Médaille des Engagés Volontaires post WW1??

[Mark McM]

Hello All,

I have a question about the award criteria for the Médaille des Engagés Volontaires, specifically why it is present on the following medal bar?  These are awards from the mid 20s onward.  Any ideas? 

[TacHel]

Being an easily found and cheaply purchased unofficial award...  Pretty much anybody could acquire one and slap it on in lieu of the clasp.  The French seem to tolerate such things, the insignia for wounds received is another such example. 

[Mark McM]

Thanks!  I've noticed a number of variations in design, including one type with a completely blank reverse.  Are these variations in any way date-specific?

[TacHel]

That's beyond my area of expertise, but I'm sure one of our experts will soon pop in.

[Mark McM]

Thanks!  I suspect the medal's non-official nature has a lot to do with the wide array of variation.