Does anybody know why?

[liverpool annie]

Why would a British soldier receive a Croix de Guerre from France while in Mesopotamia? He also received an MM


Name BATTLE, EDGAR HARRY
Initials: E H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment: South Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 04/07/1918
Service No: 9551
Awards: MM
Additional information: Croix de Guerre with palms (France). Son of Richard and Matilda Battle, of 257, Stapleton Rd., Bristol. Born at Waltham Abbey, Herts.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 15.
Cemetery: TEHRAN WAR CEMETERY   

I'd appreciate your help !

Annie 

[em]

Some information on this site.

www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/croixdeguerre.htm

em

[liverpool annie]

Thanks em!

I'm trying to find out why the French gave him the medal in the first place !!
I do have his medal card but I have to post it - I'll get it done as soon as possible!!

Thanks for looking for me though!

Annie 

[manmack]

annie,its a sort of tradition to honour the soldiers of your allies,some french soldier would have been given a military medal in return,it will probably be in connection with his MM,the biggest example is this.
the americans awarded our unknown soldier the medal of honour,in return,we awarded their unknown soldier the VC,mack

[liverpool annie]

Thanks Mack!

Now I have to find out why he got the MM........!!
Back to the drawing board!!

Annie 

[Little Nell]

Quote from this site:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/militarymedal.htm

The Military Medal was established in wartime Britain by King George V on 25 March 1916, a year and a half after Britain declared war against Germany.  Its inception was intended to meet the enormous demand for medals during the First World War.

The medal was initially awarded to NCOs and men of the Army (including the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division) for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (or DCM). 
...
The medal was not however restricted to British or Commonwealth subjects.  Foreign recipients included the Frenchman Rene Fonck and the American Raoul Lufbery.  The medal was awarded on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.  A silver laurelled bar was awarded for subsequent acts of bravery and devotion under fire.

The medal was subsequently awarded to women: two were awarded to two civilian women in recognition of their role during the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.

Awards of the medal were announced in the London Gazette (without an accompanying citation).

Recipients of the medal, which was silver and circular of 36mm in diameter and which featured the head of the monarch on the front, were allowed to list the letters 'MM' after their name.  As many as 115,600 were awarded during the First World War, along with 5,796 first bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar.  A further 15,000 Military Medals were awarded during the Second World War.

It is not an uncommon medal unfortunately - so many servicemen were brave.

The Croix de guerre:

The Croix de guerre was also commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium.

Nell

[Kevwood]

here we go.

[liverpool annie]

Thank you very much Kev!

Can you read that for medals?

Does it even give them? supposed to be MM and Croix de Guerre ...

Doesn't - does it??

Annie

[Kevwood]

bada bing