Verdun Medal

Verdun Medal with the bar 'VERDUN'. unnamed as issued. Obverse: A female bust wearing a crown, holding a sword by the blade in the right hand and a spear in the left. 'VERDUN' at the top and 'ON NE PASSE PAS' (They shall not pass) on the bottom edge. Reverse: A French soldier wearing a steel helmet and carrying a rifle with 'EN AVANT' at the top and 'JUSQU'AU BOUT' on the bottom around the circumference. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 37 mm red ribbon that has blue-white-red edges. The rectangular silver bar slides over the ribbon.

The idea for a Verdun Medal was put forward on 20 November 1916. It was to be issued to soldiers who had participated in the Battle for Verdun between February and November 1916. Six or seven different designs were put forward for the medal but none were approved by the French Government and all remained unofficial awards that could not be worn on military uniform. 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.