Volunteer Combatant's Cross 1914–1918

(Redirected from Croix du combattant volontaire 1914–1918)

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Award

Volunteer Combatant's Cross 1914–1918
Obverse bar of the Volunteer combatant's cross 1914–1918
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Volunteers for the war 1914–1918
Presented by	France
Established	4 July 1935

Ribbon of the Volunteer combatant's cross 1914–1918

Precedence
Next (higher)	Escapees' Medal
Next (lower)	Croix du combattant volontaire 1939–1945

The Volunteer Combatant's Cross 1914–1918 (French: "Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1914–1918") is a French decoration that recognizes those who volunteered to serve on the front in a combat unit during World War I. When the 1914–1918 Commemorative war medal (France) (French: "Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918") was established, it was anticipated that a clasp bearing the words, "ENGAGÉ VOLONTAIRE" (English: "VOLUNTEER ENLISTEE"), would be worn on its ribbon for those who had freely and voluntarily enlisted in the French Armed Forces for combat service. While the clasp was produced, it was short-lived due to parliament demanding the establishment of a special insignia to distinguish the special merit of the voluntary combatant.

The Act of 4 July 1935 created the Croix du Combattant Volontaire, designated for those who volunteered to serve on the front in a combat unit during the Great War.

Award statute

The requirements for obtaining the cross were defined by the decree of 28 November 1935.

The qualifications of the candidates have been reviewed by a panel from 1951, twelve members as follows:

Minister of National Defence: Chairman;
Secretary of State for War: two members;
Secretary of State for the Navy: two members;
Secretary of State for Air: two members;
Office national des mutilés et combattants: two members;
Association d'engagés et de combattants volontaires: three members.

The decree of 10 April 1936 extended the award to the few surviving volunteer firefighters from the War of 1870–1871.

The Volunteer combatant's cross 1914–1918 is considered a war decoration during the review of applications for Légion d'honneur, la Médaille militaire and l'Ordre national du Mérite.

Award description

A cross with four arms in bronze, 36 mm wide. Engraved by Frédéric de Vernon.

On the obverse: a round central medallion with the legend surrounding REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE:

Effigy of a helmeted Poilu (World War I infantryman), on a sword drawn vertically on the branches
Of the cross being charged with bay leaves and oak leaves in relief.

On the reverse: inside the central medallion, a branch of laurel is surrounded by the inscription: COMBATTANT VOLONTAIRE 1914–1918.

The cross arms are covered with leaves of laurel and oak forming relief.

A special version was made for the volunteer fighters from the war of 1870–1871 with the dates 1870–1871 on the back replacing those of 1914–1918.

References

http://www.france-phaleristique.com/accueil.htm

Orders, decorations, and medals of France

Orders

National	Order of the Legion of Honour Order of Liberation Order of Merit
Ministerial	Order of Academic Palms Order of Agricultural Merit Order of Maritime Merit Order of Arts and Letters
Territorial	Order of Tahiti Nui

Decorations and medals

Civilian

Military

Commemorative medals

1852 – 1871: Second Empire	Saint Helena Medal Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign Commemorative medal of the 1860 China Expedition Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition
1871–1914: Belle Époque	Commemorative medal of the 1870–1871 War Tonkin Expedition commemorative medal (1885) Dahomey Expedition commemorative medal (1892) Madagascar Expeditions commemorative medal Colonial Medal China Expedition commemorative medal (1901) Morocco commemorative medal (1909)
1914–1918: World War I	1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal Dardanelles campaign medal Orient campaign medal Commemorative medal of the 1914–1918 War Medal of French Gratitude Medal for Victims of the Invasion Medal for civilian prisoners, deportees and hostages of the 1914-1918 Great War
1918–1939: Interwar	Syria-Cilicia commemorative medal
1939–1945: World War II	Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France Italian Campaign medal Medal for deportation and internment for acts of resistance Political deportation and internment medal Commemorative medal of the 1939–1945 War Medal of a liberated France Recusant's insignia
1945–1964: Decolonisation	United Nations operations in Korea commemorative medal Indochina Campaign commemorative medal Middle East operations commemorative medal North Africa Security and Order Operations Commemorative Medal
Since 1964	Medal of the Nation's Gratitude North Africa medal United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon medal French commemorative medal Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory

Defunct orders

Royal & Imperial	Order of Saint Michael Order of the Holy Spirit Order of Saint Louis Order of Military Merit Order of the Iron Crown Order of the Three-Golden Fleeces Order of the Reunion Decoration of The Lily Decoration of the Bordeaux Armband Decoration of the Fidelity Medal of the wounded Order of the Cross of July
Ministerial	Order of Merit for Veterans Order of Military Merit Order of Civil Merit Order of Social Merit Order of Labour Merit Order of Touristic Merit Order of the National Economy Order of Commercial and Industrial Merit Order of Artisan Merit Order of Public Health Order of Postal Merit Order of Sport Merit
Colonial	Order of Indochinese Merit Order of Saharan Merit Order of the Black Star Order of the Star of Anjouan Order of Nichan el Anouar Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam Royal Order of Cambodia Order of Merit of Madagascar and dependencies Order of Merit of Cameroon

France portal

Categories:

Misplaced Pages