George Rayner Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 (edited) In Bomy church, in Northern France 30 mins from St Omer I came across this medal set on the wall with no identification of what they are. Please can anybody identify the medals for me. Thank you. (A linked thread under soldiers for Royal Irish regiment but unrelated other than place) George Edited 25 February , 2019 by George Rayner Stupidity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 25 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 25 February , 2019 No photos of medals George Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 25 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Thank you Michelle! George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munce Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 I think the one on the far right as we look at it is the Portuguese Military Order of Christ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 25 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Thank you. Makes it an interesting set then. Can see a Verdun clasp-is that the right terminology?-next to it. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 (edited) The medals left to right are Medaille Militaire, Croix de Guerre, Croix de la Valeur Militaire, Medaille des Blesses de Guerre, Medaille Interalliee de la Victoire 1914-1918, Medaille Commemorative de la Guerre 1914-1918, the seventh is an unofficial Verdun veterans medal and the last one I don't know. They translate as Military Medal, War Cross, Cross for Military Valour, Medal for War Wounded, Victory Medal, Commemorative War Medal 1914-1918, Verdun Veterans Medal (Unofficial) and "Dunno". Pete. Edited 25 February , 2019 by CorporalPunishment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 25 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Fantastic Pete. Great knowledge. We already know that the last one is Portuguese Military Order of Christ according to Munce in post #4 George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 (edited) The 'Croix de la Valeur Militaire' is actually more likely to be a faded ribboned 'Croix du Combattant' (the obverses were identical, but the C de VM wasn't introduced until 1956 and the actions in Algeria … it was introduced as there was a necessity for a Croix de Guerre level medal to be issued for military activities in a 'non-war' scenario (Algeria was classed as part of France at that time)). Extremely unlikely to find a Croix de la Valeur Militaire in a WW1 grouping. Dave. Edited 25 February , 2019 by CROONAERT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 (edited) Note that the Verdun medal is the version by Prudhomme (rarer than the more common Vernier variety) and the wounded medal, though originally introduced in 1916 (in a variety of styles), was not an 'official' decoration until 2016! Edited 25 February , 2019 by CROONAERT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Thanks Dave, Croix du Combattant would be spot-on. You have to make allowances for my age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 26 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 26 February , 2019 Thank you for clarifications and background info. It is a fascinating grouping and I was surprised there was no info with it. I will ask again if the village knows whose set it is or might be. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 26 February , 2019 Share Posted 26 February , 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, George Rayner said: It is a fascinating grouping and I was surprised there was no info with it. I will ask again if the village knows whose set it is or might be. Other than the Portuguese medal, it's actually quite a typical grouping for a French soldier who had seen action/served at - or near - Verdun (at any time between 1914 and 18 ... not just the 1916 battle) and was invalided/disabled through wounds received in action but who survived the war and was still alive to receive a 'carte du combatant' in 1926. Funnily enough, though there are three 'gallantry' awards in that group, it is highly possible that none of them were awarded for such. If anything, it's the Portuguese medal, making that particular group more unique than some, that would help to narrow it down … … if it was officially awarded, that is! Dave Edited 26 February , 2019 by CROONAERT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 27 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2019 Thank you Croonaert. Not being a specialist such as yourself it is fascinating for me. What does the cockade signify if anything? George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 2 March , 2019 Share Posted 2 March , 2019 On 27/02/2019 at 06:13, George Rayner said: . What does the cockade signify if anything? Other than 'France', probably nothing really. (Well, it might, but it'd be impossible to say as it may be personal. Cockades like that appeared in and for many events in a soldier's life (and, to be fair, in a civilian's too!) …added to kepis in 'grande tenue' dress uniforms (though not that one - it's too big), worn as a rosette at a 'bal des conscrits' prior to enlistment, part of a decorative display, at a victory parade, at a remembrance event, on Bastille Day etc etc ... the list is unlimited.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Rayner Posted 2 March , 2019 Author Share Posted 2 March , 2019 Thank you anyway George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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