Description

POST WW2 FRENCH NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN MEDAL – ALGERIA & MAURITANIA CLASPS

30mm wide circular bronze medal with laterally-pierced knob and laurel-decorated suspension bar; the face with a female head facing left wearing a helmet with laurel wreath and representing the French Republic, inscribed ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE’, signed ‘GEORGES LEMAIRE’ (sculptor and engraver, 1853-1914); the reverse inscribed ‘MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE OPERATIONS SECURITE ET MAINTIEN DE L’ORDRE’ within a wreath of oak and laurel, signed ‘J. CARLIER. DEL’ and ‘T. SCHVDIN. SVR’, with Paris Mint bronze assay mark; on original ribbon, french mounted, with gilt bronze ‘ALGERIE’ & ‘MAURITANIE’ bars.

The medal was instituted on 11 January 1958 and attributed to military personnel who served in North Africa in the period 1952 to 1962. This example is of the first version of the medal, the second bearing the inscription ‘MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE D’AFRIQUE DU NORD’ on the reverse. As with most French commemorative medals, service for more than 3 months in a regular formation was required for award. A good example.