The Order of the Liberation
Ordre de la Libération

    The second highest French order, only preceded by the Legion of Honour. Instituted 16th November 1940 by General De Gaulle. See the link below for full details.
The medal; a bronze rectangular shield 33 x 36mm, obverse slightly convex, over which is a short sword which has a black enamel cross of Lorraine overlain. Reverse bears the legend: PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT.  ( By serving the Fatherland, he/she achieved Victory ).  The ribbon is green with black stripes, the black represents the mourning of France and the green symbolic of the hope for the future. The initial ribbon produced in Britain had diagonal black stripes before the one shown here was adopted. This medal is described by Alec A. Purves in his ubiquitous publication  "The Medals & Decorations of World War II"  as "a rather ugly badge" but personally I think is is a most beautiful and appropriate example of the medallic art, which just goes to show that beauty really is  in the eye of the beholder.