Medal of French Gratitude

The Medal of French Gratitude (French: "Médaille de la Reconnaissance française") was a French honour medal created on 13 July 1917 and solely awarded to civilians.[1] The medal was created 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 the First World War. The creation of this distinction was mainly the result of unsuccessful offensives of General Nivelle in 1917 and the serious crisis of confidence in France. The French government thus wanted to thank those who, despite the crisis, were always volunteering. It has three classes: bronze, silver, and gold. Nearly 15,000 people and communities were recipients of this award. The medal is no longer awarded, the last award was on 14 February 1959.[2]

Medal of French Gratitude
Bronze level, type 2 (obverse)
TypeThree grade medal
Awarded forSupport to the victims of war
Presented by France
StatusNo longer awarded
Established13 July 1917
Total recipients~15,000

Gold


Silver


Bronze
Precedence
Next (higher)Combatant's Cross
Next (lower)Overseas Medal
Type 1 silver grade award (obverse)
Resistance fighhter Albert Kohan, a recipient of the Medal of French Gratitude
American philanthropist Ellen Ridgway, a recipient of the Medal of French Gratitude
Father Émile Blanchet, a recipient of the Medal of French Gratitude

Award statute

The Medal of French Gratitude was awarded following World War I to the following:[1]

  • Persons who, in the presence of the enemy, have performed acts of exceptional dedication, the duration of these services having spanned one year (Decree of December 2, 1917)
  • Deserving communities (whose members were are not allowed to wear the ribbon or individual medal by decree of December 2, 1917);
  • Citizens of Alsace-Lorraine who were deported, exiled or imprisoned, before 1 August 1914, by German authorities because of their attachment to France and those in the departments occupied themselves, for their courageous stand while exposed to reprisals (Decree of 1 April 1922);
  • Prisoners of war, civilian prisoners, hostages and deportees because of exceptional acts courage and dedication for the allied cause. The inhabitants of occupied areas or Alsace and Lorraine who helped these people (decrees of 29 November 1926 and December 8, 1928).

Award description

The first model was a 30 mm in diameter circular bronze, silver or gilded medal depending on the level of the award, the design was by engraver Jules Desbois. The obverse bore charity personified by France supporting a wounded soldier. On the reverse at centre, the relief circular inscription "RECONNAISSANCE FRANÇAISE" along the circumference with at centre and a palm leaf on the right.

The second model is a 32 mm in diameter circular bronze, silver or gilded medal depending on the level of the award, the design was by engraver Maurice Delannoy. The obverse bears a woman wearing a Phrygian cap representing France offering a palm. On the reverse, the relief inscription RECONNAISSANCE FRANÇAISE around a wreath of roses surrounding an escutcheon bearing the initials "RF" (for République Française).

The medal hung from a 37 mm wide white silk moiré ribbon with tricolour 2 mm wide edge stripes of blue, white and red, the blue being outermost.

Notable recipients (partial list)

French citizens
  • Father Émile Blanchet
  • Politician Raoul Bleuse
  • Herminie de La Brousse de Verteillac, Princesse of Léon
  • Doctor Alfred Cerné
  • Suzanne Desprès
  • Doctor Léandre Dupré
  • Politician Charles Ehrmann
  • Resistance fighter Charles Fenain
  • Marquise Corisande de Gramont
  • Paul-Jacques Kalb
  • Lawyer Pierre Kédinger
  • General Marie-Pierre Kœnig
  • Resistance fighter Albert Kohan
  • Writer Camille Marbo
  • Resistance member Paul Rassinier
  • Resistance member Eric Reach

Foreign nationals

Rachel Gertrude Moseley MM, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry FANY, ambulance driver 1918

Communities decorated

The Medal of French Gratitude was awarded to six French and eight foreign cities.[1]

French cities

Foreign cities

See also

French medals by order of precedence==References==

  1. Champenois, Marc (January 2004). "Médaille de la Reconnaissance française". France Phaleristique (in French). Archived from the original on 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  2. "Décorations". Comité d'Entente d'Associations de Combattants de l' Hérault (in French). 2005. Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  3. Knowlson, James (1997). Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury. p. 320.
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