Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A group of five French and French Colonial Orders and Decorations awarded to J. Delacourcelle, Engineer of Bridges and Highways, Ministry of Public Works

France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, 53mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver and enamel, significant enamel damage and traces of restoration; Medaille Militaire, silver, gilt, and enamel, with trophy of arms suspension, significant blue enamel damage to motto around central medallion; Tunisia, French Colonial, Order of Nichan Iftikhar, Third Class neck badge, 83mm including bow suspension x 58mm, silver and enamel, Mohammed el-Nasir (1906-22) cipher at centre, with neck riband; Annam, French Colonial, Order of Kim Khanh, First Class neck badge, 45mm x 78mm, gold, with tassels below, adapted for breast wear; Cambodia, French Colonial, Merit Medal, First Class, Norodom I issue, silver-gilt; the first two fine, the Colonial awards good very fine (5) £1000-1400

Provenance: Morton and Eden, June 2007.

Joseph Delacourcelle was born in Toulon on 25 October 1862 and was educated at the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (National School of Bridges and Highways). He was employed by the Département des Landes as Engineer in charge of the Railway Section, before moving to the Département des Loir-et-Cher as Engineer in charge of the Steam Trams. In 1901 he was posted to the Indo-Chinese Department of Public Works, being employed in Annam, Cochinchina, and Cambodia. In May 1908 he was transferred to the Tunisian Department of Public Works, and was awarded the Legion of Honour on 6 August 1913. Mobilised for War duties in August 1914, he returned home in 1919 and retired in 1926.

Sold together with notification letter for the Legion of Honour, dated 7 August 1913; original warrant for the Order of Nichan Iftikhar, dated 1914; and original service papers regarding recipient’s career, including a Diploma dated 19 July 1897.

For other medals to the Delacourcelle Family, see Lots 904 and 1415.