How do I prove if someone was awarded the Croix de Guerre

Question

William QUARRELL enlisted in Australian Imperial Force in WW1, There is a letter on his original war records that states he was awarded the French medal "Croix de Guerre". How would I prove this?

Comments

 - hi Amanda - just a small comment, Could you add his ID ( Quarrell-54 ) to the G2G ? post, in the ID box (WikiTree ID/URL) - in the footer  - -  cheers

Answer 1

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Recipients_of_the_Croix_de_Guerre_1914%E2%80%931918_(France)&from=Q

Comments

While someone being in this category is evidence that they got the Croix de Guerre (still no proof, since anyone can edit Wikipedia), there are many, many recipiends who are not there. A high proportion of French soldiers (which means all valid men of age during the war) were awarded it. That must be hundreds of thousands of people. My great-uncle got it, as well as several of his brothers-in-law, cousins and so on, and I guarantee they're not on the page.

Answer 2

According to Wikipedia there were 2,065,000 Croix de Guerre awarded during the Great War.

Answer 3

DO YOU HAVE A DATE WHEN THE CROIX DE GUERRE WAS AWAREDED?  DOES THE LETTER STATE WHICH CROIX DE GUERRE WAS AWARED?  IN ADDITION TO THE SUGGESTED PROVIDED - YOU CAN CONTACT THE EQUVALENT OF THE DEFENCE DEPT IN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT!

Answer 4

Unfortunately I do not have a date. William was wounded twice, discharged in England in 1919, joined the Royal Fusiliers and went to Russia and was one of 5 Aussies to be awarded a DCM. There is nothing on his war record other than a letter from him mentioning it.

I just think a man this brave should have all his awards celebrated.

This gentleman is a distant relative and I had need heard of any of this before.

I did read somewhere that whole divisions were award the medal. Unfortunately I have not been able to find William's name on any list I've found.

Thanks Margaret I had no idea there were that many.

Thanks Elgin for the tip. I think writing to the French Government may be the only way to find out for sure

Comments

Do you have the names of the battles where he was wounded? Is there any mention of him being in relation with a French military unit?

If he was awarded the Croix de Guerre, it probably means that he was cited in a French unit. If you know exactly which one, then maybe the citation can be found in the corresponding Journal de marche et d'opérations (which are online for WW1).

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I'm afraid his Australian war record only states "wounded in action gas" 15 October 1917 and "wounded in action (2nd occasion) (gas)" on 9 October 1918. In both cases the place is simply listed as "Field"

No mention of any French units that I can see.

Someone suggested that it may have been award to the unit.

At the moment I have included mention of the award in the research notes and where it came from. I think that is all I can do unless as Elgin suggested I write to the French government

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I doubt the French government will do anything. I would rather suggest writing to Association nationale des croix de guerre et de la valeur militaire, they may be willing to help. However, there is no database (not even paper registers) of awardees of the Croix de Guerre, so you have to count on luck.

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- he wrote a letter in 1939 - = https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=11616009&s=18 = -

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 - this is the start of his France service -  = View digital copy (naa.gov.au) = - and to about 1819 - -

Answer 5

For reference:

This won't help you, but, for those researching French soldiers who were awarded the Croix de Guerre, here are some ways to find out:

- Someone in the family is in possession of the medal itself and knows where it comes from. (Not foolproof. We have a Médaille Militaire which was said to belong to my great-grandfather. Research showed it belonged to his unmarried son instead).

- Check civil records mentioning this person after the war. Having been awarded the Croix de guerre will be mentioned on the person's death record, marriage record, birth and marriage records of his children and even when he's a witness to a marriage.

- (the best) check the person's military files (available from Archives départementales). The file will include activity during WWI (if applicable) and detail decorations awarded and why (with text of the citations).

I don't know how this work with foreign soldiers, sorry.

Comments

Thanks Isabella

Great advice

Answer 6

You could try searching the newspapers for his home town etc. as it's the sort of thing to get press attention or maybe a reported citation.

My GF was awarded a Croix de Guerre avec Plume as part of a battalion award. In 1922 a French general visited the UK to formally present it to the battalion. Link