Seeing the interest in the clasps of the Crusade against Bolshevism medal, I thought it would be useful to open a similar thread on the clasps of the WWI Commemorative Cross.

The cross itself (with the full name 'Commemorative Cross of the 1916-1918 War') has been established through Royal Decree 1744 of 8 July 1918 and has been awarded to the civilians and the military personnel that participated to WWI. The cross was a Byzantine cross with the cypher of King Ferdinand on the obverse and the years 1916-1918 on the reverse.


Source: The Piersall Collection of Medals

The participants to the 1919 campaign received a different version of the cross that had the years 1916-1919 on the reverse.

Participation to particular battles was marked through the addition of metal clasps to the ribbon of the medal. According to the Safta et al book on Romanian war decorations, the following clasps were issued: ARDEAL, BUCUREŞTI, CARPAŢI, CERNA, DOBROGEA, JIU, MĂRĂŞEŞTI, MĂRĂŞTI, OITUZ, TG. OCNA and TURTUCAIA. The same book mentions as a late addition (1927) the ITALIA clasp awarded to the members of the Romanian Legion in Italy.

The Catone et al book on Romanian decorations mentions a further clasp, DUNĂREA. And I also remember seeing references to the 1919 clasp for the 1919 campaign.

Please post here images of the various clasps of this medal.

Here is one with Ardeal, Dobrogea, Carpati, Bucuresti and Marasti.

In addition to the clasps already mentioned by Carol I, i also saw a "1918" clasp.

I think I also remember seeing that one. What was it supposed to mark, the participation to the campaign after 10 November 1918?

Bar with the WWI Cross with DOBROGEA, MARASTI, CERNA and 1919 clasps (from eBay).

Medal with ARDEAL, DUNAREA, CARPATI, BUCURESTI, MARASESTI and DOBROGEA clasps (from eBay)

WWI Cross with JIU and MARASTI clasps (from eBay)

WWI Cross with CARPATI, ARDEAL, 1918 and 1919 clasps on a medal bar from eBay

WWI Cross with ARDEAL, CARPATI, TARGUL-OCNA, OITUZ, 1918 and 1919 clasps on a bar (from eBay)

MARASTI clasp without a diamond and DOBROGIA clasp (interesting variation of the DOBROGEA clasp) beside BUCURESTI and 1919 clasps

Poor image of the TURTUCAIA clasp (beside others)

The unified list of clasps built from the information posted on this thread:

1918
1919
ARDEAL
BUCUREŞTI
CARPAŢI
CERNA
DOBROGEA
DOBROGIA
DUNĂREA
ITALIA
JIU
MĂRĂŞEŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI
MĂRĂŞTI ◊
OITUZ
TÂRGUL-OCNA
TURTUCAIA

Has anyone seen the ITALIA clasp?

One that was on ebay some tine ago

And one I had in my collection

It appears there are two versions of the ARDEAL clasp: ARDEAL and A R D E A L. Take a loog at the following images and compare the length of the ARDEAL writing with that of CARPATI.