French Commemorative War Medal 1914 - 1918

Commemorative War Medal 1914 - 1918. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The bust of La Republique wearing a First World War Adrian pattern steel helmet and holding a sword by the blade, hilt upwards, together with a branches of laurel. The engravers name is at the base. Reverse: The inscription 'REPVBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' around the circumference and 'GRANDE GUERRE 1914 -1918' in the centre on three lines. Fitted with an ornate solid and integral oak and laurel leaf design suspender. A piece of 37 mm white ribbon with five vertical 4 mm red stripes is threaded onto the suspender.

Instituted 23 June 1920 and awarded to all French military forces personnel with service during the Great War. Civilians engaged in various forms of war work were also eligible for the medal. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.