ww1buff

I could still use some help with this project as it reaches the final stages! I am in need of someone who can copy a few specific Belgian Royal Decrees in the 1918 - 1930 timeframe. I have a list of decree numbers that I need that are known to include Americans. If you can help. please let me know. Thanks, Scott

Hi, I'm finishing up a book titled "Belgian Decorations to Americans for World War One Service." I've located over 1,000 decorations to U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and civilian recipients. Although the awards are confirmed in other sources, I only have a handful of Belgian orders (Royal Decrees 6776, 6778 and 6780 as well as the Army Order of the Day for 22 Jan 19 and 23 Mar 19). Does anyone have copies of other Belgian awards lists to Americans? I would guess that 6777 and 6779 would be likely decrees to check if you have them . . . I have put my research together from documents in the U.S. National Archives, and I believe that I have exhausted all possibilities for other decorations lists. My Facebook page is: The Doughboy Memorial Press if you are interested in more about this project. Best Regards, Scott

Are there any Belgian researchers/historians/collectors who can help me out with this? Thanks, ww1buff

Anyone else want to wigh in on this? Thanks, ww1buff

Chris, Thanks for the reply. As far as awards to Americans go, a good many French LdH awards were to senior U.S. officers who did not see any direct combat action. Some were in staff positions, and some never left the U.S. These officers usually did not receive the CdG. Of the senior officers who did receive the CdG along with the LdH, most appear to be for long service commanding their units rather than any specific act of bravery. Most of the Belgian awards of national orders also seem to be for this type of service rather than for acts of bravery..

Hi folks, Three questions about the Belgian Croix de Guerre awarded during WWI to foreigners. Did the Croix de Guerre accompany awards of the national orders (Ordre de Leopold, Ordre de la Couronne, Ordre de Leopold II)? It was common with French awards of the Legion d'Honneur to Americans that the LdH was accompanied by the French Croix de Guerre with Palm when the LdH was presented for combat duty or gallantry in action. This practice also seems to have been followed for the Medaille Militaire as well for American recipients. I have not seen a similar practice with Belgian awards yet in my research, and have found only a few examples of Americans receiving a Belgian national order and the Belgian CdG. I have some photos in my collection of Belgian soldiers wearing the CdG with no device, with the volunteer emblem, and with palm(s). Was the palm a separate authorization, or did it depend on the level of the headquarters issuing the award? Some of the Americans awarded the CdG seem to wear the medal with a palm, but some do not, and the awards lists in A.E.F. unit histories usually do not designate the CdG with Palm. However, many of the awards (300+) of the CdG to Americans were published in the Belgian Armee Ordre du Jour. Do these lists in AODJ, originating at Army-level, confer the palm with the CdG? Many thanks, ww1buff

Hi folks, I am a U.S. based historian/researcher and I need some help with Belgian decorations. My specific interest is in Belgian decorations awarded to Americans (both military and civilian) for World War One service. I will have a lot of questions to post on here in the upcoming weeks, and any help that you can give will be greatly appreciated. My first question has to do with citations for decorations. I have two Royal award lists (Nr. 6778 and Nr. 6780, both dated 27 Feb 1920) which award decorations to members of the A.E.F. These documents contain the name/grade of the award and then list the recipients with name, rank and military unit. I also have copies of two of the Ordre du Jour which awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre to Americans in a list without any specific citations. The Belgian award documents to individuals in my collection (awarded to Belgians) also do not have any lengthy citations. Was it the practice to award decorations without citations? Were these citations recorded in other types of documents (i.e. recommendations for decorations) which may exist somewhere? I am guessing that in the case of awards to Americans during WWI, the Belgian Government provided a set number of awards to the American G.H.Q. for allocation as the Americans determined, and was not overly concerned with exactly why the American soldiers were selected or what they did. The only citations that I have found connected with Belgian awards have been those in the U.S. unit archives which were forwarded up to G.H.Q., A.E.F., and may never even have been sent on to the Belgian Government. Any thoughts on this? Much thanks, ww1buff

Mathias, Thanks for the information. From what I have seen on the web, it looks like you nailed it!

Michael, Thank you very much for the information!

Hello everyone, I have a question about the ferrets (sometimes called "pencils") on the French fourragere. I have some with brass/bronze ferrets and some with silver ferrets. Is there a significance to the different colors/materials used? Thanks for any help.

Hi folks, New member here. Does anyone know what the tower device on the ribbon is? I have seen a tower device on the web, but it is of a different type. Any information would be appreciated!