Circular bronze medal with integral bar for ribbon suspension with laurel and oak leaf decoration; the face with a helmeted figure facing left, representative of the French Republic, holding laurel leaves and the hilt of a sword as a cross, signed ‘A MORLON’ (for the great French engraver and medallist Pierre-Alexandre Morlon, 1878-1951); the reverse inscribed ‘GRANDE GUERRE 1914-1918’ and circumscribed ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE’, with triangular maker’s mark ‘AB& Cie’ for Arthus Bertrand & Cie. of Paris; on replaced correct ribbon with original ornate white metal 'ENGAGE VOLONTAIRE' bar.
The Medal was created on 23 June 1920 and presented to military and auxiliary services who served between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
Almost all examples bear the Paris Mint cornucopia mark whilst this one is, unusually, by the great Paris firm of Arthus Bertrand.
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