Description
Physical description
Badge form: gold and enamel badge (H 60mm x W 40.5mm) in the form of a five-rayed star with double points (surmounted by linked wreath).
Obverse design: Marianne, head, right profile, laureate in gold relief on a roughened gold circular centrepiece surrounded by a band of dark blue enamel bearing text in inlaid letters of gold. The whole on the centre of the star the rays of which are enamelled white and edged with gold, the double points of each ray being ball- tipped in gold, each ball being 2.5 mm in diameter. Between the rays of the star a wreath, made from a sprig of oakleaves with acorns and a sprig of laurel leaves bound together with ribbon at the base, all enamelled in the proper colours. The star is surmounted by a linked oval wreath, made from oakleaves and laurel leaves, bound at the top and base and enamelled in the proper colours.
Obverse text: 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE' and '1870'.
Reverse design: two crossed tricolours, enamelled in the proper colours, in a gold circular centrepiece to the star, surrounded by a band of dark blue enamel bearing text, remainder of design as obverse.
Reverse text: 'HONNEUR ET PATRIE'.
Suspender: circular ring connected to linked wreath via gold spheroid. Ribbon: red (watered and 39mm in width).
(Component parts: badge, ribbon and rosette)
Label
Badge of a Grand Officer of the (French) Legion of Honour awarded to Major-General Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby (GOC Cavalry Division and 3rd Army) for his service on the Western Front in the period 1914-1915. For Viscount Allenby's biographical details see OMD 418.
History note
Badge of the French Legion of Honour awarded (in March 1915) to the then Major-General Edmund Allenby (later 1st Viscount Allenby of Megiddo and Felixstowe) in respect of his services in the field on the Western Front during 1914-15. See the 'The Edinburgh Gazette', Issue 12786, p430 (published 23 March 1915).
History note
Reference : Dorling, H T (Captain) : 1970 : Ribbons and Medals : George Philip, London pp 195-196