Foch Clemenceau French Ww1 First World War Charity Badge / Wwi Pendant Medal
$ 5.28
Description
FOCH CLEMENCEAU FRENCH WW1 FIRST WORLD WAR CHARITY BADGE / WWI PENDANT MEDAL. Obverse : conjoined busts of Foch and Clémenceau Reverse : "au bon marché / Paris / la justice poursuivant le crime - justice pursuing crime" Size : 28 mm or 1,1 inch. Weight : 8,3 grams Metal : bronze These WW1 "charity day" fundraising souvenirs (cardboard insignia, thin stamped medals, pin badges, more rarely bronze or silver medals) were sold during the Great War to raise money for a variety of causes : mainly supporting the troops fighting on the various fronts, supporting the war effort, supporting wounded soldiers (or having caught tuberculosis), soldier's widows, orphans, thanking allied countries, etc... During the first world war (1914-1918) and after the Victory until around 1920, numerous public collection days ("journée" in french language) were organized throughout France and its colonies to benefit soldiers, prisoners of war, orphans, disaster victims, the blind, for fight against tuberculosis, alcoholism, large families support, etc... During these national and local events, volunteer vendors offered passsersby small metal, cardboard or celluloid badges in exchange for a small donation. These modest items have been overlooked by collectors and have often disappeared. There were major national events, departments, cities, little towns and various private organizations who held their own collections throughout France, often offering simple flowers made of paper, celluloid or fabric and badge with or without any inscription. All these documents represent an indisputable value and represent a patriotic manifestation that would be called "conditioning" today but which, in this difficult period, was intended to maintain the morale of people on the home front and help sustain hope for Victory.
