France: Insignia for the Military Wounded

Insigne des blessés militaires

Ribbon: Stripes of white, blue, yellow and red, bearing a red enamelled star for each wound sustained.

Instituted: 11 December 1916.

Awarded: For wounds received in the line of duty while facing an enemy.

Officially it is a ribbon-only award, and then only until a campaign medal is issued for the action in which the wound is received, when the recipient is supposed to transfer the star to the campaign medal's ribbon. However, unofficial 'Wound Medals' are popular and are even tolerated on uniform.

Example of an unoffical medal

Page last updated: 21 March 2014