France: Commemorative Medal 1939-1945, With clasp 'Italie' & enamelled 'Wound' star emblem

Awarded for service with the French Expeditionary Corps in Italy and the island of Elba between 1943-1944

Note the official clasp 'Italie' was made obsolete in 1953, when the clasp was replaced by the institution of the 'Italy Campaign Medal' (Médaille commémorative de la campagne d'Italie 1943-44). In practise, Italy veterans who had hitherto worn the clasp 'Italie' on their WW2 Commemorative Medal proudly continued to do so, even after the institution of the new campaign medal for Italy!

Prior to 2016 there was no 'official' wound medal - the authorised 'Wound' insignia originally only being a riband with a red enamelled star. Latterly the authorized protocol was to wear the red enamelled star on the respective campaign medal to denote wounds received in action

The medal riband fitted with a two-pronged mounting pin, or 'Epingle', as worn in the French style

Condition: About EF

Code: 20775