France France Decorations of an infantry corporal

[balkanphila]

France Decorations of an infantry corporal

1. Verdun Medal 1916 in its original box;

2. Medal 1870 - 1871 "For the defenders of the Motherland" in its original box;

3. Fighter Cross, in its original box (House KRETLY)

4. Social Merit, silver, ;

5. Military Medal 1870 "Value and discipline" in its original box inscribed "Military Medal";

6. Medal U.N.C. with the ribbon enameled plate inscribed "Vice President", all in perfect condition in its original box;

7. Croix de Guerre 1914 - 1915 with 3 citations: 2 stars silver and 1 bronze palm, perfect condition, no oxidation in its original box inscribed "Military Medal";

7. Medal of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, in its original box and with diploma signed by General in 1957;

Medalbar of 6 miniatures in excellent condition including:

1 Chevalier du légion d'honneur ;

1 Médaille Valeur et discipline 1870

1 croix de guerre 1914 – 1918 ;

1 croix du combattant ;

1 Médaille de Verdun ;

1 Médaille du Mérite.

[Paul R]

1870-1918! That is a lot of service time!

[IrishGunner]

Very nice group.

Do you know the award criteria for the last medal on the miniature bar; Médaille du Mérite?

[IrishGunner]

1870-1918! That is a lot of service time!

Now that you mention it; that is quite a stretch of time. And then there is this: "diploma signed by General in 1957"

Seems like a very old soldier.

[FrontlineAntiques]

A great group to 1 guy! Well done!

Dan

[balkanphila]

Now that you mention it; that is quite a stretch of time. And then there is this: "diploma signed by General in 1957"

Seems like a very old soldier.

He was Born in 1883 !

Last Award Chevalier of Legion of Honor in Age of 74 Years!

Unfortunately I am not a collector of French Decorations

I looking for Decorations of Serbia and Yugoslavia!

Some interested ?

Edited December 5, 2010 by balkanphila

[IrishGunner]

He was Born in 1883

That makes more sense; he would have been 74 in 1957. So, how does this medal fit into the group then: Military Medal 1870 "Value and discipline" in its original box inscribed "Military Medal"?

And I wonder what he was doing 1940-45; in his late 50s.

[balkanphila]

That makes more sense; he would have been 74 in 1957. So, how does this medal fit into the group then: Military Medal 1870 "Value and discipline" in its original box inscribed "Military Medal"?

And I wonder what he was doing 1940-45; in his late 50s.

The medal is a crown of money laurel that surrounds a medallion of gold where face the effigy of Republic, surrounded with a blue enamel circle, where are registered the words: " Republic French ". To the reverse, the medal, door in the center of the medallion of gold, surrounded with a blue circle, the motto,: " Value and Discipline ". The leaves and buttons of laurel are bound of two latticed ribbons in top and below. The medal is suspended to a aries of money in the shape of trophy of weapons (motives: a breastplate put on an anchor of marine, two tubes of cannons, latticed, an ax, a saber...). The badge is suspended to a yellow ribbon edged of green of the two sides. The Military Medal carries itself after the Legion of honor (or possibly the order of the Liberation) and before the National order of the Merit. To the fall of the Second Empire, the eagle who surmounted the decoration made place to a trophy of weapons and Napoléon's effigy replaced by the one of the Republic (decree of November 8, 1870). The date of 1870 was registered on the inscription (and replaced by a motto by decree of November 8, 1951).

RECIPIENTS & CONDITIONS OF OBTAINING :

The Military Medal rewards the soldiers and assimilated non officers, in accordance with the R.136 article of the Code of the Legion of honor and the Military medal instituted by the decree of November 28, 1962. She/it can also be conceded (decree took in Council of the ministers) to the Marshals of France and to the general officers, Grand' Cross of the Legion, of honor, that in time of war exercised a command in chief the enemy or returned exceptional services to the National Defense (that last case dates a presidential decree of May 5, 1950). She/it can be assigned:

• To those that count eight years of military drafts;
• To those that have been mentioned to the order of the army whatever is their seniority of service;
• To those that received one or several injuries while fighting before the enemy or in ordered service;
• To those that are signalled themselves by an act of courage or devotion deserving reward.

Edited December 5, 2010 by balkanphila

[Veteran]

This lot might as well have belonged to two members of a same family (father & son for instance).

The 1870-71 Commemorative Medal was issued in 1911 to survivors of the Franco-Prussian war. Very few were in WW1 (one was Marshall Joffre who liked to wear his medal with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor).

The set of miniatues makes very good sense for a WW1 veteran who fought well. Late awards of the Legion d'honneur were occasionnally made to veterans who had several mentions in dispaches and the Medaille militaire for gallantry. The Merite social award was created in the 1930s and awarded to people who were significantly active in various civilian groups who brought social help to others.

The full sized awards which belong to the goup are typical of the WW1 veterans.

Hope this helps

Veteran

[balkanphila]

This lot might as well have belonged to two members of a same family (father & son for instance).

The 1870-71 Commemorative Medal was issued in 1911 to survivors of the Franco-Prussian war. Very few were in WW1 (one was Marshall Joffre who liked to wear his medal with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor).

The set of miniatues makes very good sense for a WW1 veteran who fought well. Late awards of the Legion d'honneur were occasionnally made to veterans who had several mentions in dispaches and the Medaille militaire for gallantry. The Merite social award was created in the 1930s and awarded to people who were significantly active in various civilian groups who brought social help to others.

The full sized awards which belong to the goup are typical of the WW1 veterans.

Hope this helps

Veteran

Thank you !

[RobW]

France Decorations of an infantry corporal

3. Fighter Cross, in its original box (House KRETLY)

In regards the War Combattant Cross are you able to post some closer pics of both the box and the reverse of the medal. I would be looking to see what, if any, makers mark is on the reverse.

Regards,

Rob

[Bison]

Very nice group.

Do you know the award criteria for the last medal on the miniature bar; Médaille du Mérite?

This is the "Mérite Social". This order, created in 1936, had three degrees (Knight, Officer and Commander).

It was awarded to social workers, and especially the benevolent ones.

It has been suppressed in 1963.

Regards

Bison