Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France

Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France
Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France (obverse)
Awarded by France
Type	Commemorative war medal
Eligibility	French and foreign nationals
Awarded for	Service in the Free French Forces prior to 1 August 1943
Status	No longer awarded
Statistics
Established	4 April 1946
Last awarded	3 July 1958
Total awarded	13,469
Precedence
Next (higher)	Medal of French Gratitude
Next (lower)	United Nations operations in Korea commemorative medal
Ribbon of the Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France

Reverse of the French Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France (1946)

General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, a recipient of the Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France

Commander Philippe Kieffer, a recipient of the Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France

The Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France (French: Médaille commémorative des services volontaires dans la France libre) was a French commemorative war medal established by decree on 4 April 1946 on the 1945 proposition of general Edgard de Larminat to the Minister to the armies.^[1]

The general proposed the creation of a distinctive award for the members of the Free French Forces who fought the Axis forces on most fronts during World War II. Beginning with a modest 7,000 men in July 1940, the Free French Forces had grown to approximately 70,000 by June 1942^[1] and were especially active in North Africa where they particularly distinguished themselves during the Battle of Bir Hakeim. These forces would later form the nucleus of the 1st Free French Division which distinguished itself in the Italian campaign of 1944 under general Koenig and of the 2nd Armoured Division in the liberation of Paris under general Leclerc.^[2]

Also part of the whole, the Free French Naval Forces and Free French Air Force, although limited in numbers and equipment nonetheless took part in most major engagements alongside allied forces including in the Soviet Union.^[1] Free French Forces had grown to over half a million by 1944 and numbered well over a million in 1945, they were instrumental in the final liberation of their country and participated in the invasion of Nazi Germany.^[2]

Award statute

The Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France was awarded to all persons, civilian or military, French or foreign nationals:^[2]

having voluntarily contracted in the Free French Forces (including Free French air and naval forces) prior to 1 August 1943 (for soldiers);
having effectively served Free France on the territories controlled by the National Committee in London and in foreign countries prior to 1 August 1943 (for civil servants).

The medal was bestowed accompanied by an award certificate and was often accompanied by a scroll signed by General Charles de Gaulle with the following message in French: "Answering the call of France in mortal peril, you rallied the Free French Forces. You were of those who, in the front ranks, allowed it to win final victory! At the moment where the goal is attained, I want to thank you in friendship, simply, in the name of France! 1 September 1945."^[1]

Upon application for the award, a committee would examine and confirm or deny membership in the Free French Forces. This committee, presided by a superior staff officer of the Free French Forces, was composed of:^[1]

an officer of each of the three services;
a representative of the merchant navy;
a representative of the Minister for the colonies
a representative of civil services of the ex National Committee in London;
a representative of intelligence and action networks affiliated to the ex National Committee in London;
a member of the office of the committee of the Order of Liberation.

Award description

The Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France was struck from silvered bronze in the shape of a Cross of Lorraine with variants of 36 mm to 40 mm high (excluding suspension ring) and 32 mm wide. Its obverse bore the relief inscription on two lines "FRANCE" on the upper horizontal arm and "LIBRE" on the lower arm (English: "FREE" "FRANCE"). Its reverse bore the dates "18 JUIN 1940" (English: "18 JUNE 1940") on the upper arm and "8 MAI 1945" (English: "8 MAY 1945") on the lower arm.^[2]

The medal hung from a dark blue silk moiré ribbon adorned with 2 mm wide red oblique (from low left to high right) stripes separated by 4 mm. The ribbon passed through a rectangular rigid suspension ring struck as an integral part of the cross.^[2]

Noteworthy recipients

General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
The singer and dancer Josephine Baker
General Marie-Pierre Kœnig
General Gérard Lecointe
General Georges Cabanier
General Pierre Billotte
General Pierre Garbay
General Renaud de Corta
General Jean Simon
General Henri Amiel
General Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
General Martial Valin
Colonel Fred Moore
Lieutenant colonel Albert Fossey-François
Lieutenant commander Elie Touchaleaume
Commander Philippe Kieffer
Wing Commander Pierre Clostermann
Major Rudolf Eggs
Captain François de Labouchère
Lieutenant Raymond Meyer
Lieutenant René Amiot
Lieutenant Jean-Pierre Berger
Lieutenant Jean-Valentin Brecheisen, French commandos of Africa
Master sergeant Raphaël Onana
Resistance member Pierre Depoid
Journalist Philippe Ragueneau

References

1 2 3 4 5 "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
1 2 3 4 5 Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.

External links

Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)

Orders, decorations and medals of France

Orders

National	Legion of Honour Order of Liberation National Order of Merit

Ministerial	Ordre des Palmes Académiques Order of Agricultural Merit Ordre du Mérite Maritime Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Civilian
decorations

Honour medal for courage and devotion
Médaille d'honneur de l'Aéronautique
Honour medal of Foreign Affairs
Médaille d'honneur agricole
Honour medal of railroads
Regional, departmental and municipal honour medal
Honour medal of customs
Médaille d'honneur des Eaux et Forêts
Médaille d'honneur de l'Enseignement du 1er degré
Médaille d'honneur Pénitentiaire
Honour medal for civilian personnel of the defense ministry
Honour medal of the National Police
Honour medal for firefighters
Médaille d'honneur de Sociétés musicales et Chorales
Médaille d'honneur de la protection judiciaire de la jeunesse
Honour medal for work
Médaille d'honneur des Travaux publics
Insignia for wounded civilians
Medal of the French Family
Honour medal for youth, sports and associative engagements
Médaille des Mines
Médaille du Tourisme
Ordre de Tahiti Nui

Military
decorations

Other

Médaille d'honneur du service de santé des armées

Commemorative
medals

19th century	Saint Helena Medal Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign Commemorative medal of the 1860 China Expedition Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition Commemorative medal of the 1870–1871 War Tonkin Expedition commemorative medal Dahomey Expedition commemorative medal 1892 Madagascar commemorative medal Colonial Medal

1900–1914	1901 China expedition commemorative medal Morocco commemorative medal (1909)

First World War 1914–1918	1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal Dardanelles campaign medal Orient campaign medal 1914–1918 Commemorative war medal Medal of French Gratitude Médaille de la Fidélité Française Médaille des victimes de l'invasion Medal for civilian prisoners, hostages and prisoners of the 1914-1918 Great War

Interwar Period 1918–1939	Syria-Cilicia commemorative medal

Second World War 1939–1945	Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France 1943-1944 Italian Campaign medal Medal for deportation and internment for acts of resistance Deportation and political internment medal Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945 Medal of a liberated France Defaulter's medal

Since 1945	United Nations operations in Korea commemorative medal Indochina Campaign commemorative medal Middle East operations commemorative medal (1956) Médaille commémorative des opérations de sécurité et de maintien de l'ordre en Afrique du Nord North Africa medal United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon medal French commemorative medal Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory

Defunct
orders

Ministry orders	Ordre du Mérite combattant Ordre du Mérite militaire Ordre du Mérite civil Ordre du Mérite social Ordre du Mérite du Travail Ordre du Mérite touristique Ordre de l'Économie nationale Ordre du Mérite commercial et industriel Ordre du Mérite artisanal Ordre de la Santé publique Ordre du Mérite postal Ordre du Mérite sportif

Colonial orders	Ordre du Mérite indochinois Ordre du Mérite saharien Ordre de l'Étoile Noire Ordre de l'Étoile d'Anjouan Ordre du Nichan el Anouar Ordre impérial du Dragon d'Annam Ordre royal du Cambodge

No longer awarded.
No longer awarded, no living recipient
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