Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Medaille Militaire group of three awarded to Cavalier de Réserve Auguste Victor Duval, 49th Régiment de Dragons

France, Third Republic, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, in case of issue; Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm on ribbon; Victory Medal 1918, official type, good very fine and better, an interesting lot (3) £80-100

Auguste Victor Duval was born in Marseilles on 1 May 1895. He volunteered for war service at Marseilles on 1 October 1914. Serving in the 49th Regiment of Dragoons, he was awarded the Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre in 1918. A brief translation of his citation states that he was awarded for his remarkable courage; have been wounded three times in a recent attack, he was wounded for a fourth time and escaped capture by the enemy by walking several kilometers.

With the recipient’s soldiers’ service book; his Medaille Militaire pension book - this with his photograph, and a citation document from the ‘Grand Quartier General des Armees du Nord et du Nord-Est, dated 5 August 1918. The last payment of his pension was in 1922, suggesting that he died soon after - possibly from his wounds?