Remembrance Plaque France WWI

The Verdun Memorial Plaque (1914–1918) depicts a French soldier and rifle. Although the Battle of Verdun took place in 1916, many of these memorials bear the dates 1914–1918 because they were issued after the war as a general tribute to the defenders.

The most common designs featuring a soldier and rifle are:

• The Revillon design: This is the best-known variant featuring a soldier. The obverse depicts a helmeted French infantryman ("Poilu") holding his rifle. The text "Verdun, plus jamais" (Verdun never again) is often added.

Key Features

• Material: These objects are usually made of bronze.
• Symbolism: The image represents the tenacity of the French troops who stopped the German attack at Verdun in 1916.
• Dating: Although the battle took place in 1916, many plaques cover the full war years 1914–1918 as they were sold as public mementos after the Armistice.