Médaille militaire

Statute

The Médaille militaire may be awarded for different reasons, including to foreign nationals serving with or alongside French forces. It is given to enlisted ranks, non-commissioned officers, and aspirants, but not to commissioned officers. As a valour award, it ranks second after the Legion of Honour. It can also be awarded as a service medal for long-serving NCOs, or to generals and admirals who have already received the grand cross of the Legion of Honour.

Award description

The Médaille militaire is a silver laurel wreath 28 mm in diameter surrounding a central gold medallion. The medallion originally bore the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III; later variants show Marianne, the effigy of the French Republic. A blue enamelled ring around the medallion bears the gilt inscription "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" (or "LOUIS-NAPOLEON" on the Empire variant) and a small gilt star.

The original top device was a silver imperial eagle; later versions use a breastplate over crossed cannons, anchor, sabres, swords, and battle axes. The reverse bears "VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE" in relief. The ribbon is 37 mm wide, yellow with 6 mm green edge stripes, borrowed from the Order of the Iron Crown.

Recipients

The Médaille militaire was awarded to British and allied forces during the Crimean War and in large numbers to allies in World War I. During World War II, it reached its highest number of foreign bestowals, often to British and US military personnel. The general's médaille was awarded to Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Josip Broz Tito, Dwight Eisenhower, and Andrew Cunningham.

Unit award

The Médaille militaire is also authorized as a unit award for commands displaying bravery equal to that required for the individual medal, displayed on the unit's flag. This unit award is one of the rarest in the French military.

It is distinct from the fourragère de la médaille militaire, a cord worn by members of units mentioned in despatches. A fourragère in the ribbon's colours is worn by units mentioned four times; one in the colours of the légion d'honneur and médaille militaire ribbons is worn by units mentioned twelve times. Ten American units, mostly from the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, may wear the fourragère.