France: Escapers Medal (Medaille des Evades). With 'Wound' emblem on riband

Note: The wearing of the 'Wound' emblem on the riband, indicates an escaper who was 'wounded' during his escape from enemy captivity

Instituted in 1926, the medal is awarded to all personnel who had successfully escaped from enemy internment, or died in their attempts to escape from captivity. The medal was made retrospective to include all wars since 1870

Note: Prior to 2016 there was no 'official' wound medal - the authorised 'Wound' insignia being originally a riband only with a red enamelled star. Latterly the protocol was to wear the approved red enamelled star only on the respective campaign medal riband. Later still ,white metal bars (agrafes) with red enamelled star centres were authorised for wear. In practise, while serving personnel followed the official protocols, veterans who had left the services, preferred to adorn 'any' award with 'Wound Emblems', or wear any of the prolific range of unofficial 'Wound' medals. In 2016 after many years of clamour for change, the French authorities approved the award of an official wound medal. The newly created Wound Medal uses the official original 'Wound' ribbon of the Great War, and a common design of the hitherto unofficial wound medal that had been worn by veterans since 1918

Condition: GVF

Code: 20784