WW2 Commemorative Medal with GRANDE-BRETAGNE bar.

[Duncan]

Could someone tell me please the award criteria for the Grande-Bretagne bar on the French WW2 Commemorative War Medal. Is it service with the Free French forces but solely in the UK, so no active service outside the UK during the war?

Edited July 13, 2022 by Duncan

[Hendrik]

Hello Duncan,

 

The bar was awarded for participation in air operations flown from a UK territory base between 25 June 1940 and 8 May 1945.

 

Regards,

Hendrik

[Michael Johnson]

Here is the list of Free French Squadrons in the R.A.F.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_French_squadrons_of_the_Royal_Air_Force

 

Michael

Edited July 14, 2022 by Michael Johnson

[Michael Johnson]

These personnel would have qualified for British Medals as well, although at one point the War Medal was not awarded if a French Medal was.  However, as I've seen with a number of Polish groups, the War Medal was sometimes awarded - perhaps the guidelines changed.

 

Michael

[Duncan]

Thanks everyone. Actually, I seem to remember asking this same question on this site a while ago. Sorry, my memory's going!

[jimn]

Hello 

I would be interested to know if in fact Free French forces received and wore British campaign medals in WW2 . I think  some veterans of Bir Hakeim etc might have the Africa Star ribbon and the idea of a Frenchman wearing the Air Crew Europe Star is quite appealing. I say this because I thought after 1943 except for the above mentioned  air force units French  forces didn't serve under British command as such.