The Médaille de la Reconnaissance Française is a circular bronze 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. Inscription Back: "Reconnaissance Francaise". 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. Third class denoted by the medal being made of bronze.]]> Alice Henderson Collection]]> Length: 3.25 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> This particular medal is a membership badge worn by female members of the Societe de Secours aux Blesses militaries (S.S.B.M.) [translates to the French Society for the Help of Wounded Servicemen] with a rectangular area on the reverse for engraving the membership number of the badge’s owner. Silvered metal oval medal featuring bas-relief scene of a woman caring for a wounded soldier with a cross in the background on the front; suspensions has the letters “S.B” in raised print; suspended from a white ribbon embroidered with a red cross; attached at the top (unlikely to be original to the piece) is an embroidered ribbon bar pin in the colors of the French flag: blue, white and red. Inscriptions Front: “PATRIE DEVOUEMENT” around the rim and signed “Bottee”; Back: “SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE SECOURS AUX BLESSES MILITAIRES 1864 1866” in raised lettering. On the back of the ribbon bar pin is a paper label reading: “E.M. Bte SGDG”
The marking on the ribbon bar’s label are an abbreviation found on items made in France; “Bte” is short for “brevete” meaning “patented” and “S.G.D.G.” is short for “Sans Garantie du Gouvernement” meaning “without government guarantee.”
]]> Alice Henderson Collection]]> Length: 3.5 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Croix de la Société Française de Secours aux Blessés Militaires features a silvered metal Greek cross with an integral bar suspension; front features the initials “SBM” for the Societe Francaise de Secours aux Blesses Militaires [translates: the French Society for the Aid of Wounded Military] in the center with the year 1914 above and 1919 below; a wreath of oak leaves starts from behind the upper arm of the cross and encircles the initials; suspended from a white ribbon embroidered with a red cross and a gold-colored metal branch of leaves pinned onto the top. Inscriptions Front is signed “E. BECKER” on the lower edge of the cross’s right arm; on the back in raised lettering: “Societe Francaise de Secours aux Blesses Militaires des Armees de Terre et de Mer” [translates: the French Society for Aid of Wounded Servicemen of the Land and Sea].]]> Alice Henderson Collection]]> Length: 3.25 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Inscription Back: "Reconnaissance Francaise"; pin: "Baldwin/Duncannon Street/Charing Cross"]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Length: 2 13/16 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Diameter: 1.25 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Length: 4.5 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Length: 2 11/16 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Length: 2 3/4 in
]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]> Alice Fitzgerald Collection]]> Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives]]>