 1st and 2nd Army Headquarters between 1 September and 11 November 1918; and one of the operators Miss Grace D. Barker, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

In all, the Army issued Honorable Discharge Certificates to 18 former members of this group of women.

ITALY: For service in Italy betwen 6th April 1917 and 11 November 1918.

(Approximate number entiltled - 4,800).

SIBERIA For any service in Siberia.

(Approximate number entitled - 9,000).

RUSSIA. For any service in Russia.

(Approximate number entitled - 9,000).

ENGLAND For Service in England between the 6th April 1917 and 11th November 1918.

(Approximate number entitled - 30,000).

Kevin in Deva.

[Tim B]

Thought I would post a few of mine to show them off--they are such a beautiful design as are the other countries that produced them.

Tim

Here's one with the France bar as discussed:

[Tim B]

One with Three battle clasps:

[Tim B]

One with five battle clasps for the 28th Division:

[Tim B]

...and another with five battle clasps for the 1st Division: Enjoy!

Tim

[Ulsterman]

Interesting post. On eBay over the past year several nurses groups have popped up and all have had issued WW1 Victory medals--with "France" bars.

[Daniel Cole]

42nd Rainbow Division

[Paul R]

42nd Rainbow Division

THese are some great medals. So are most medals tracable by the clasps they have?