A First War Aef French Theatre Battles Matchbox Cover 1918 Hold 54 mm x 77 mm

54 mm x 77 mm inclusive of its wreath suspension

The order was created in 1874 became a French Colonial order in 1896

There are two black metal eyelets on each side of the cap on the underside of the overhang for ventilation

Silvered bronze with a bronze gilt inserted centrepiece

A First War Aef French Theatre Battles Matchbox Cover 1918 Hold 54 mm x 77 mmTwo piece construction, brass disk bearing a right facing Marianne, inscribed "REPUBLIQUE" at the left and "FRANAISE" at the right, affixed to the front panel of the thick brass base, spine engraved "R. Murphy", back panel engraved "SOMME VERDUN ARGONNE ST. MEHIEL 1918", with an almost full matchbox inside, contaning thirty matches, the matchbox marked with the Red Cross in the centre and inscribed "THE RED CROSS LICENSES SAFETY MATCH MADE BY NITEDALS