The Médaille militaire (Military Medal) is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852. The Military Medal is issued to any non-commissioned officer or enlisted personnel who distinguishes himself by acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. Commissioned officers are normally not elligible, but it may be awarded to Admirals and Generals for command prowess in the field. After the First World War, the Military Medal was also issued for receiving wounds in combat.
The Médaille militaire is one of rarest French decorations to be bestowed upon foreigners, in contrast to such medals as the Croix de guerre. During the Second World War, the Medal of Merit reached its highest numbers of foreign bestowals, most often to members of the British Army as well as to the United States military. The decoration is considered, in both countries, to be the equivalent of a Meritorious Service Medal.
Unit Award of the French Military Medal
In addition to the individual medal, the Médaille militaire is also authorized as a unit award to those military commands who display the same criteria of bravery as would be required for the individual medal. The unit award is known as the Fourragère of the Médaille militaire and is worn as a cord suspended from the shoulder of a military uniform. the decoration may be permanently worn by those who were members of a military unit when the heroic action was performed. For those on temporary status, or who joined a unit after the cited action, the fourragère is worn temporarly and must be surrendered upon transfer from the unit.
Cette vocation de secours mutuel permit ainsi aux médaillés militaires de tisser des liens très forts de camaraderie et contribua également à la défense de leurs droits.
Le journal des Médaillés militaires parut pour la première fois en 1907 et, en 1909, la Société institua l'orphelinat, puis, en 1972, la maison de retraite et de repos des Médaillés militaires à Hyères(83).
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