France, Republic. A Syria-Cilicia And The Levant Medal

(Médaille commémorative de Syrie-Cilicie et Le Levant). LEVANT. In bronze, dark glaze, engraver marked ""LEMAIRE"" (Georges Lemaire) on the obverse, measuring 29.5 mm (w) x 51 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath suspension, ""Levant"" clasp on its original ribbon indicating service between November 11, 1918 and October 20, 1921, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Syria-Cilicia Medal (""Médaille commémorative de Syrie-Cilicie et Le Levant"") was a French decoration awarded to military personnel engaged in the hostilities that erupted in the Middle East in the immediate aftermath of the First World War. It was instituted on July 18, 1922, this campaign medal was awarded by the French Government for military service in the interwar period, to those serving on its behalf, since 1918, against de facto powers in The Levant. The Levant Campaign began in January 1920 when the Arab Kingdom of Syria engaged French armed forces in what would become called the Franco-Syrian War. This campaign ended on July 24, 1920, when French troops entered Damascus abolishing the Arab Kingdom of Syria. Turkey took advantage of the situation by also engaging France in what is now called the Franco-Turkish War pitting the French Colonial Forces and French Armenian Legion against the Turkish forces known as the Kuva-yi Milliye. This campaign, running from May 1920 to October 1921 resulted in French partial occupation of Turkish territory. An uneasy peace ensued which was broken on August 23, 1925 when Sultan Pasha al-Atrash declared revolution against France, thus starting the Great Syrian Revolt (also called the Great Druze Revolt), which took several years for the French Government to subdue.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.