France: Orient Medal 1915 (Medaille des Orient 1915)

With Paris Mint 'Cornucopia' logo and 'Br' (Bronze) marks on reverse

The Orient Medal was instituted in 1926, and was awarded to French personnel that served primarily - but not exclusively - in Salonika, and took part in the 'Balkans' Campaigns against the enemy forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Bulgaria between 1915 - 1918

Important: The Orient Medal had a much wider geographic qualifying scope than the 'Salonika / Balkans' theatres. It included French detachments in Egypt, Palestine and 'The Hejaz' that served with the British Egyptian Field Force, and included the famous '1er Regiment Mixte de Cavalerie Du Levant', or 1st Mixed Cavalry Regiment. This French cavalry regiment added to the 5th Australian Light Horse Brigade and attached to the Australian Mounted Division on 26 July 1918, and was a composite regiment formed from two colonial regiments, comprising one squadron each of 1er Regiment Spahis and 4er Regiment Spahis; and, two of 4er Regiment de Marche Chausseurs d'Afrique. This French cavalry served with great distinction alongside the 14th and 15th regiments of Australian Light Horse, in the 5th Australian Light Horse Brigade, during the Palestine Campaign, and in particular, gained distinction at the capture of Nablus, Palestine, in September 1918

The medal fitted with a good length of original silk riband

Condition: GVF

Code: 23143