Tim B Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 (edited) Tried to search for old threads and couldn't find any on this one. A bit of a surprise as I thought most awards have been discussed already. Here are two Volunteer Combattant Medals for WWI service. First one shown has the word "Voluntariis" on the reverse. Tim Edited May 20, 2010 by Tim B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim B Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Here's the other variety with "Volontariis" on the reverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim B Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 The fronts are virtually identical with the two soldiers representing the 1830's and WW1 eras. Designer's mark is on the right edge. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim B Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 The reverse is where the difference is. Not sure why two different spellings; anyone? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 According to Andre Borne, in his book "Distinctions Honorifiques de la Belgique", the inscription on this medal should be VOLONTARIIS. He does note that there is a variant with the inscription VOLUNTARIIS. Hope this helps. Jean-Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kvart Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Volunteer members of Force Publique, were they awarded this medal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacHel Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Are you suggesting these might be fakes? Their low value kind of contradicts such an undertaking don't you agree? Different makers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacHel Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I just checked the web sites of 2 European and 1 North American dealers, they hold multiple examples of both variants all advertised as original... I honestly had never noticed this before. Any expert opinion on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detlev Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 As you mention it, François, both are seen as authentiques. So, the VOLUNTARIIS version is not fake. Only difference, according to 'Borné' is the finishing of the medal itself : by the VOLONTARIIS version, the medal is in patinated bronze, while the VOLUNTARIIS version should be more patinated dark ocre-yellowish instead of bronze... Cheers, Detlev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM1 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Here is my set of Volunteer Combattant Medals: Not that the version without inscription is smaller (demi taille?) Best regards, GM1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belgoman Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 hello, the smaller one is issued by the association of volunteers (Fédération nationale des Volontaires de guerre) and thus is a non-official item. Hope this helps, best regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM1 Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Thanks for the explanation! Regards, GM1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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