WW1 A rare set of 'Journée' insignias including three Lalique designs, Journée du 75 lapel pin and Vernier Verdun Medal

Some of the listed items were issued to help raise funds for French soldiers (les Poilus), their wives and children and to help rebuild villages/towns devastated by the fighting. The highly profiled National and Regional 'Journées' include: Journée de Paris 1916 (Photos 17 left and 18 left), Journées du Poilu 1915 (Photos 11, 12 middle, 17 top and 18 top), Journée Serbe (Photos 11 right and 12 right), Journée Nationale des Orphelins de la Guerre 1916 (Photos 11 left and 12 left), La Journée Française Secours National 1915 (Photos 15 top and 16 top), a Journée des Prisonniers de Guerre des Basses Alpes 1916 insignia (Photos 15 right and 16 right) Croix Rouge Française (Photos 19 top and 20 top), an RNLI flag pin dating from this period (Photos 19 top right and 20 top right) and two inter war Monument pour Ferdinand Foch insignias (Photos 19 bottom and 20 bottom). Also included is a rare ‘generic’ insignia (Photos 15 bottom and 16 bottom) featuring mothers and children - normally the reverse had particular ‘Journées’ such as Journée Nationale des Mères de Familles Nombreuses, Journée Nationale des Orphelins de Guerre or Journée de Rennes but this one is blank.

In addition there is a Belgian tricolour lapel pin (Photos 21 left and 22 left), a tricolour wristband (Photos 19 top left and 20 top left), a satirical postcard (‘Gaz Asphyxiants’ – Photo 14) designed by the very famous Dutch artist and cartoonist Louis Raemaekers, a small rose/pink flower pin ‘en celluloïd’ (Photos 21 right and 22 right),  a ‘Bon Point’ (Pour Nos Usines - Photo 13) designed by Victor Prouvé and also a rare propaganda medal which replicates the famous war memorial in Le Mans (Photo) designed to remind the French people of the great achievements of General Antoine Chanzy during the Franco- Prussian War of 1870/71 (Photos 9 right, 10 right and 24).

The three René Lalique designs – one is a bronze lapel pin that he designed for the Journées du Poilu featuring as a central motif a naked soldier (the French Army) wrestling with the German Imperial Eagle (Photos 4, 5 and 7 right). The image of the eagle and warrior was one of the most evocative designs produced by Lalique during this period. The two other designs were created for the Journée Nationale des Tuberculeux Anciens Militaires 1914-1917 (Photos 5 right and 6 middle). The diamond /lozenge shaped pendant is made from a thin pressed silvered metal with a central motif depicting a nurse with a wounded soldier (le poilu). The second one (Photos 6 left and 8), made from thin pressed brass and measuring 30 x 32 mm has as the central motif an angel with wings outspread over a group of almost ghost-like soldiers ('les poilus'), with the accompanying legend: “Pour les blessés de la tuberculose“ (‘For those struck down with tuberculosis’). Both pendants serve as a stark reminder of the 16000 veterans who had contracted this often deadly disease while serving their country.

The ‘75’ Lapel Pin (Photos 3 and 7 left) is made of white metal and depicts the famous ‘Soixante-Quinze’ which was recognised as the greatest artillery field gun of WW1 and it was essential to the success of French war effort especially at the Battle of the Marne in 1914 and the Battle of Verdun in 1916. This rare lapel measures 65 x 25 mm and features the French "75" with the dates 1914-1915. The French 75 mm field gun was a quick-firing field artillery piece adopted in March 1898. Its official French designation was: Matériel de 75mm Mle 1897. It was commonly known as the French 75, simply the 75 and Soixante-Quinze, (French for "75") and is widely regarded as the first modern artillery piece. Initially, the French 75 had been designed as an anti-personnel weapon system for delivering large volumes of time-fused shrapnel shells on enemy troops advancing in the open.

The original Verdun medal (Photos 9 left and 10 left) is in good condition.The obverse features the face with the head and shoulders of a helmeted,armoured female figure representing the French Republic holding a sabre andfacing right, inscribed ‘On ne passe pas’ (They shall not pass), signed ‘Vernier'.The reverse depicts the façade of the citadel of Verdun, inscribed ‘Verdun’above; the date ‘21 février 1916’ is set below with palm branches to eitherside.  

Between 21 February and 19 December 1916, some 70%of the entire French army by rotation fought in defence of Verdun which earned the sobriquet of the "meat grinder". French losses of120,000 dead and 260,000 wounded were almost equalled on the German side. The struggle by French troops to keep the town of Verdun from falling into German hands during WW1, established a lasting symbol of steadfast defence and makes the Verdun medal series much-coveted. The original Verdun medal was created on 20 November 1916 by the Municipal Council of Verdun to commemorate the heroism of its defenders. The engraving of the bronze medal was entrusted to Seraphin Émile Vernier in 1917. 

Condition report: The colours and depth of definition of the various items are very good with some wear and tear as shown in the photos. 

Should you require any further information or if you wish to see further photos please feel free to contact me. Please note that Photo 24 is for information only and is not part of the auction.

Postage abroad - please contact me for individual pricing.

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