French WWI Victory Medal to an American

[JBFloyd]

Anyone who collects American WWI or state medals in general has probably run into a group with a French WWI Victory. Over the years, I've wondered about the mechanism for these medals, which were theoretically not to be awarded to Allied soldiers, appearing in American groups, especially noticeable in 27th Division groups, in my experience. This document helps explain that.

 

The central section of the document contains an extract from the French "Journal Officiele" of 12 October 1922 relating to the award of the Victory Medal to Allied soldiers wounded in France.

[JBFloyd]

Here's a detail of the recipient of the award, Sgt Fred E. Smith, 2nd Regiment, New York National Guard. The 2nd New York has service in the Spanish-American War and on the Mexican Border, In World War I, supplemented by men from the 71st New York, the 2nd New York became the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division. The 27th Division was placed under the British 3rd Army for a period, which also helps explain the number of British awards to men of the division.

 

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find much detail on Fred E. Smith.

[JBFloyd]

This is the key. The seal is embossed "French War Veterans/New York". This organization apparently was the conduit for getting French WWI Victory Medals (and perhaps other French awards) to Americans who had served in France. Unfortunately, I find little info on the organization itself, so I don't know if the medals involved a "donation" to the organization or to French reconstruction, but this is the only direct, documentary evidence I have found of the way French WWI Victory Medals wound up in American groups. Perhaps someone else has a similar document for a French WWI Commemorative Medal to an American.

[BigJohn#3RD]

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for this information about this topic; I have seen both French and British Victory medals US soldier's medals groups and always assumed that they served with an allied unit prior to our countries entry to the war or served as liaisons to these forces.

John

[JBFloyd]

The veterans of the 27th Division also often had British Victory Medals or British War Medals in their groups (usually with the original naming erased). The ribbon bars commonly appear in 27th Division groups. I've always believed that the 27th veterans felt they earned these medals because the division was placed under British 3rd Amy command for a while. However, I've never seen such medals officially named to an American or any documentation of such an award. I have groups to men who were American citizens and enlisted in the British or Canadian forces who received officially named British awards, but never a member of US forces serving under British command.

 

I've never had the opportunity to research the 27th Division veterans' association's newsletters, but I'd be willing to bet that they contain some reference to 27th vets being "authorized" these medals. There are just too many instances of it happening to be entirely random.

 

John, the regulations address the situation where a man served in an allies' forces prior to April 1917. He gets the Victory Medal from the nation he was serving at the end of the war (or last served in if he had been discharged). Because of the way military bureaucarcies work, I'm sure a few men in such situations actually got double issues, but I've never seen such a case and would very much like to find one with documentation.

[Bluehawk]

Would this (published at one time by Time Travelers) have been its basic appearance?

[JBFloyd]

That's the medal that would have accompanied the certificate.

[Mk1rceme]

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/298372-wwi-medal-group/

 

Recently posted this medal set I acquired. The group is un-named but from New York. The French victory medal was found with the others.