Saturday September 7th, 1918
Arm feeling rather sore and stiff after inoculation but went to Band practice owing to so many being away.
Medaille Militaire
Today the BWD records that Corporal Arthur Unsworth, of D Company has received the Medaille Militaire.¹ This is the highest, military-only honour granted by the French nation. The medal is awarded to other ranks (non-officers) for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force.
It was established in 1852 by the first President of the French Republic, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte during the Second Empire. Since then the medal has been awarded throughout the Third, Fourth and Fifth Republics, right up to the present day.
During WWI, the French awarded 230,000 of these medals. Some, as in the case of Corporal Unsworth, were granted to foreign Allied soldiers. Britain’s Military Medal is very similar to the Medaille Militaire in both its purpose and potential recipients.
Corporal Unsworth would have received a medal and ribbon like the one shown in this photograph. It is the Medaille Militaire of the Third Republic of France (1870-1940).
Other notable recipients during WWI include Eugene Jacques Bullard (1895 – 1961), the first African-American military pilot and Corporal Edward Foster VC (1886-1946) of 13th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. The Manchester Regiment must have been very proud.
9th Battalion War Diary – 7th September 1918 – Haudricourt
Training as per programme (Appendix No 1). Programme of Training for week ending 14-9-18 issued (Appendix No 2). The following events of the Brigade Meeting will take place on the dates shown, Cross Country Run 14-9-18, Rifle Meeting 13-9-18, Brigade Sports 21-9-18. Transport Sports 22-9-18, Football Final 24-9-18.
1 OR struck off effective strength on admission to hospital in UK whilst on leave. 1 OR is compulsorily transferred from 24th Bn Welsh Regt to Manchester Regt 6-8-18. Extract from London Gazette no 30848, dated 16-8-18 No 377835 Cpl A Unsworth, D Coy warded ‘Medaille Militaire’.
References & Further Reading
¹ London Gazette, Supplement 30848, page 9654
² Medaille Militaire on Wikipedia
* Image created by fdutil. Available under Creative Commons licensing.