croix de guerre (fr)

The Croix de Guerre (French: Cross of War) is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.

The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters.
  1. RM CDOS Travers, Colin Hale

    SURNAME Travers FORENAME Colin Hale UNIT 48 Commando (HQ - RSM) RANK Corporal (A/Sergeant Major) + T/Sergeant (A/Sergeant Major) NUMBER PLY/X 1936 AWARD Mention in Despatches,Croix de Guerre with silver star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 7 RM Bn 1942-44 48...
  2. RM CDOS Taplin, John Aubrey

    SURNAME Taplin FORENAME John Aubrey UNIT 41 Commando RANK Captain NUMBER AWARD Croix de Guerre with vermilion star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION commissioned 15.10.1940 T/2/Lt RM awarded O.B.E. 31.5.1956 as Captain
  3. RM CDOS Sanders, Donald Harry William

    SURNAME Sanders FORENAME Donald Harry William UNIT 48 Commando RANK Captain (A/Major) + Major (A/Lieutenant Colonel) NUMBER AWARD Mention in Despatches,Croix de Guerre with vermilion star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION awarded O.B.E. 1.1.1955 as Lt Colonel
  4. RM CDOS McKenna, Gordon Leslie

    SURNAME McKenna FORENAME Gordon Leslie UNIT 47 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER CH/X 108855 AWARD Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  5. RM CDOS Kelly, James Anthony

    SURNAME Kelly FORENAME James Anthony UNIT 41 Commando RANK Marine NUMBER PO/X 108397 AWARD Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  6. RM CDOS Hooper, Albert

    SURNAME Hooper FORENAME Albert UNIT 47 Commando RANK T/Sergeant NUMBER PO/X 102479 AWARD Mention in Despatches, Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  7. RM CDOS Hazelhurst, William Jack

    SURNAME Hazelhurst FORENAME William Jack UNIT 41 Commando RANK Corporal NUMBER CH/X 101047 AWARD Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  8. SAS Bunfield, Harold

    SURNAME Bunfield FORENAME Harold UNIT 1 SAS (HQ Squadron) RANK Sergeant NUMBER 552487 AWARD Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE NW Europe 1944-45 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION parent unit Royal Corps of Signals L Det SAS 1942 (Sgt) 1 SAS (D Squadron) 1942-43 (Sgt) 1 SAS (HQ...
  9. SAS Brearton, Anthony (Tony)

    SURNAME Brearton FORENAME Anthony (Tony) UNIT 1 SAS (C Squadron) RANK Trooper NUMBER 4544674 AWARD Croix de Guerre with bronze star (Fr) PLACE Normandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION parent unit Royal Tank Regiment,R.A.C. promoted Lance Corporal 1945
  10. SCOUTS AND RAIDERS Rockwell, Dean Ladrath

    SURNAME Rockwell FORENAME Dean Ladrath UNIT U.S.N.R. Group Commander LCT Scout boats RANK Lieutenant Junior Grade NUMBER AWARD Navy Cross, Croix de Guerre avec palm (France) PLACE Normandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from East Detroit, Michigan born 25.5.1912 Corey, Cass County...
  11. US PARAS Birder, James Patrick

    SURNAME Birder FORENAME James Patrick UNIT 517 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Company I) RANK Captain NUMBER 0-480407 AWARD Silver Star,Croix de Guerre avec etoile de vermeil (Fr) PLACE Europe ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DOW - see Roll of Honour
  12. RANGERS Shunstrom, Charles Merton

    SURNAME Shunstrom FORENAME Charles Merton UNIT 1 Ranger Bn (HQ + Company C) RANK Captain NUMBER 0-452096 AWARD Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Croix de Guerre (Fr) PLACE Italy 1943-44 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Rockland, Massachusetts born 20.11.1920...
  13. SCOUTS AND RAIDERS Bucklew, Phil Hinkle

    SURNAME Bucklew FORENAME Phil Hinkle UNIT Scouts and Raiders RANK Ensign + Lieutenant,junior grade NUMBER 0-244104 AWARD Navy Cross with 1 Gold Star, Silver Star, Croix de Guerre avec palm (Fr) PLACE Sicily 1943 (NC) Salerno, Italy 1943 (SS) Normandy 1944 (2nd NC, CdG)...
  14. FRANCE Bigeard, Marcel

    SURNAME Bigeard FORENAME Marcel UNIT SOE RANK Sous Lieutenant NUMBER AWARD Distinguished Service Order (GB),Croix de Guerre (Fr),Medaille de la Resistance (Fr),Legion of Merit - Commander (US) PLACE France 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 14.2.1916...
  15. PHANTOM Borman, Archibald Lionel Farquhar

    SURNAME Borman FORENAME Archibald Lionel Farquhar UNIT L Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment,R.A.C. RANK Captain NUMBER 235786 AWARD Croix de Guerre with silver star (Fr) PLACE France 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 11.07.1918, Woodbridge, Suffolk commissioned 17.5.1942 Royal...
  16. US PARAS Ellis, Clarence F.

    SURNAME Ellis FORENAME Clarence F. UNIT 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Company G) RANK Private NUMBER 12073647 AWARD Croix de Guerre (France) PLACE Normandy 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KIA - see Roll of Honour
  17. SAS Taylor, Georges William

    SURNAME Taylor FORENAME Georges William UNIT 4 SAS (3 Company) RANK Sous Lieutenant NUMBER AWARD Compagnon de la Liberation (Fr),Military Cross (GB),Legion dHonneur (Fr),Croix de Guerre (Fr),Silver Star (US),Bronzen Kruis (Holland) PLACE France and Holland 1944-45 ADDITIONAL...
  18. SAS Marienne, Pierre Felix

    SURNAME Marienne FORENAME Pierre Felix UNIT 4 SAS (3 Squadron) RANK Capitaine NUMBER 35407 AWARD Compagnon de la Liberation,Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur,Croix de Guerre,Medaille de la Resistance PLACE France 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION killed - see Roll of Honour
  19. SAS Maguet, Bernard

    SURNAME Maguet FORENAME Bernard UNIT 3 SAS (2 Squadron) RANK Soldat NUMBER AWARD Croix de Guerre (Fr) PLACE France 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KIA - see Roll of Honour
  20. SAS de la Grandiere, Roger

    SURNAME de la Grandiere FORENAME Roger UNIT 4 SAS (HQ Squadron) RANK Sous Lieutenant NUMBER 35337 AWARD Compagnon de la Liberation,Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur,Croix de Guerre PLACE 1944 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION possibly awards for all WW2 service KIA - see Roll of Honour
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