The Orient Campaign Medal

• Time Period: The Great War
• Institution: 15 June 1926
• Country: France

The Orient Campaign Medal (“Médaille commémorative d’Orient” in French) was a French military medal awarded for participation in the battles against the Central Powers by the Allied Eastern Army between 1915 and 1918.

The Orient Campaign Medal was awarded to both military and civilian personnel embarked prior to 11 November 1918 for service with the French Army of the Orient; to French personnel who had served in the headquarters staff of the commandant of the Allied Eastern Army and to French sailors that had served East of the 21st degree of longitude in operations related to those of the Allied Eastern Army.

No minimum time of service is mentioned in the award statute.

The Orient Campaign Medal Design

The Orient campaign medal measures 30mm in diameter, is circular and struck from bronze.

The obverse shows the relief image of the “warrior republic” as a left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust. The helmet is adorned by a crown of oak leaves. The relief inscription along the circumference reads “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. The reverse represents both the army and navy, with a relief image of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor below two military banners and lances surmounted. The relief reads “ORIENT” or, on some variants, “HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918” written on the banners.

The Orient campaign medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring and is adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The ribbon is 37mm wide and is light blue with a yellow central 7mm wide and 2mm wide stripes 2mm from the edges.