Interesting inscription on this civil medal, can someone decyfer please

[Duncan]

Is anyone able to decyfer what's been engraved on this medal please, or advise on what the engraving refers to please?

Also, what the medal was awarded for? I've seen some info on the Internet,  but not been able to see who they were issued to or specifically for what?

Thank you,

Duncan.

[Michael Johnson]

At a guess: "Société La Philanthropique à son vice-président A. Alzon 1922"

 

This medal was awarded in 1920 to an Andre Henri Marie ANGERS in a differently-named society in Angers: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63713481.image.r=ALZON.f43.hl and later a silver: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6475969r.image.r=ALZON.f44.hl

 

Even if it is not the same person, I think you are looking at Angers, Main-et-Loire.  He was born in 1877, which would make him the right age.

 

His military record doesn't add much: https://archives-deux-sevres-vienne.fr/ark:/58825/vta9460e5f07dc1d60b/daogrp/0/1/idsearch:RECH_d7798c895919a73c6e96c9cded99e9e4?id=https%3A%2F%2Farchives-deux-sevres-vienne.fr%2Fark%3A%2F58825%2Fvta9460e5f07dc1d60b%2Fcanvas%2F0%2F61&vx=629.771&vy=-770.412&vr=0&vz=7.62463

 

The medal itself was given for services to societies that provided social support.  Mutual benefit societies are organizations that provide aid to reduce the impact of problems such as illness, disability, accidents, unemployment, death or, less often, retirement.

You got:

a certificate after 3 years

a bronze medal after another 2 years

a silver medal after another 3 years 

a gold medal after a further 4 years

with French medal classes "silver" and "gold" mean silver wash and gilt (vermeil).

Michael

Edited June 18, 2022 by Michael Johnson

[Duncan]

54 minutes ago, Michael Johnson said:

At a guess: "Société La Philanthropique à son vice-président A. Alzon 1922"

 

This medal was awarded in 1920 to an Andre Henri Marie ANGERS in a differently-named society in Angers: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63713481.image.r=ALZON.f43.hl and later a silver: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6475969r.image.r=ALZON.f44.hl

 

Even if it is not the same person, I think you are looking at Angers, Main-et-Loire.  He was born in 1877, which would make him the right age.

 

His military record doesn't add much: https://archives-deux-sevres-vienne.fr/ark:/58825/vta9460e5f07dc1d60b/daogrp/0/1/idsearch:RECH_d7798c895919a73c6e96c9cded99e9e4?id=https%3A%2F%2Farchives-deux-sevres-vienne.fr%2Fark%3A%2F58825%2Fvta9460e5f07dc1d60b%2Fcanvas%2F0%2F61&vx=629.771&vy=-770.412&vr=0&vz=7.62463

 

The medal itself was given for services to societies that provided social support.  Mutual benefit societies are organizations that provide aid to reduce the impact of problems such as illness, disability, accidents, unemployment, death or, less often, retirement.

You got:

a certificate after 3 years

a bronze medal after another 2 years

a silver medal after another 3 years 

a gold medal after a further 4 years

with French medal classes "silver" and "gold" mean silver wash and gilt (vermeil).

Michael

That's absolutely fantastic, thank you. I had no idea French military documents were available. I'll run it through Google translate tonight - unfortunately my French is practically non-existent. Very interesting too about the medal. I was confused as to what mutual benefit societies actually were, thank you for clarifying for me.

Thank you again.

Duncan.

[Michael Johnson]

The main site for matricules (service records) is: http://www.culture.fr/Genealogie/Grand-Memorial

 

The problem is that the archives are maintained by the various departements (like counties) in France, and they all have different search platforms.  Some will take you straight to the right document, others will give you another search window.  Also, given that there were often pieces of paper pasted onto these documents, there can be multiple images as they try to show all entries.

 

If you run into difficulties, give me a shout.  I'm fluent in French and have some familiarity with early 20th century French penmanship.  Plus I have a First War French site where I go for help.

 

Michael

 

 

[Duncan]

3 hours ago, Michael Johnson said:

The main site for matricules (service records) is: http://www.culture.fr/Genealogie/Grand-Memorial

 

The problem is that the archives are maintained by the various departements (like counties) in France, and they all have different search platforms.  Some will take you straight to the right document, others will give you another search window.  Also, given that there were often pieces of paper pasted onto these documents, there can be multiple images as they try to show all entries.

 

If you run into difficulties, give me a shout.  I'm fluent in French and have some familiarity with early 20th century French penmanship.  Plus I have a First War French site where I go for help.

 

Michael

 

 

Thank you, that's very kind of you.