Honour medal for courage and devotion

Honour medal for courage and devotion

Honour medal for courage and devotion in silver 2nd Empire (obverse)
Awarded by  France
Type Decoration
Eligibility Military and civilians
Awarded for Act of courage and devotion
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 2 march 1820
Precedence
Next (higher) Médaille d'honneur des personnels civils relevant du ministère de la défense
Next (lower) Médaille d'honneur du service de santé des armées
Bronze level 3rd Republic variant between 1871 and 1899

The Honour medal for courage and devotion (French: "Médaille d’honneur pour acte de courage et de dévouement") is a French decoration than can be bestowed to individuals and whole units. It is awarded for acts of courage during a rescue. The Honour medal for courage and devotion was created on 2 March 1820 by King Louis XVIII. It has gone through several designs during its long history.[1] The award was given its present name by a decree of 16 November 1901.[1]

Award statute

Any person who risks his or her life to come to the rescue of one or many persons in danger, may be recognized with the medal. When the act of rescue does not warrant award of the medal, a letter of congratulations for a successful rescue or an honorable mention for a recognized meritorious act in the form of an official certificate type scroll may be granted.[2]

The Honour medal for courage and devotion is divided into five grades:[2]

Bronze grade: awarded if the rescuer exposed himself or herself to a life threatening condition, or to lesser risk if previously awarded a letter of congratulations and an honorable mention.[2]

Silver grades 1st and 2nd class: awarded only if previously awarded the bronze grade following a new act of courage during a rescue. The two grades are awarded for successive acts of courage.[2]

Silver-gilt grade: awarded only for the most intrepid acts to the bearer of two silver grade medals.[2]

Gold grade: awarded as an outstanding testimony to a person having distinguished himself or herself through exceptional acts towards his or her fellow citizens.[2]

The Honour medal for courage and devotion may also be collectively awarded to emergency and rescue units where the personnel present during the rewarded acts may wear a tricolour (blue-white-red) fourragère.[1]

Award description

The design of the Honour medal for courage and devotion changed many times through the decades. It is now a 27mm in diameter circular medal struck in bronze, silver, silver-gilt or gold. Its obverse bears the relief image of a standing woman holding palms and crowns surrounded by scenes of rescues under the relief inscription "DÉVOUEMENT" (English: "DEVOTION"). The reverse bears along its upper circumference, the relief inscription "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" (English: "FRENCH REPUBLIC"), at its center, the inscription "MINISTÈRE DE L'INTÉRIEUR" (English: "INTERIOR MINISTRY") over a framed rectangular area destined to receive the name of the recipient and year of the award.[2]

The medal hangs from a 3cm wide silk moiré tricolour ribbon of equal width blue, white and red vertical stripes. The 3cm wide and 22mm high ribbon suspension loop is cast as an integral part of the medal in the form of oak leaves. The leaves of the suspension loop change colour depending on the grade of the award, bronze for the bronze grade, silver for the silver grade second class, silver-gilt for the silver grade first class and silver-gilt grade, and gold for the gold grade.[1]

Different devices may be worn on the service ribbon to denote the grade of the award when only the ribbons are worn. A plain ribbon is worn for the bronze grade, the silver grade second class is denoted by the addition of a silver five pointed star, two such stars for the silver grade first class, a silver-gilt star for the silver-gilt grade and a rosette for the gold grade.[2]

Gold grade
obverse & ribbon 		Silver-gilt grade
obverse & ribbon 		Silver grade 1st cl.
obverse & ribbon 		Silver grade 2nd cl.
obverse & ribbon 		Bronze grade
obverse & ribbon 		Common reverse
to all grades

Noteworthy recipients (partial list)

Philippe Kieffer, a recipient of the Honour medal for courage and devotion, bronze grade

Recipient units (partial list)

During World War I

In October 1917, the medal was re-instituted with crossed swords on two sprays of oak leaves (Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives) in gold (or), silver-gilt (Vermeil), silver (Argent) and bronze (Bronze).[4] The medal ranked after the Croix de Guerre and several were awarded to service members of Allied forces, including personnel from:

United Kingdom (partial list)
United States (partial list)
Australia (7 Gold, 26 Silver, 16 Bronze)[6]
New Zealand (2 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze)[7]
Canada (partial list)
India (partial list)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 227 – 229. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2. External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ↑ Sveriges regenter : Från forntid till nutid, Lars O. Lagerqvist, Norstedts, Stockholm 1997 ISBN 91-1-963882-5 p. 394
  4. ↑ Purves, Alec. A. (1975). The Medals, Decorations & Orders of the Great War 1914-1918. London: J.B. Hayward & Son. p. 20. ISBN 090375438X.
  5. 1 2 3 The London Gazette: no. 31519. p. 10724. 22 August 1919.
  6. ↑ Williams, R.D. (2000). Medals to Australia from 1858 - 1999: With valuations (4th ed.). Melbourne: Dubbo N.S.W. p. 150. ISBN 0731681754.
  7. ↑ Oldham, G.P.; Delahunt, B. (1991). Orders, Decorations and Medals awarded to New Zealanders: An illustrated guide for collectors. Auckland: Ariel books. p. 101. ISBN 047301016X.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Gagnon, Jean-Pierre (1986). The 22nd Battalion (French-Canadian) in 1914-19 (in French). Laval: Les Presses de l'Universite Laval. p. 420. ISBN 2-7637-7097-5.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Gould, R.W. (1974). The Army of India Medal Roll 1799-1826. London: J.B. Hayward & Son. p. 270. ISBN 0-903754-08-8.

See also

Ribbons of the French military and civil awards

External links

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