France. A Medal For The War Wounded, Combatant's Issue

France; Bronze gilt with red enamels, the red star indicating an award to a combatant, unmarked, 35 mm (w) x 39.5 mm (h) inclusive of its ball suspension, on its original combatant's ribbon, intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Medal for the War Wounded was established by the law of December 11, 1916, based on an idea by the nationalist writer Maurice Barrès. Although originally established as a temporary measure, the insignia survived for a century in some form or another. It could be awarded to wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, to the Second World War deportees and internees from the French resistance and to soldiers wounded in more recent conflicts. A variety of unofficial medals in the form of a red enamelled star suspended by the same ribbon appeared very early on and although tolerated for wear by the authorities, were not official until recently.