France, III Republic. A War Cross for the First War 1914-1918

(Croix de Guerre). Instituted in 1915. In bronze, dated "1914-1915" on the reverse centrepiece, measuring 36.5 mm (w) x 45.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pieced ball suspension, bronze palm on its original ribbon with dual prong pinback, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and was awarded during the First World War, again in the Second World War, and in other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France. The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters.