Silvered metal Greek (Geneva) Cross with integral bar suspension; the face inscribed SBM (for the Société Française de Secours aux Blessés Militaires), a wreath of oak leaves imposed, signed ‘E. BECKER’; the reverse inscribed ‘SOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE SECOURS AUX BLESSÉS MILITAIRES DES ARMÉES DE TERRE ET DE MER’ (French Society for the Aid of wounded military of the armies of the land and sea); on replaced ribbon without embroidered red cross. The Society was founded on 25 May 1864 following the signature of the Geneva Convention in 1863 and declared of public interest in 1866. The men and women volunteer members of the Society, placed at the disposition of the Corps de Santé Militaire, performed innumerable acts of mercy and kindness, often in conditions of great difficulty and danger, during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 and in both World Wars. The Cross is identical in design to that for 1914-1919 but without those dates to the face. It is also rather rarer than the earlier cross. A good example.
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