France - Republic of: A fine First World War Argonne Forest Repulse of a German night attack 9-10 May 1915 Médaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre casualty group awarded to Ernest Robert, French Army, who came from Termeville in the Meuse department. A pre-war soldier and on operations from August 1914, he was wounded in action in three separate multiple places on the night of 9-10 May 1915 when involved in operations at Bagatelle in the Argonne Forest. One of his wounds necessitated the amputation of his right forearm, and he was awarded the Médaille Militaire during January 1916, this in part for his wounds, received whilst he was fighting off a German night attack, during which he fought with the greatest energy, and only left his post after being seriously wounded. This necessitated his removal from active service in August 1915.
Group of five awards: Médaille Militaire, 3rd Republic, 1870 to 1951 issue, of Great War issue, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; France: Croix de Guerre, reverse dated: 1914-1915, with Bronze Palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level; Commemorative Medal of the Great War 1914-1918; Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919, by A. Morlon; Medal for the War Wounded, bronze-gilt and enamel, of Great War Period, Standard type, made by Arthur Bertrand. All with old partly frayed ribbons.
Condition: enamel work good, overall Good Very Fine.
Together with the recipient’s original Soldier’s Service Book, the cover confirmed the surname of Robert, and that he enlisted in 1912, the inside opening page confirming the name of the recipient, Ernest Robert, and further personal and service details.
Ernest Robert was born on 28 November 1892 in Termeville, in department of the Meuse in northwestern France, and originally worked as a miner before enlisting into the French Army in 1912, when assigned to the subdivision at Verdun. Whilst Robert’s unit remains unknown he was in service on the outbreak of the First World War with Germany on 2 August 1914, and distinguished himself on 9-10 May 1915 when fighting at Bagatelle in the Argonne Forest.
Wounded in action on 9 May, he received multiple wounds on this occasion, most likely from shrapnel, being wounded in three separate areas. In all, Robert received a superficial wound to the right leg and thigh, and a superficial wound to the face, but the most serious wound was to his right arm which ultimately resulted in amputation.
The citation for his Médaille Militaire details this more thoroughly, when the award was announced on 6 January 1916. ‘During a German attack on the night of May 9th 1915 whilst fighting with the greatest energy, he only left his post after being seriously wounded. Amputation of the right forearm.’
The Médaille Militaire (Military Medal) ranks second amongst all French decorations, giving precedence only to the Legion of Honour (and an exception made for the Order of the Liberation). It was created by Louis Napoleon on 22 January 1852 and was novel in being specifically intended for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. It may be awarded for completion of eight years of military service, on receipt of a citation, for being wounded in combat and for acts of courage and devotion to duty.
In the aftermath of his amputation, Robert was no longer fit for active service, and was on indefinite leave to stay at home from August 29, 1915, pending the settlement of his pension. His service record book also confirms his having been awarded the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level.
The Croix de Guerre award was created on 8 April 1915 and attributed to military personnel who received an individual citation for feats of arms. Versions exists dated 1914-1915, 1914-1916, 1914-1917 and 1914-1918, the latter being more commonly found than the others. The stars were for citations at corps, divisional, brigade or regimental level.
Robert was additionally awarded the Commemorative Medal of the Great War 1914-1918, which was created on 23 June 1920 and presented to all military and auxiliary services who served between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Further to this he was awarded the Medal for the War Wounded (Médaille des blessés de guerre), which was originally a mere insignia in the form of an ribbon awarded for wounds received in the line of duty while facing an enemy.
Robert remained on the Territorial Army list through to October 1933, and was no longer deemed suitable for any form of military service as of October 1940, but which time France was mostly under German occupation.
