Victims of the Invasion of France Medal 1914-18

Victims of the Invasion of France Medal 1914-18. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: In low relief showing a woman victim standing, facing right with a devastated town in the far background ; above right 'FRANCE' in faint letters. Reverse: In the centre 'AUX VICTIMES DE L'INVASION LA FRANCE RECONNAISSANTE' (France is grateful to the victims of the invasion) surrounded by a stylised laurel wreath that has '1914 . 1918' at the base. The medal is fitted with a fixed suspender depicting an arrangement of chains. A piece of 35 mm rich blue ribbon that has a central 2 mm black stripe and 5 mm red stripes near the edges.

Instituted by the Minister of Liberated Regions on 30 June 1921 and awarded to the people of France to acknowledge the courage and spirit of those who had been rendered homeless or had endured other suffering as a result of the German invasion between 1914 to 1918. There were three classes issued - silver-gilt, silver and bronze. 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.