Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War | |
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Type | Campaign medal |
Country | Kingdom of Greece |
Eligibility | Military and civilian service in support of the military |
Campaign(s) | Second Balkan War |
Established | 17 February 1914 (O.S.) |
The Medal for the Greco-Bulgarian War (Greek: Μετάλλιο Ελληνοβουλγαρικού Πολέμου) is a campaign medal of Greece for participation in the Second Balkan War.
The medal was established alongside the similar Medal for the Greco-Turkish War of 1912–1913 by the Royal Decree of 17 February 1914.[1][2][3]
It comprised a single class, with a round bronze medal bearing on the obverse a bust of King Constantine I of Greece, surrounded by the inscription ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ 1913 ('Constantine, King of the Hellenes, 1913'), and on the reverse a bust of the Byzantine emperor Basil II the Bulgar Slayer with the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ Β′ 976–1025 ('Basil II, 976–1025') in Byzantine-style letters.[2][3][4] Following the National Schism, soldiers of the Provisional Government of National Defence, that was set up in opposition to King Constantine, wore the latter side as the obverse.[4]
The ribbon of the medal is 3.2 centimeters wide, blue edged with white stripes, and a thin green stripe in the middle.[3] A version for non-military personnel, who rendered services to the Greek military, was also instituted, with blue and white reversed.[4][3]
The period for which the medal was awarded was defined as 20 February – 26 July 1913.[3] In addition, four battle clasps were authorized for the medal for specific battles and operations:[3]
An additional clasp for Macedonia-Thrace was later added to cover landing operations on the Aegean coast during the war.[4] In addition, there were special clasps, for those wounded in action, featuring two crossed swords, and for those killed in action, featuring a Greek cross.[3] Only military personnel directly involved in combat was liable for the award of a clasp. Awardees of the non-military version, as well as military personnel that served only in the rear services, military staffs, hospitals, etc. did not have the right to a clasp.[3] The bars were worn by chronological order, with the first on top.[2]