Bonjour á tous,

Were those French soldiers who fought in Bir Hakeim and other battles in Libya along with British 8. Army entitled to get the British Africa Star commemorative medal?

This question links also to my other question considering the medals of the Narvik Operation.
http://www.forum-insignes-medailles.net/medals-of-the-world-f80/narvik-operation-t17553.htm

Cordialement, Harri.

Hello,

Only if they are members of the British Army - The Free French Force was associated to the British army, but it was a french force.

Best Regard

gam446

Thank you gam446 for answer,

What really made me courious about this subject was after seeing the list of medals of sergeant Rene Mittenaere, who served with 13e DBLE during the war and he had obviously all the British Stars issued and also a quite big amount of Polish medals.

What is the story, how come he got so many medals and even some strange ones for an Infantry sous-officier serving in French troops, like Air Crew Star, Atlantic Star, British Defence Medal, Polish Croix de Vaillance (received in 1945) and Merite Polonais avec claive (received in 1944), Medaille Militaire Polonaise etc.
Were the Polish medals earned during the Narvik campaign because of co-operation with Polish troops?

Confused....

Here's a link if he is not known by all yet.

http://www.rezoweb.com/forum/militaire/legiopatrianost/2389.shtml


Cordialement, Harri

HeJ Harry,

Air Crew Europe star... I think there was a mistake too.
The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded for two months operational flying from United
Kingdom bases over Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944.
A person must first be entitled to the 1939-45 Star before qualifying for the Air Crew Europe Star.

Cdlt,

MaZeL

Thank you Mazel for comment .

Yes, I agree with you, but thats what is mentioned in the list of medals. I think there are some other peculiarities as well.

He wrote a book as well of his career in the Legion before and during the II GM.
More comments needed.

Cordialement, Harri .

Hello everybody,

I am still courious considering the Africa Star being awarded to soldiers of the Bir Hakeim campaign.
In the book of Peter Macdonald: The Making of a Legionnaire, exists this photo of veterans wearing Legion berets and ties, Norwegian Participation Medals and British WW II medals, among them some Stars and Defence Medal.
Naturally it is possible that they are British non-Legion veterans wearing these ties and berets just because of the occasion possibly commemorating the battles of WWII.
Among the veterans there is one Norwegian officer in uniform.



Cordialement, Harri.