Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is an outstanding set of ribbons put together by Colonel Francis Thompson Colby, an outstanding American individual who saw combat throughout the First World War serving with several different armies, first arriving with the American Ambulance Service attached to the French Army on September 18th, 1914. He would later serve as an officer in the Belgian Army, then later the French and Italian Armies before joining the AEF General Headquarters. He was commissioned Major in the U.S. Army on November 9th, 1918 and was assigned to the Military Intelligence Division. He lived a very interesting life.

This set consists of 10 of his ribbons pasted to a piece of paper with a corresponding letter of provenance to his father. The letter states:

“Here are the ribbons, all pasted on with their names there all …. If they’re only stuck!”

The ribbons include the Belgian Order of Leopold, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Commemorative Medal, the British Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jeruselum in England, the French Croix de Guerre, the Montenegrin Order du Prince Damilo I, the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus with swords, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, the Red Cross of Serbia, the Belgian Service Medal of 1914-18, and the WWI Victory Medal. The page they’re on measures 8 x 10 ¼” but the page could be folded for framing. The letter to his father is dated 1922 and comes with the original envelope. The envelope even says “Save Decoration Ribbons Keep”.

A very lovely set with some informational papers. Ready to display.

Word War 1, Served with the American Ambulance Service, attached to the French Army, September 18 - December 6, 1914. Attached to the Belgian Army December 10, 1914. He was appointed a Lieutenant in the Belgian Arm.y, September 6, 1915. Promoted Captain, June 28, 1917 ( Belgian Army ). Attached to General Headquarters, A.E.F., operations & training, July 22, 1917.Assigned in the following months to the French & Italian Armies. Resigned from the Belgian Army, November 1918, and commissioned, Major, US Army, November 9, 1918. Returning to the States was assigned to Military Intelligence Division, Washington, DC. Returned to Europe, January 24, 1919, military attache to Jugo-Slavia; American legation, Belgrade; with Romanians in campaign against Hungary, 1919, and special duty at Fiume, on the Adriatic Coast and in Montenegro. Returned to the States April 25, 1920

Decorations Awarded: Belgian Ordre de Leopold; Belgian Croix de Guerre; Belgian Commemorative Medal; British Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England; French Croix de Guerre with silver star; Montenegrin Ordre du Prince Danilo I Royal Award; Russian Order of St. Stanislaus with swords; Serbian Order of the Whit Eagle

World Was 2, Entered active duty, May 6, 1942, and served overseas from, July 14, 1942bto April 19, 1945. Unknown were he served at this time however he was discharged as a Colonel, Sept 25, 1946.

Harvard, 1905; Boston University, 1911

Unmarried at the time of his death, he left the bulk of his estate to the Boston Museum of Science for the purpose of establishing a replica of his gun and trophy room.