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.
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...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
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
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...
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
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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
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...
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
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
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