Citation à l'ordre de l'armée

[Ian Burns]

In researching a French naval aviation unit I have found the following citation for one of its members :
LEVASSEUR Julien, Pierre - Matelot de 1ère classe, mécanicien pilote aviateur - Citation à l'ordre de l'armée; Date: 11/1915; Unité: Aviation maritime.
A participé à de nombreuses et périlleuses reconnaissances sous le feu de l'ennemi. S'est particulièrement distingué dans la tentative hardie de franchir une montagne de 2200 mètres en hydro-avion.
Participated in numerous and perilous reconnaissance under enemy fire. Was particularly distinguished in the bold attempt to cross a mountain of 2200 meters by hydro-plane.
Now I'm not familiar with medals and awards so my question is - what is a Citation à l'ordre de l'armée? It sound like a Mention in Despatches, if so is it a Croix de Guerre?

[Froggy]

Bonjour
The citations can be, in an increasing order of prestige, to the order of the regiment, the brigade, the division, the army corps or the army and authorize most of the time the wearing of the Croix de Guerre (with bronze, silver or vermeil star or with palm) and / or the military medal, or even the Legion of Honor.

here a photo of Julien Pierre Levasseur
http://www.tadoukoz.net/piwigo/picture.php?/19623
http://www.tadoukoz.net/piwigo/upload/2018/03/16/20180316204803-e510242a.jpg

[Ian Burns]

Ca va bien merci beaucoup Froggy,
Sadly that does not really answer my question.

My understanding of the C de G is that was created in WW1 as something similar to the British Mention in Despatches. The latter was indicated by an emblem of bronze oak leaves worn on an approved medal ribbon, ie; the Victory Medal.
Whilst the C de G had many levels the MiD stood alone.

Now, the web site (http://www.netmarine.net/tradi/marins14-18/index.htm) I found Levasseur on does differentiate between Citations and the Croix de Guerre. It does not indicate that Levasseur was awarded the CdeG.
I thought (perhaps in error) that all Citations qualified for the lowest level of the Croix de Guerre.

[Pedro Ramis]

Am not sure about the French army (I assume that Froggy will clarify this) but for the Belgian army, a citation was the first mention officially made of one soldier's above the average behaviour at the front. This does not qualify to an automatic award of any medal. But of course, the soldier may receive a medal in addition to it...

[Froggy]

Am not sure about the French army (I assume that Froggy will clarify this) but for the Belgian army, a citation was the first mention officially made of one soldier's above the average behaviour at the front. This does not qualify to an automatic award of any medal. But of course, the soldier may receive a medal in addition to it...

Same thing in France

and As I wrote before "and authorize most of the time the wearing of the Croix de Guerre"