Alice Fitzgerald's French Medal of Recognition

Alice Fitzgerald's French Medal of Recognition

Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française

French name for the medal is Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française. It was a French honor medal created on 13 July 1917 and solely awarded to civilians to express gratitude by the French government to all those who, without legal or military obligation, had come to the aid of the injured, disabled, refugees, or who had performed an act of exceptional dedication in the presence of the enemy during World War I. It has three classes: bronze, silver, and gold. Nearly 15,000 people and communities were recipients of this award. Second class denoted by the medal being made of silver. Circular silver medal featuring bas-relief image of charity personified by France supporting a wounded soldier; reverse features an arced palm branch; suspended from a white ribbon with a narrow stripe of blue at the edge and a narrow strip of red just inside; attached to the ribbon is a five-point blue enamel star in the center; attached at the top is a silver pin bar.
Inscription Back: "Reconnaissance Francaise"; pin: "Baldwin/Duncannon Street/Charing Cross"

Desbois, Jules

1917

Diameter: 1 1/4 in
Length: 2 13/16 in

Artifact 1603A