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The Medal of the French Family

The Medal of the French Family (or Médaille de la Famille française) is a decoration awarded by the government of France to honor those who have successfully raised several children with dignity.

The decoration was created by a decree of May 26, 1920, under the name Médaille d’honneur de la famille française (Medal of Honour of the French Family) with the aim of honoring mothers of large families.

The text of the decree underwent several changes before being completely reformed by a decree of October 28, 1982, which renamed the decoration Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family). The reform opened the award of the decoration to fathers or anyone else who had raised several children in an appropriate way: for example, the Catholic priest Père Mayotte was granted the award in recognition of his raising the six children of his housekeeper, a widow who died suddenly.

Recommendations or applications for the award must be deposited at the local town hall. An inquiry into the family is then conducted. If the inquiry reports positively, the final decision on whether to grant the award belongs to the prefect of the department.

The Medal of the French Family Design

Three classes of this medal exist: bronze for those raising four or five children, silver for parents of six or seven children, and gold for those with eight or more children.

A bronze medal is also granted to widowed mothers of three children whose husbands have been killed in action. The recipient’s eldest child must be at least sixteen years old. The medal is decorated with the words “Famille Française” (“French Family”) and a modernistic image of a couple and their children. The words “République Française” (“French Republic”) are inscribed on the reverse side.

The ribbon is divided vertically into three equal parts, the outer two being red and the inner green. Recipients of silver and gold medals are also granted a rosette in the same colours.

The War Cross for Foreign Operational Theaters

The War Cross for Foreign Operational Theaters or TOE is a French military award denoting citations earned in combat in foreign countries.

The War Cross for Foreign Operational Theaters (or Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieurs), also called the Croix de Guerre TOE for short, is a French military award denoting citations earned in combat in foreign countries.

The Armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the war between France and Germany, but French soldiers continued fighting in theaters outside metropolitan France. Combat operations continued in Syria, Palestine, Constantinople, Morocco, French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa.

A law was passed on April 30, 1921 establishing the new Croix de guerre for “Théâtres d’opérations extérieurs” (TOE). It was intended to commemorate the individual citations awarded during operations carried out since November 11, 1918 or that would occur in the future, for war service directly related to an expeditionary force used outside of the borders of France.

The War Cross for Foreign Operational Theaters Design

The Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures is a bronze 37 mm wide cross pattée, between the arms, two crossed swords pointing upward.

It was designed by the sculptor Albert Bartholome. On the obverse in a circular medallion, the effigy of the Republic wearing a cap decorated with a laurel wreath, surrounded by a ring bearing the legend: “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. On the reverse, in the circular medallion the inscription: “THÉÂTRES D’OPÉRATIONS EXTÉRIEURS”.

The cross is suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a 38 mm wide grey silk moiré ribbon with 10 mm wide red edge stripes. The Croix de guerre TOE is worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other medals of France, is located immediately after the Croix de guerre 1939 – 1945.

The Insignia for Wounded Civilians

The Insignia for wounded civilians (Insigne des blessés civils) is a French distinction for civilians injured or maimed as a result of war.

The Insignia for wounded civilians (or Insigne des blessés civils) is a French distinction for civilians, irrespective of age or sex, who have been injured or maimed as a result of war.

It was Maurice Barres, defender of the National Federation of the Disabled and President of the League of Patriots, to whom the idea of the creation of the Badge Wounded. In 1915, he launched a first call in the columns of the newspaper “L’Echo de Paris” on 28 March and another in the issue of June 10, for the creation of this distinctive insignia to designate the eyes of all “un homme dont les blessures, l’infirmité, la maladie proviennent d’un fait de guerre” (“a man whose injury, disability, illness comes from an act of war”).

On July 18, 1918, a decree made at the initiative of Minister of the Interior, which instituted a lapel pin for civilian victims of war. This award is presented:

  • for World War I 1914-1918, by order of the Minister of Interior after consulting a board meeting at Head of the department of residence of the candidate.
  • for World War II 1939-1945, by the Minister of Veterans and War Victims, the candidate must be a pensioner or civilian casualties of war.

La Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d’honneur does not recognize this medal, or the military version, as an official decoration, therefore it is not mentioned on any order of precedence list. However, in view of the importance it can have many of its owners, it is widely worn.

The Insignia or Wounded Civilians Design

Currently, the most commonly worn medal is uniface of gilt bronze, 30 mm in diameter and consists of a white enamel star encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel leaves.

The medal hangs from a ribbon of blue and yellow. When the ribbon bar is worn alone it containts a white star clasp.

The Combatant’s Cross

The Combatant’s Cross (or “Croix du combattant”) is a French decoration that recognizes those who fought in combat for France.

The Combatant’s Cross (or “Croix du combattant”) is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France.

The Poilus (French combat soldiers) of World War I worked toward recognition by the government, of special status to those who had participated in the bitter fighting of 1914-1918 (as opposed to those who served behind the lines). The law of 19 December 1926 created la “carte du combatant”, or combatant’s card, for veterans of 1914-1918, as well as for the veterans of 1870-1871 and colonial wars before the First World War. The decoration was created only three years later by the law of 28 June 1930.

A decree of January 29, 1948 states that the provisions of the 1930 Act relating to the allocation of the combatant’s card and the Combatant’s Cross were applicable to participants of the 1939-1945 war. The law of 18 July 1952 extended the benefit of the award of the Croix du combattant for Indochina and Korea and the law of December 9, 1974 extended the award of the Combatant’s Cross to operations in North Africa between 1 January 1952 and July 2, 1962.

The Cross is awarded in different cases:

– for service with a unit asserted as combattant unit (front-line service) by the Ministry of Defense: ninety days of service or a wound or illness received or contracted during service, or ninety days of detention by the enemy.

– for service with any unit: mention in dispatches for valor, or direct participation in five fire engagements, or a wound in action, or detention by the enemy without application of the Geneva Convention.

The Combatant’s Cross Design

The medal is a 36 mm wide bronze cross pattée with a laurel wreath between the arms 36 mm across.

On the obverse at center, the effigy of the Republic wearing an Adrian’s helmet crowned with laurel leaves surrounded by the relief inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE (FRENCH REPUBLIC).

On the reverse the relief inscription CROIX DU COMBATTANT (COMBATTANT’S CROSS) along the lower circumference framing a vertical sword pointing down, rays protruding horizontally and up from the hilt in a 180° arc.

The Volunteer Combatant’s Cross 1914-1918

The Volunteer combatant’s cross 1914–1918 is a French decoration for those who have volunteered to serve in a unit during World War I.

The Volunteer combatant’s cross 1914–1918 (or “Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1914–1918”) is a French decoration that recognizes those who have volunteered to serve on the front in a combat unit during World War I.

When the 1914–1918 Commemorative war medal (France) was established, it was anticipated that a clasp bearing “ENGAGÉ VOLONTAIRE” (“VOLUNTEER ENLISTEE”) would be worn on its ribbon for those who had freely and voluntarily enlisted in the French Armed Forces for combat service. This clasp was produced, however it was short-lived due to parliament demanding the establishment of a special insignia to distinguish the special merit of the voluntary combatant.

The Act of 4 July 1935 created the Croix du Combattant Volontaire, designated for those who volunteered to serve on the front in a combat unit during the Great War.

The qualifications of the candidates have been reviewed by a panel from 1951, twelve members as follows:

  • Minister of National Defence: Chairman;
  • Secretary of State for War: two members;
  • Secretary of State for the Navy: two members;
  • Secretary of State for Air: two members;
  • Office national des mutilés et combattants: two members;
  • Association d’engagés et de combattants volontaires: three members.

The decree of 10 April 1936 extended the award to the few surviving volunteer firefighters from the War of 1870–1871.

The Volunteer Combatant’s Cross 1914-1918 Design

The cross has four arms in bronze and measures 36 mm wide. It is engraved by Frédéric de Vernon.

On the obverse is a round central medallion with the legend surrounding REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE. Effigy of a helmeted Poilu (World War I infantryman), on a sword drawn vertically on the branches, or of the cross being charged with bay leaves and oak leaves in relief.

On the reverse, inside the central medallion, is a branch of laurel is surrounded by the inscription: COMBATTANT VOLONTAIRE 1914–1918. The cross arms are covered with leaves of laurel and oak forming relief.

A special version was made for the volunteer fighters from the war of 1870–1871 with the dates 1870–1871 on the back replacing those of 1914–1918.

The Escapees’ Medal

The Escapees’ Medal is a military award bestowed to prisoners of war and who successfully escaped internment or died in their attempt.

The Escapees’ Medal (or Médaille des Évadés) is a military award bestowed by the government of France to individuals who were prisoners of war and who successfully escaped internment or died as a result of their escape attempt.

The “Escapees’ Medal” was established by a 1926 law, intended to honor combatants not only of the First World War, but also of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Its statute was later amended to include combatants of the Second World War and later conflicts.

The award criteria for the Franco-Prussian War was established by law on 2 October 1926 and read as follows:

  • To French soldiers serving during the Franco-Prussian War, who successfully escaped their internment in Germany.

The award criteria for the First World War were established by decree on 7 April 1927 and read as follows:

  • To French soldiers serving during the First World War, who were taken prisoner during combat either in Europe or in an external theatre of operations, and who successfully escaped, regardless of the length of their internment;
  • To citizens of Alsace-Lorraine, who, between 2 August 1914 and 1 November 1918, deserted from the German army.
  • To civilians interned in Germany, or living in territories occupied by the enemy, who crossed enemy lines with the intent of making themselves available to the French military authority.

The award criteria for the Second World War were long in coming. A decree of 7 February 1959 allowed for award of the medal, followed by an Order on 20 May 1959 and detailed instructions on 10 July 1959. The medal was bestowed to persons able to prove a successful escape:

  • From a prisoner of war camp;
  • From a place of internment where they were being held for acts related to the resistance;
  • From enemy-held or controlled territory, an escape including the clandestine crossing of a front line or customs checkpoint.

The medal can be awarded to both French citizens and foreign nationals serving in the ranks of the French armed forces. Civilians and members of the military killed, or who have died as a result of wounds received during an escape attempt, are automatically awarded the medal.

The Escapee’s Medal Design

The Escapees’ Medal is a 30 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze. Its design is from the French engraver A. Dubois.

Its obverse bears the relief left profile bust of Marianne (representing the French Republic) crowned with branches of oak, along the outer circumference, the relief inscription (REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE) “FRENCH REPUBLIC”.

On its reverse, at center, the relief inscription on three rows (MÉDAILLE DES ÉVADÉS) (ESCAPEES’ MEDAL) surrounded by a wreath of oak branches.

The medal is suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a 36 mm wide green silk moiré ribbon with a 7 mm wide central orange stripe and 2 mm wide longitudinal orange stripes located 2 mm from the ribbon’s outer edges.

The War Cross 1914-1918

The War Cross 1914-1918 (Croix de guerre) is a French military decoration for French and allied soldiers for valorous service during WW1.

The War Cross 1914-1918 (or Croix de guerre 1914–1918) is a French military decoration created to recognize French and allied soldiers who were cited for valorous service during World War I, similar to the British mentioned in dispatches but with multiple degrees equivalent to other nations’ decorations for courage.

Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created. At that time, the Citation du jour (“Daily Citation”) already existed to acknowledge soldiers, but it was just a sheet of paper. At the end of 1914, General Boëlle, Commandant in Chief of the French 4th Army Corps, tried to convince the French administration to create a formal military award. Maurice Barrès, the noted writer and parliamentarian for Paris, gave Boëlle support in his efforts.

Every Croix de guerre awarded carries at least one citation for gallantry or courage to a member of any rank of the French military or of an allied army. Ribbon devices indicate the importance or degree of the soldier’s role during the action cited.

The Croix de guerre 1914-1918 was attributed to:

  • French and allied soldiers individually cited for a wartime act of gallantry;
  • Civilians and militarized personnel individually cited for a wartime act of gallantry;
  • Automatically to soldiers and civilians not specifically cited for a Croix de guerre but awarded the Légion d’honneur or Médaille militaire for the highest acts of wartime valour and gazetted in the Official Journal of the French Republic;
  • Collectively, to army units, ships or air squadrons;
  • To cities and villages, martyrs of war, destroyed, ravaged or bombed by the enemy (2952 towns received the Croix de guerre 1914-1918, in this case, always awarded with palm).

The War Cross 1914-1018 Design

The cross was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé. It is 37 mm wide, Florentine bronze cross pattée, with two crossed swords pointing up between the arms.

The obverse center medallion bears the relief image of the French Republic in the form of the bust of a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap surrounded by the circular relief inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE (FRENCH REPUBLIC). Not knowing how long the war would last, the reverse centre medallion bears the dates 1914–1915, 1914–1916, 1914–1917 and finally 1914–1918.

The cross is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop cast atop the upper cross arm. It hangs from a 37 mm wide green silk moiré ribbon with seven narrow 1,5 mm wide vertical red stripes evenly spaced and two 1 mm red edge stripes.

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The Order of the Dragon of Annam

The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam (Ordre impérial du Dragon d’Annam) was created in 1886 in the ancient Vietnamese city of Huế.

The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam (or Ordre impérial du Dragon d’Annam) was created on March 14, 1886, in the ancient Vietnamese city of Huế, by Emperor Đồng Khánh of the Imperial House of Annam, upon the “recommendation” of the President of France as a jointly awarded French colonial order.

The Order was designed as a reward for services to the state, the French colonial government, or the emperor.

When French colonial rule over Indochina ended, the Order of the Dragon of Annam was abolished and replaced by the National Order of Vietnam which was later retained and revised by the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The ribbon of the Dragon of Annam was retained for this award, but it was (belatedly) recognized that a colonial order had no place in the new regime as the order was always historically associated with the period of French rule. Even the name of “Annam” in the title of the order was a point of dishonor as the name comes from the old Chinese term for Vietnam, which means “the pacified south”.

In its classes and insignia, the Order was modeled on the French Légion d’honneur and the other French colonial orders:

  • Grand Cordon
  • Grand Officer
  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight

The Order of the Dragon of Annam Design

The badge was an eight-pointed star charged with a central medallion of blue bearing the legend “Hoàng đế Đồng Khánh” (‘Emperor Đồng Khánh’; in stylized Chinese characters) with four radiant suns surrounded by a red band, all suspended from an imperial crown surmounted by a green dragon.

The star for Grand Officers and Grand Cross holders was charged with a green dragon holding the same blue medallion as featured on the badge. There were two ribbons, red with gold border stripes for awards by the Emperor and green with gold border stripes for the President’s version.

The Order of Nichan El-Anouar (Order of the Light)

The Order of Nichan El-Anouar (or “Order of the Light”) was established in 1887 as a colonial order of merit of the Tajurah sultanate in French Somaliland.

The order has five degrees:

  • Grand-croix (grand cross)
  • Grand officier (grand officer)
  • Commandeur (commander)
  • Officier (officer)
  • Chevalier (knight)

The Order was deprecated on 3 December 1963 by the Ordre National du Mérite.

The Order of the Star of Anjouan

The Ordre de l’Étoile d’Anjouan (or “Order of the Star of Anjouan”) was a French colonial order of knighthood founded in 1874.

  • Time Period: Pre-WW1
  • Institution: 1 December 1889
  • Country: France

The Ordre de l’Étoile d’Anjouan (or “Order of the Star of Anjouan”) was a French colonial order of knighthood founded in 1874.

It was established in 1874 by sultan Mohamed-Saïd-Omar of the Comoros island of Anjouan, reorganized on 18 June 1892 and authorized and recognized by the French government on 12 September 1896. It was made a French Overseas Order in 1950.

In this case a local order was adopted by the French, although they reorganized and redesigned it. Another Anjouan orde, the Star of Said Ali was not adopted.

The Ordre de l’Étoile d’Anjouan has five classes:

  • Grand-croix
  • Grand-officier
  • Commandeur
  • Officier
  • Chevalier