The Verdun Medal 1916

The Battle of Verdun is considered to have lasted from 15 February to 18 December 1916, making it the longest battle of WWI, during which time some 70% of the French army fought and suffered 163,000 killed and 260,000 wounded. On 20 November 1916, as the battle still raged, the Municipal Council of the French city of Verdun created a medal to be presented to all those who fought in the battle named after the city. It was the only way the city could express its gratitude and a strong bond was forged between the troops and the citizens they had defended.

Commemorative medallion
Unfortunately, the medal was an unofficial award and should, therefore, be seen as a commemorative medallion rather than something presented by the French government. Despite this, it would be followed by several others showing images ranging from a young, helmeted man to an older Poilu infantryman, usually facing to the right, with the name ‘Verdun’ over the crest of the helmet. It wasn’t just for Verdun, as other similar commemorative items appeared, such as a cross for the campaign in the Marne. All were popular with the troops, who wore them with pride as a badge of honour. An earlier token had been issued and it resembled a coin that could be carried in the pocket as a memento or keepsake, given to show support for the troops. It was similar to the medal but did not have an attachment point for a suspension loop for the ribbon ring. This variant is quite rare to discover, and a collector would be lucky to have such an item in their collection. 
One of the best-known examples of these medallions is the version designed by the Parisian-based medallist, Emile Seraphin Vernier, 1852-1927. Verdun dedicated its award to “…the high Chiefs, Officers, Soldiers, to all the heroes known and unknown, both dead and living, who have triumphed over the barbarians’ onslaught and immortalised her name throughout the world and for ages to come.” These were more than jingoistic words, as the French army commanders knew that if the city fell, the security of the front line would be broken, and Verdun had to be defended if France was to be saved. The price paid to prevent the area from being captured was high. It was worth the cost in the eyes of every Frenchman and came to be seen as the virtue of France.
Because the medal was not officially recognised, the troops were not entitled to wear it. However, those who fought in the trenches saw it as a privilege to wear it and disregarded any authoritarian attitude which told them otherwise. Verdun added to the acceptability of the medals by later conferring them onto other Allied soldiers who served in the sector around the city, in particular American troops who fought in the Argonne and St Mihiel battles of 1917. By the end of the war, all troops who had served in the area between 31 July 1914 and 11 November 1918 were eligible for the medal.

They shall not pass
The Vernier design is stamped from brass and bears a motto embossed on the obverse in French in capital lettering that reads ‘ON NE PASSE PAS,’ which translates as ‘They shall not pass.’ Sometimes it is also translated as ‘Thou shall not pass.’ Whichever version one accepts, it was a morale-boosting move and echoed the original sentiment expressed at the beginning of the battle when it was stated ‘Ils ne passeront pas!’ which does mean “They shall not pass”. Shown in relief is the helmeted image of a young female figure facing to the left, exposing her right profile. Her hair falls from beneath the helmet, and in her right hand, she holds a sword with the blade extending forward over her left hand, which is clenched into a fist to express defiance, emphasizing the motto.
The reverse bears the image of a fortress, with twin towers and crenellations (battlements) on the turrets. Between the towers is a gateway which represents the entrance to Verdun itself. The image is framed by palm fronds and at the top of the medallion appears the name of ‘Verdun’. The date at the bottom in French is 15 Fevrier (February) 1916. This is significant because it marks the very start of the battle when the Germans launched ‘Unternehmen Gericht’ (Operation Judgement) to capture the fortifications of Verdun and the surrounding area.
The Vernier-designed Verdun medal measures just over 1” in diameter, which is much smaller than official war medals, and is suspended from a ribbon of red with a blue and white border to each edge. Other Verdun medals share the same colour ribbon, and some went further by having a clasp with the name ‘Verdun’ attached to the ribbon. Some were presented in boxes with papers containing details of the recipient. However, over the years these have either become lost or destroyed. The medals were not named, so if a medal and documents are found together, it is almost impossible to know if they are originals. Also, if the documentation is missing, there is no way of knowing if the person to whom it was presented was an officer or enlisted man serving with a fighting unit or a support unit.

Increasingly rare
It is perhaps because of the numbers issued, emphasising the importance of the battle, that the many types have become items of interest to collectors. The basic examples can often be found at militaria fairs, although examples in very good condition, complete with a medal ribbon and certificate, are becoming increasingly rare. They can also be purchased through specialist auction sites online, such as www.centurionauctions.com and www.militariamart.com. They can even be found on eBay and Etsy, where prices also vary according to type and condition. For example, the prices for those worn down through polishing or general age will be less than high quality, but that does not make them less appealing. If anything, these can make an interesting addition to a collection.
Versions of these unofficial medals would make a fine collection on their own, whether as a separate subject matter on the First World War or as part of the history of the French army in the same period. Cheaper examples would be ideal as a starting point, where for a few pounds, new collectors can begin building up their acquisitions and gain experience. Collectors looking to expand their displays may like to consider websites through which purchases can be made, such as www.militarytrader.com,
www.themedalguy.com, and
www.liverpoolmedals.com.