French Reconnaissance Medal

French Reconnaissance Medal (Third Class). Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The helmeted figure of Charity lifting up a wounded figure holding a bayonet in his right hand. Reverse: A two line inscription 'RECONNAISSANCE FRANÇAISE' with a palm frond on the right. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender attached to a single sided ornamental strip at the top of the medal. A piece of 37 mm white watered ribbon with red-white-blue edges.

Instituted by a decree of 13 July 1917 and awarded as a token of gratitude for individual and collective works of benevolence at home and abroad, in helping the sick and wounded, in caring for families of those killed in the war, those mutilated, blind or orphaned, and families made homeless by the German invasion. The medal wasa civil decoration for which military personnel were not normally eligible. Awards were in three classes - silver gilt with a 18 mm rosette on the ribbon, silver and bronze. A number of these medals were presented to British medical and nursing personnel. 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.