- Time Period: The Great War
- Institution: 15 June 1926
- Country: France
The Dardanelles campaign medal (or “Médaille commémorative des Dardanelles” in French) is a French military medal awarded between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916 for participation in the Battle of the Dardanelles, also known as the Gallipoli campaign (which was held against the Central Powers by the Corps expéditionnaire d’Orient and supported by the Royal Navy and French Navy).
The Dardanelles campaign medal was awarded to military and civilian personnel and no minimum time of service is mentioned in the award statute.
The Dardanelles Campaign Medal Design
The Dardanelles campaign medal is circular, measures 30mm in diameter and is struck from bronze.
The obverse of the medal shows a relief image of the “warrior republic” in the form of the left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust. The relief inscription along the circumference “FRENCH REPUBLIC”. The reverse represents both the army and navy, with a relief image of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor. There are two military banners and lances below, surmounted by the inscription “DARDANELLES” (or sometimes “HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918”).
The medal hung from a ribbon through a ring adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The silk moiré ribbon is 37mm wide and is white with four equidistant 3mm wide green stripes beginning 3mm from the edges. A gilt clasp with oriental ornamentation and the inscription “DARDANELLES” is sometimes worn on it, although it is a privately purchased item and unofficial.
