France French Medal question

[Irish]

Can someone tell me the difference in issuance for these medals. Both indicate Maroc service. Are they contemporary to one another ? The N African commemorative medal indicates service beyond Morroco. Both are Lemaire types. thanks for any help John

[Irish]

Can someone tell me the difference in issuance for these medals. Both indicate Maroc service. Are they contemporary to one another ? The N African commemorative medal indicates service beyond Morroco. Both are Lemaire types. thanks for any help John

I hate to reply to my own post but upon more looking I have determined that the N.African Medal w/ bars is for service in the 1950's era.

[Paul L Murphy]

As you said in your second post they are for different periods. The one on the right is for 50s and 60s (up until these North African territories were given their independance). It is very unusual to find it with three bars, you normally find it with one bar and Algeria is the most common.

The badge on the left hand ribbon is the unit badge of the 5th Regiment Tirailleurs Marocains (Moroccan Rifle Regiment) and dates from a later period than the medal.

Edited December 30, 2010 by Paul L Murphy

[Veteran]

As you said in your second post they are for different periods. The one on the right is for 50s and 60s (up until these North African territories were given their independance). It is very unusual to find it with three bars, you normally find it with one bar and Algeria is the most common.

The badge on the left hand ribbon is the unit badge of the 5th Regiment Tirailleurs Marocains (Moroccan Rifle Regiment) and dates from a later period than the medal.

Paul Murphy is right. The first medal with the green and white ribbon is the Moroccan campaign medal (1909-1912)issued to the troups engaged in the conquest of Morocco. It can carry one or several of four clasps : CASABLANCA - OUDJA - HAUT-GUIR - MAROC, according to the length and types of services.

So to speak, the first medal was issued when the French went into Morocco, and the last when they came out...

Regards

Veteran

[Irish]

Paul Murphy is right. The first medal with the green and white ribbon is the Moroccan campaign medal (1909-1912)issued to the troups engaged in the conquest of Morocco. It can carry one or several of four clasps : CASABLANCA - OUDJA - HAUT-GUIR - MAROC, according to the length and types of services.

So to speak, the first medal was issued when the French went into Morocco, and the last when they came out...

Regards

Veteran

thanks Veteran, a nice analogy. One medal on the way in and the other on the way out. John

[Paul L Murphy]

And if you want to get an example of the medals they earned while they were there then ou need to get the Medaille Colonial with a Maroc or Maroc 1923 bar. Then you will have the complete set.

[PKeating]

Just a couple of comments: the MAROC clasp on the 1950s "Security Operations and Maintenance of Order Medal", as it was euphemistically called by a government turning backward cartwheels to avoid admitting that it was a war, looks like an aftermarket Arthus Bertrand item. There were four clasps authorised for this medal, of which you have three, the other being SAHARA. The badge pinned to the earlier medal is that of the 5e Régiment de tirailleurs morocains, formed from the 65e Régiment de tirailleurs morocains in 1929. The 65e RTM was formed in 1920 so the medal predates the unit although the recipient could well have served with the 5e RTM as an older soldier. The 5e RTM was dissolved in 1946, reformed in 1950 and redesignated the 27e Régiment d'infantérie in 1965. The 5e RTM nevertheless retained the battle honours of the 65e RTM: Maroc 1925 and Levant 1926-1927. I would really expect to see this badge pinned to a Colonial Medal with the appropriate clasp or to the Levant Medal of the period but, as previously said, if the badge was pinned to the riband by the Morocco Medal's original recipient, it is entirely possible that he later served with this unit or its predecessor.

PK