French Madagascar Second Expedition Medal 1895 Accession Number: RELAWM14774

Description

Madagascar Second Expedition Medal 1895. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The bust of La Republique facing left wearing a winged helmet and armour with 'REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' around the circumference. The engravers name 'O. ROTY' is in the bottom left quadrant. Reverse: The inscription 'MADAGASCAR' over a trophy of arms and a flag with the date '1895' underneath. A hall mark and '1ARGENT' are stamped on the rim. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 37 mm ribbon that has horizontal stripes in equal widths of light blue and green.

Contextual Description

Instituted on 15 January 1896 and awarded to the soldiers and sailors of the second French Expeditionary Force to Madagascar, who served between 8 December 1894 and 31 October 1896. The 15,000 strong expedition's goal was the pacification of the island which took a year to complete and was notable for the large number of casualties due to sickness and disease. A silver bar showing branches of oak and laurel behind a banner with '1895' should be attached on the ribbon but is missing. This bar could be also fitted to the First Madagascar Medal of 1883-1886 to denote that the recipient served in both campaigns. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.

Details

Conflicts

• 19th century

Places

• Madagascar

Units

• French Army

Tags

• French awards and medals