QM Henri Le Garrec DSM & Croix de Guerre

MikeW · 17 June 2002, 10:57 AM

No, I'm not sure, I'm hopeless at medals.

So here are le Garrec's medals:

Michael · 18 June 2002, 05:23 AM

Definitely not the Distinguished Service Medal - suspender and ribbon are different. It looks like a Distinguished Conduct Medal to me, which would be rank appropriate, and which was to my knowledge awarded to foreign military personnel.

18 June 2002, 10:06 AM

I think Michael is right. It seems to be a distinguished conduct medal. How a french seaman-airman can get a distinguished conduct medal ?
It's strange ?

18 June 2002, 10:44 AM

The Ribbon appears to have a lighter stripe in the middle, but it is difficult to say from the black and white photograph.

I have attached a picture of the DCM I have in my collection. I agree the suspender bar looks similar.

Old Bill

MikeW · 18 June 2002, 10:54 AM

As stated right back at the beginning of this thread, Le Garrec flew Sopwith triplanes for the Escadrille Terrestre de Chasse for the French Navy based at St.Pol.

His squadron's duties would have been much the same as Naval 9 at this time, defence of Dunkerque and hostile aircraft patrols to intercept and drive off enemy incursions.

At some time during 1917, Le Garrec single handedly came to the rescue of a flight of RNAS machines and drove off their attackers. The RNAS put him forward for the medal (allegedly).

I have so far been unable to pinpoint the incident.

Great that you guys have been able to identify the medal - I must confess to not actually having heard of that one before. :-[

Michael · 20 June 2002, 07:51 AM

I agree that the Distinguished Service Medal would have been more appropriate. But from the suspender it is either the Distinguished Conduct Medal or the Military Medal, and the ribbon looks more like the former.