France. A Croix de Guerre (War Cross) 1914-1918

In bronze, "1914-1915" reverse, unmarked, 37.2 mm (w) x 45.5 mm (h) inclusive of its ball suspension, bronze palm and two bronze stars on its original ribbon, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Croix de Guerre (War Cross) was instituted in April 1915, to commemorate mentions in dispatches. Awarded to all ranks, officers included, and officers and men of allied forces who were mentioned in French dispatches. The cross was awarded once, subsequent mentions were recognized by additional ribbon devices, as follows: Brigade, Regimental or similar unit, a bronze star; Divisional despatch, a silver star; Army Corps despatch, a silver gilt star; Army despatch, a laurel branch (palm). Further mentions permitted further emblems of the appropriate variety to be worn. Five palms in bronze would be substituted by a silver palm. The cross exists in four main versions defined by the year of award on the reverse: 1914-1915, 1914-1916, 1914-1917, 1914-1918. The Croix de Guerre could be awarded to a military unit as a whole, and a unit mention in dispatches would permit the wearing of the Fourragere. 

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.