FRANCE: WW1 wound medal - badge for the
military personnel who suffered combat wounds
during the war operations.
With an additional red star on the ribbon, denoting
a 2nd combat wound.
Rare version of the 2nd type of the medal with
circular inner medallion, maker marked on the
reverse.
The medal was established by law in 1916, to be
awarded "to military personnel who have been
injured in the course of military operations or in
maintaining order, in the presence of the enemy
or due to enemy action".
Since 1952 the award was extended "to prisoners
and internees, as well as to prisoners of war,
wounded in the course of their detention".
Since the establishment of the French WW1
Commemorative Medal, in 1920, the regulations
were changed stating the medal was no longer to
be worn and that the combat wounds were to be
depicted by red wound stars on the ribbon of the
WW1 Commemorative Medal.
This was repeated for subsequent conflicts (WW2,
Indochina, etc.) where the award was officially
sanctioned only until an official commemorative
medal was established where the red wound stars
were to be transferred.
Despite this fact, many veterans opted to retain
the medal and never transferred their wound stars
to the official commemorative medals.
As a result, the medal is openly worn in lieu of the
approved insignia, it is not however recognized by
the Chancery of the Legion of Honor and therefore
is not an official French decoration.
Regardless, due to its symbolic value among
combat veterans, it is worn with other official
decorations and was tolerated for wear on the
uniform.
FULL SIZE
WW1 1914 - 1918
Item 100% original – ribbon original
Condition as on the photos
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