The North Africa medal (or Médaille d’Afrique du Nord in French) was a French commemorative medal established on 29 April 1997 by French President Jacques Chirac via decree 97-424, following an initiative of Pierre Pasquini, Minister for veterans’ affairs and victims of war who expressed “the importance that an exceptional decoration be established for those who had fought in North Africa“.
Unfortunately, not all veterans awarded the “Title of the Nation’s Gratitude” met the new medal’s award prerequisites and almost immediately, new pressures were placed on the government for new medals or for a single one encompassing all bearers of the Title. It took five years for the new award to be established on 12 April 2002 by decree 2002-511.
The North Africa medal ceased to be awarded that very day following barely five years of existence. It was replaced by the Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude with the clasp “AFRIQUE DU NORD” (“NORTH AFRICA”).
The North Africa medal was bestowed to French civilians and military personnel, as well as to foreign nationals serving in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion, who held the “Title of the Nation’s Gratitude” (“Titre de la Reconnaissance de la Nation” in French) for at least ninety days service in:
- Algeria between 31 October 31, 1954 and 2 July 1962;
- Morocco between 31 June 1953 and 1 March 1956;
- Tunisia between 1 January 1952 and 19 March 1956.
The North Africa Medal Design
The North Africa medal was a 34mm in diameter gilded medal struck from bronze.
The obverse bore the relief image of an Agadez cross (Southern cross) surrounded by the inscription also in relief “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”).
The reverse bore the relief inscription on two lines “MÉDAILLE” “D’AFRIQUE DU NORD” (“MEDAL” “OF NORTH AFRICA”) over the relief image of a sprig of three oak leaves.
The medal hung from a ribbon passing through a ring through the medal’s ball shaped suspension loop. The 34mm wide sand coloured silk moiré ribbon bore inverted 34mm wide and 3mm thick blue chevrons. The undress ribbon bore three such chevrons.
