History
The Combatants de la Somme Medal, in full the Commemorative Medal of the Battle of the Somme, was struck by the Monnaie de Paris and created in 1956 by the French veterans' association Ceux de la Somme, Those of the Somme. It honours the French and allied soldiers who fought in the battles of the Somme in the two world wars, in 1916 and in 1940.
It is an association commemorative rather than an official state decoration. Australians fought heavily on the Somme in 1916, in the battles around Pozieres and beyond, and are among the allied soldiers it remembers. Like other unofficial commemoratives, it is not part of the Australian Order of Wearing, and is worn, if at all, on the right breast, apart from official awards.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is bronze, twenty seven millimetres across. The obverse shows the reclining figure of Marianne, the French Republic, with two warriors below her sheltering behind shields bearing the French rooster and levelling their lances, above the words Batailles de la Somme. The reverse is inscribed Combattants de la Somme 1914-1918-1940.
The ribbon
Yellow with a dark blue central band.
The ribbon is yellow with a broad dark blue central band.
Eligibility
The medal was struck to honour those who fought in the Battles of the Somme.
- It remembers the French and allied soldiers of the Somme in the two world wars, in 1916 and 1940;
- It was created by the veterans' association Ceux de la Somme, and is an association commemorative, not an official state decoration;
- Australians who fought on the Somme in 1916 are among those it remembers;
- It is not part of the Australian Order of Wearing, and is worn, if at all, on the right breast.
Order of wear
This is an unofficial commemorative medal, not included in the official order of wear of either France or Australia. By long-standing convention commemorative medals, if worn at all, are worn on the right breast, and not among the official awards on the left.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Combatants de la Somme Medal?
A French commemorative medal, in full the Commemorative Medal of the Battle of the Somme, struck to remember those who fought in the Battles of the Somme in 1916 and 1940.
Who created it?
The French veterans' association Ceux de la Somme, Those of the Somme, in 1956; it was struck by the Monnaie de Paris.
Is it an official award?
No. It is an association commemorative, not an official state decoration, and is not part of the Australian Order of Wearing.
What is the Australian connection?
Australians fought heavily on the Somme in 1916, in the battles around Pozieres and beyond, and are among the allied soldiers the medal remembers.
What does the medal show?
The reclining figure of Marianne above two warriors with shields and lances, with the reverse inscribed Combattants de la Somme 1914-1918-1940.
How is it worn?
As an unofficial commemorative it is worn, if at all, on the right breast, apart from official honours.