France - Republic of: First World War group of six awards to two decorated recipients, one a casualty, and both assumed to be related through marriage, these mounted for display together, the recipient of the left is one Sergeant (Sergent) Louis Salomon, 51st Regiment of Infantry (51 Regiment de Infanterie), who entered the military in 1896, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and fought through the entire war, whilst the recent on the right, is Private Leon Bouveret, specific unit unknown, though from his collar patches he appears to have been in the French Marine Infantry, entered the military in 1899, and was awarded both the Médaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre, before being killed in action in Belgium on 27 April 1915.
Group of six awards representing the two recipients: Médaille Militaire, 3rd Republic, 1870 to 1951 issue, of Great War issue, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; France: Croix de Guerre, reverse dated: 1914-1918, with Bronze Citation Star (two identical awards); Combatants Cross 1914-1918; Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919, by A. Morlon; Commemorative Medal of the Great War 1914-1918. These awards are mounted together in a row on a traditional French commemorative card used for such purposes of displaying awards earned, this specifically printed by Burin of Neuilly-Plaisance for: ‘Médailles de la Grande Guerre 1914-1918’, patriotic wording, and two photographs, one for each of the recipients whilst in uniform during the First World War, the one on the left specifically detailing him wearing the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star. The hand inscribed details of each of the the recipients is beneath the medals, the one on the left reading: ‘Salomon Louis, cl. 1896, Sergent 51c. R.I., Croix de Guerre, a fait toute la campagne’ (did the whole campaign); and the one on the right reading: ‘Bouveret Leon, classe 1899, Croix de guerre, Med. Mre., Mort au Champ d’Honneur le 27-4-15 en Belgique’, (Killed on the Field of Honour on 27 April 1915 in Belgium). It is assumed these two were related through marriage. The reverse of the medal card has the pasted on issue slip for the award of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914-1919 to Louis Salomon.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
The 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.
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.
The Combatants Cross 1914-1918 was created on 28 June 1930 and intended for ‘all those who, at peril to their lives, defended the motherland’. Those holding the ‘Carte du Combattant’ had the right to wear the award.
The Commemorative Medal of the Great War 1914-1918 was created on 23 June 1920 and presented to all military and auxiliary services who served between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
