Hi

I know the medaille Coloniale when it was instituted could be awarded retroactively....

What is the OLDEST known war/action it was awarded for?

Thanks
Chris

Hi Christopher

The oldest campaign for which the Colonial Medal was retroactively awarded is ALGERIE since operations there started 1st July 1827 by naval operations. Then 1830 for the Army.

The second oldest would be MADAGASCAR for operations (long forgotten) between 11 October 1829 and 3rd July 1830.

Confirmed by Hass.
Regards

Vétéran

Superb,

thank you. My copy of Hass has not yet arrived.

I bought the following Dilpoma for the 49e R.I.

http://www.kaiserscross.com/183501/183522.html

According to this the only time they were in Algeria was in 1830.

• Embarque à Toulon pour l' expédition contre Alger
  
• Bataille de Staoueli le 19 juin 1830
  
• Prise d' Alger le 5 juillet 1830
  
• Embarque pour l'expédition de Bône le 25 juillet 1830, débarque sans obstacles et prend possession de la ville le 2 aout 1830
  
• Le 15 il repart pour Alger
  
• Il rentre en Françe à la fin de 1830
  

As he is an "Ex-Soldat"

I assume it is for the first actions that qualify.

It is number 37 XXX but he must have been a very old man when he applied.....

Hi Chris

I guess you are right. This man would be one of the oldest beneficiaries of the retroactive award of the Coloniale. I always wondered if they ever existed, now we probably have the answer.

I would consider this paper and its medal to be a very significant witness in the history of that Medal.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Vétéran