French Medal of the Orient 1914 -1918

Places
Accession Number RELAWM13169
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Bronze
Maker Unknown
Place made France
Date made 1926
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

French Medal of the Orient (Medaille D'Orient). The obverse depicts the helmeted bust of 'la Repubique' with the engravers signature 'Georges Lemaire' at 8 o'clock and 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAIS' around the edge. The reverse is a landscape framed by palm trees, with flags, gun barrel and an anchor in the foreground; the nearest flag bears the inscription 'HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918'. In the top section is the word 'ORIENT'. The suspension is formed from two palm fronds and a crescent moon. The 38mm ribbon is light blue with three yellow stripes. The central stripe is 6mm wide and outer stripes are 2mm wide. Attached to the ribbon is a gilded 'slide on' clasp with the word 'ORIENT'.

History / Summary

Instituted jointly with the Dardanelles medal, 15th June 1926, the Orient Medal was for award to French participants in the Salonika campaign in Greece, between 1915 and 1918 during the First World War.