Circular silvered bronze medal with oak wreath ribbon bar suspension; the face with a life buoy imposed on a naval anchor and crossed oar and harpoon, all encircled in knotted rope, signed ‘A AUGIS LYON’ (for Alphonse Augis, renowned jewellers and medallists of Lyon); the reverse inscribed ‘DECERNE A’ (awarded to) within a laurel and oak wreath, circumscribed ‘SAUVER OU PÉRIR · HONNEUR COURAGE DEVOUEMENT’ (Save or Perish · Honour Courage Dedication); some age toning and discoloration; on original ribbon mounted for wear with rosette denoting an award of the officer class. The first alliance of French life-saving societies was set up in 1892 and in 1899 the Union Fédérale des Sociétés de Natation et de Sauvetage was established. In 1906 the federation changed its name to the Fédération Nationale des Sociétés de Natation et de Sauvetage and in 1920 to the Fédération Nationale de Natation et de Sauvetage. It was in 1925 that the name was again changed, this time to the Fédération Nationale de Sauvetage. In 1973 it became the Fédération Française de Sauvetage et de Secourisme. This medal must therefore date from the period 1925 to 1973.
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