Verdun Medal

Verdun Medal. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The bust of a female wearing a French helmet, facing right and holding a sword in her right hand. The inscription 'ON NE PASSE PAS' (They shall not pass) on the top right circumference with the artists name to the left. Reverse: A twin tower castle gate with a fern leaf to each side, 'VERDUN' at the top and '21 FEVRIER 1916' at the base. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 37 mm red ribbon that has blue-white-red edges.

The idea for a Verdun Medal was put forward by the town of Verdun 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. The particular medal was the design selected and issued by the town, but demand exceeded supply and other designs were privately struck (see RELAWM14786).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.