France: Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal (Medaille Commemorative des Operations du Moyen-Orient 1956 avec etoile blesses). Clasp 'Moyen Orient', a 'Wound Star' emblem, & 'Para' regimental insignia of  6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, or 6e RPIMa

The medal represents an award worn by a qualified French 'Parachutist', or Para, who served during the Anglo-French invasion of Egypt in 1956 - the Suez Crisis - and had been 'Wounded-in-Action'. The reduced size regimental insignia denotes a 'Para' who had served at Suez with 6th Colonial Parachute Regiment (or 6e RPC), which unit was restyled as 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 6e RPIMa in 1958

Note: Prior to 2016 there was no 'official' wound medal - the authorised 'Wound' insignia being originally a riband only with a red enamelled star. Later, 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 left the services, preferred to wear the unofficial 'Wound' medals. 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

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

Condition: About EF

Code: 26139