France: Indochina Campaign Medal 1945-1954. With clasp 'Dien Bien Phu', 'Wound' emblem & reduced size 'Para' brevet wings Parachutist insignia

The ordnance issue riband fitted with 1 x clasp, 1 x emblem & 1 x insignia

Issued to commemorate the French colonial wars in Vietnam in the period 1945-1953 - including the heroic, if ill-fated, defence of Dien Bien Phu - the latter battle immortalized by the staunch defence put up by the French garrison comprised of Foreign Legion, Paras and Colonial Forces, and being the defeat that effectively brought to an end the history of French colonisation in Indo-China

As testimony to the carnage at Dien Bien Phu, the below following are the estimated casualties incurred (The Viet-Minh killed & wounded figures are based on French estimates)

- France & French Colonial Forces: 2,293 Killed & 4,436 Wounded
- France & French Colonial Forces: 1,729 Missing
- France & Colonial Forces: 11,721 Captured (inc 4,436 Wounded)
- Viet-Minh: 8,000 Killed & 15,000 Wounded
- Viet-Minh: 792 x Missing

Wound Emblem: Prior to 2016 there was no 'official' wound medal - the authorised 'Wound' insignia was originally a riband only with a red enamelled star. Later the protocol was to wear the approved red enamelled star 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 left the services, did as they pleased many opting to wear the unofficial medals, while others wore the 'Wound Stars' on the ribands of the respective campaign medals for the campaigns in which they had been wounded. In 2016 after many years of clamour for change, the French authorities approved the award of an official wound medal, the recently introduced medal using the original 'Wound' ribbon of the Great War, and the common design of the hitherto unofficial wound medal that had been worn by veterans since 1918

A highly desirable medal, to a Para veteran 'Wounded-in-Action' and who was presernt at the largest battle of the French Indochina War

Condition: About EF

Code: 21104