A B C

Figure 2: Early and later versions of the Army and Navy Meritorious Service Medals.

A

B C

Figure 3: Early and later versions of the Air Force and Navy Gallantry Crosses.

38 JOMSA

FRENCH COLONIAL MERIT MEDAL

Edward J. Emering

This rare decoration was created on January 28, 1949 by Mr. Paul Patin, President of the Society of Veterans of the 3 and 21 RIC (Regiment Infantry Colonial) for award to members of the Society. On October 25, 1958, this Society was merged into the French Federation of Colonials and Colonial Combatants. The medal was transferred to this Federation at the proposal of Mr. Patin and subsequently approved by its General Assembly. A Commission of Colonial Merit was designated to study propositions and oversee the continued award of this decoration.

The Colonial Merit Medal is awarded to recognize those individuals who have distinguished themselves by their dedication, their activities and their competence in the maintenance, support and the management of moral and material interests of the Federation, and the Society that it incorporates; or by their earlier colonial service and their actions in the support of the French armed forces and public works projects abroad. Under no circumstances can it be awarded collectively. In addition, to maintain its value, it is only awarded sparingly in accordance with a limited annual contingent as fixed by the Commission. A diploma is presented with each award and the recipient’s name is entered in a register annotated by the President of the Commission. The headquarters of the French Federation of Colonials and Colonial Combatants is located in the 9th Arrondissement, rue de Chateaudun 40, Paris, France.

The medal has one class only. It would, however, appear that originally several classes were under consideration. Medals with a rosette on the ribbon (officer class), such as the one pictured here, do exist. Officially though, the medal has only been awarded on a simple (chevalier’s) ribbon. Again, the image depicted here seems to be that

of an awarded (and worn) medal.

The medal is gilt-bronze, 40 mm in diameter. Its obverse is formed by an open wreath with laurel leaves left and oak leaves right, enamelled dark green and gilt-edged. The top part of the wreath carries a white enamelled, gilt-edged band with gilt letters, MERITE left and COLONIAL right. There is an artistic script on the top central portion of the white enamelled band. On the wreath is laid a white enamel, gilt edged, modified Maltese-style cross with only three double-pointed arms (the two arms at either side are larger than the one at the

top). Each point is capped with a gilt ball finial. In the center, is a red- enamelled medallion. Over the cross lies a raised gilt fouled naval anchor, symbol of the former Colonial Forces. The reverse is flat, without any mark or inscription. The ribbon is 37mm wide, white with a 12mm central band of light blue-white-red (ttuee stripes of equal width) and a 5ram light blue stripe at each edge.

At the time of its creation in 1949, the Society of the 3 and 21 RIC had its seat in the Clignancourt Barracks on the edge of Paris. The ribbon for the medal at the time was 37 mm wide with an 11 mm gold band in the center, flanked by two light blue stripes (6.5 mm), two white stripes (5 ram) and two red stripes (1.5 mm). The original medal differed from the modern version described above, but no definitive example of its appearance could be found.

An air of mystery surrounds the original medal. There is a medal, without ribbon, which exists in a private collection in France. It can be described as follows: a round, uniface, silvered bronze-rayed sun, 47mm diameter with a five-pointed blue enamel star. In its center is a white

enamel medallion with a three-line horizontal inscription in gilt: MERITE/COLONIAL/FRANCAIS. At its top, a star is suspended from a small closed silver palm wreath on which rests a gilt naval anchor, which in turn carries a silvered, old model colonial helmet. The ribbon’s suspension ring passes through the top of the anchor. This medal bears a boar’s head as a maker’s mark. The medal dates from the Clignancourt Barracks period, but it is not known whether or not this is an original Colonial

Merit Medal.

Vol. 55, No. 2 39

Addendum to My Article on National Guard Bureau’s Rifle Match Awards

William K. Emerson

The May-June 2003 JOMSA illustrated some of the awards given by the National Guard Bureau for its annual rifle matches. The article noted that by 1977 a gold- colored circular belt buckle replaced the five medal types given since 1930. Since the publication of that article I have discovered that the National Guard Bureau replaced the circular gold-colored award buckle with a multi- colored, rectangular award buckle (Figure 1.)

The Bureau initially awarded this second style award buckle in either 1980 or 1981. Like the circular version, the rectangular style was normally engraved on the reverse with STATE WINNING TEAM, the year, and the recipient’s name. The Bureau gave these awards through at least 1984, but by the late 1980s apparently the Bureau no longer provided any recognition to the winners of the annual rifle match.

Figure 1: Multi-colored, rectangular award buckle.

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Correction

Figure 9 in King Kwok’s article "The Presidential Inau-

guration Commemorative Medals (PICMs), Republic of

China (1912-1934)" in the January-February 2004 issue

of JOMSA was reversed during editing. The figure should

have depicted President Cao Kun wearing his medals on

his right breast, i.e. the left side of the photo. The editor

apologizes to the author for this inadvertent error.

In the News

Lance Corporal James Lovell, MM, the last-known Brit- ish veteran of the Great War to have been decorated for bravery on the Western Front died on January 27, 2004 at the age of 104. Lovell was born on February 10, 1899, and lied about his age so that he could join his older broth- ers on the Western Front in 1915, but was not sent to France until early 1918.

Lovell was decorated with the Military Medal for his service with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment during the German offensive that was launched on the Western Front on March 15, 1918. His regiment, along with the rest of the 18th Division, was forced to retreat in the face of the overwhelming German attack.

Lance Corporal Lovell at a forward observation post was responsible for reporting back to his company headquar- ters any enemy movement. He reportedly received the Military Medal for the cool and efficient manner in which he carried out his mission of reporting the hordes of enemy troops approaching his observation post on that awful morning. It was also his understanding that he re- ceived the award for shielding an officer from enemy fire.

After the war Mr. Lovell worked for the ironsmiths Priest & Mullings in Leitham for more than 50 years. After the war he married his sweetheart, Alice and they remained together for 69 years until she died in 1988. Lovell’s two brothers also survived the war but one of them lost a leg. He received the French Legion of Honor in the grade of Chevalier from President Chirac in 1998. An official spokesman confirmed that his death left only 26 survi- vors of the Great War in Britain.

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In Memory

Thomas H. Sikes

When the roll is called, there will be one less member. Thomas Sikes, a father, former U.S. Marine, a retired Jacksonville Florida Police detective, and a friend, will no longer be with us. He passed away January 11, 2004. Many collectors and historians around the world will miss him as he was a great help to many. May God Bless.

Charles Potter

40 JOMSA