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#1
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French Ordre de la Liberation
The Order of Liberation. Awarded 1941-1946. Number awarded 1061.
I believe this is an example made by the French Mint late war. The first medals from what I understand were made in England and had a ribbon with stripes running diagonally. This particular medal was brought home by a U.S. Serviceman in the late 1940's. The only mark that I can see is the word Bronze with a small symbol adjacent. These being stamped on the bottom of the planchet. Thanks Jack
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"We must make our mistakes quickly"
Major General George Alan Vasey CB, CBE, DSO and Bar New Guinea 1942 |
#2
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I have same ,believe you are correct on all points
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#3
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The medal of the Order is called the Croix de la Libération (“Cross of Liberation”). It is a 31 mm wide by 33 mm high rectangular bronze shield bearing a 60 mm high vertical gladius on its obverse. On the blade of the gladius: a black enamelled Cross of Lorraine (symbol of the Free French Forces). On the reverse, in Latin: a relief inscription in bold letters on four rows, “PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT” (“By serving the Fatherland, he/she achieved Victory”).
The award is suspended by a rectangular loop through the hilt of the gladius to a 36 mm wide silk moiré green ribbon with 4 mm wide black edge stripes and 1 mm wide black longitudinal stripes, 11 mm from the edges. Green represents hope, black represents mourning, symbolizing the state of France in 1940. The ribbon at first had diagonal black stripes, but the Order was only awarded in that form during August–September 1942★. ★ Croix de l’ordre de la Libération du général Catroux (left) et celle, au revers, du général de Larminat.(right) http://www.legiondhonneur.fr/fr/page...me-national/75 From wikipedia and L'Ordre de la Liberation website. This particular medal was brought home by a U.S. Serviceman in the late 1940's. Also it would be interesting to know from whom the medal was bought from, or bought from the maker. http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr...038-compagnons The original drawing of the first models were made by Captain Tony Mella, and the latin caption is from Governor(?) Valentin Smith. According to this website,in the 1950s,a second model was made and the main difference with the original model "par la poignée du glaive non striée sur les tranches." The "maquette" of the medal was made by the London branch of Cartier jeweler but, it was John Pinches of London that made the first medals.After the liberation, the medals were made by l'Administration des Monnaies in Paris. http://www.france-phaleristique.com/accueil.htm ➔Ordres ➔Ordre de la Liberation
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"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." - “There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003. Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese. Last edited by Voltigeur; 12-12-17 at 08:51 PM. |
#4
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Hi Jack,
The markings at the bottom are from The "Monnaie de Paris" : Bronze + cornucopia ... At the end of 1944, the London inventory of these medals moved to Paris. So the medals delivered in France at the beginning of 1945 were british made with "Monnaie de Paris" stamps. French production starts mid 1945. Your medal looks like a british made with french stamps example ... (If you don't keep it, I am interested.) Best regards .. Herve |
#5
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Thank you everyone for the input. Very Informative.
Jack
__________________
"We must make our mistakes quickly"
Major General George Alan Vasey CB, CBE, DSO and Bar New Guinea 1942 |
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