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    VC89

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    Everything posted by VC89

    1. I checked the almanac of the city of Brussels. Campagnies Belge appears for the first time at this adress in the edition of 1911. The two edition before it, it was unused and before that there was a butcher located on the adress. It was still there in the edition of 1914 but in the next available edition of 1920* the building was unused again. In the 1922 edition, I couldn't find the name of the company in the catagory "Engravers" of "Medalists". In 1921, a designer was located at this adress. My guess would be that they ceased to exist during the war since Brussels was occupied by Germany from 1914 till 1918. The demand for medals from a Belgian maker would be low and materials would have been harder to get. *I don't know if the editions between 1914-1920 are missing in the collection of the archive of Brussels or that they weren't printed due to the First World War.
    2. André Borné's book is usually seen as the bible of official Belgian decorations but is has some mistakes in it, as can be expected by the size of it's content (remeber that it was published in 1985, before the internet, digitalization of documents and easy acces to pictures of collectors). The lions are one of those mistakes. There are just too many examples of encircled lions on the warcross (1914). An other collector once told me that the cost of cutting the lions out were higher than just leaving them encircled. He believes that the cutout ones were the first model but changed during the war to the cheaper encircled ones. If this is true and there is no papertrail of the change it might explain Borné's error as well. Kind regards, Vincent
    3. I almost nailed it with the medals ? 4 frontstripes instead of 8. Civil Decoration for Bravery instead of Long Service in the Administration. The Military Decoration is the version used till 1910. In that year the monogram of King Leopold II changed in that of King Albert I. Also, the monogram should be the back of the medal. The front should be the lion ?. So my guess is: A former military (NCO or lower) who later joined the police force. He served in the army during WW I. Since he received the Civil Medal for Bravery and not the Military Decoration for Bravery, I suspect he did a heroic action after he left the army, maybe in his position as a policeman. The picture should be taken between 1919-1930, since he wears the Victory Medal (created in 1919) and the Commemorative Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the National Independance (created in 1930) is in the frame but not worn in the picture. He might have been retired by the time he received it. Did you puchased it from a online seller in Belgium recently? The frame looks familiar, I think I saw it on a second hands website.
    4. My knowledge of military uniforms is limited but it looks like a pre-WW I uniform with post WW I medals. Victory Medal and Commemorative Medal of the War 1914-1918 are both created in 1919. It must either be a NCO or a lower rank. Officers didn't received the Military Decoration but the Military Cross. I tried to recreate the medal bar with examples of my own collection: Knight in the Order of Leopold II (with the unofficial swords under the crown) Palms in the Order of the Crown (I presume gold ones due to his long career) War Cross 1914, with palm Victory Medal Commemorative Medal of the War 1914-1918 (seeing the duration of his career I guess 8 front stripes). Military Decoration 1st Class (awarded for 15 years of service) Civil Decoration for Long Service in the Administration (Looks odd on a military uniform. It might be the the Civil Decoration for Bravery or the Civil Decoration for Civil Guard. They have the same medal but on a different ribbon, but going by the blurry enlargement of the picture it looks more like this ribbon.)
    5. The hamer and sickle inside a 5-pointed star were the halmark of silver used in the Soviet Union since 1958. The 816 should be the silver content (meaning 81,6% pure silver is used). The "3" or "B" left from the star refers to the district it was made (I have no further info about it). The 9.ARS I have no idea.
    6. There is an article about Belgian medal makers which include a short history of the Fonson Company (http://www.numisbel.be/KBGN 175_De Lombaert.pdf), pg. 175-160.
    7. I don't thing Jeff is talking about a book but about the website that Guy made about the Military Decoration: http://users.telenet.be/deploige/OMD-DM/index.html It's in dutch or french but without knowledge of either language it's easy to figure out. Kind regards, Vincent
    8. I once read an article of André Borné about this medal. It was in French, a language that is not my strong suit, but what I understood was that the medal was not an award but a membership insignia. The form of the medal depends on the period it was given and/or the type of membership. Kind Regards, Vincent
    9. Jemeppe-sur-Meuse Awarded to combatants of the municipality. "Jemeppe S/M [sur-Meuse] in recognition to their combatants 1945" St. Jean-Geest "The Municipality of St. Jean-Geets Gratitude 1940-45" Liège The medal shows the city's gratitude towards their liberators (3th US Armored Divison) in the design of the medal. It shows the head of a G.I. with a laurel wreath on his helmet. To it's side it shows the Perron of Liège (symbol of the city) and the Statue of Liberty (symbol of America). "City of Liège V [Victory] 1940 1945"
    10. Frameries The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the war. Roeselare The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the Armistice. Wetteren Awarded to their combatants. The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the Armistice. Massemen Awarded to the civilians of the municipality who were claimed by the Germans for forced labour.
    11. After the war, many municipalities and cities awarded some medals to honor their combatants or victims of the war. These medals are not official and information about them is scarce. In this topic I show my own collection of them and share the information I have found. Feel free to contribute your own pieces and/or information. Ghent Awarded by the city of Ghent during the "Gentse Feesten" (Eng: The Ghent Festival) of 1920, in presence of members of the royal family, to all WW1 combatants and deported of the city of Ghent. The medal was also awarded to the widows or the rightful claiments of a fallen soldier. On of the shown pieces came in the box of the manufacturer "Jules Jooris". Medal of the Three Cities (Ypres, Diksmuide and Nieuwpoort) Created in 1955 and awarded by one of the three cities to combatants (usualy French or Belgian) who fought in their region. A bar with the name of the city is added on the ribbon of the medal. It is possible that one combatant has two or all three bars on the ribbon. Medal of Liège Awarded in 1920 during a ceremony, with crown prince Leopold (later King Leopold III) en General Leman (Commander of the Fortifications of Liège in 1914), to the defenders of the fortifications around the city and to inhabitants of the city who were political prisoners and tried by a German Court.
    12. The hierarchy between Belgian medals (with exception of the National Orders) is not very clear. In some decrees that create a medal it is stated in the form of "worn behind the ... medal" of "worn behind all medals created before this decree". I have looked but never found an official list. In my opinion the hierarchy behind the National Orders is more out of custom than regulations. Even if there is a reglation for these medals it is not strictly followed or enforced. Usually you see medals in this order: Belgian National Orders (see link below for their hierarchy) Foreign Orders (in order of receiving) Military Medal (art. 4) -- Now known by a different name that keep forgetting -- and maybe it civil counterpart (not sure) Decorations received for wartime actions Military decorations Civil decorations Unofficial decorations (not allowed but worn anyway) see also: https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/Protocol/nobility_and_honorary_distinctions/national_orders/wearing_decorations (official) https://hmc2.pagesperso-orange.fr/en/belgium/e-precedence.html (made by medal enthusiast and If I'm not mistaken a member of this forum) In short: No problems with your medals. Kind Regards, Vincent
    13. Hey Guy, Shouldn't it be the Civil Decoration for Bravery, Devotion and Philantrophy instead of the Civil Decoration for Long Service in the Administration? I only count two black stripes instead of three. Kind Regards, Vincent
    14. Stuka is right. The medal is the Industry and Agricultural Decoration or under it's later name Decoration of Labour (medal is the same only the name changes) and has nothing to do with the army. But on the bright side, it has the name of the maker on it's back (J. Fonson Brussels) wich makes it more uncommon (even rare) to find (even in Belgium). Someone told me this was done in the early 20th century, but I can't verify that. Nevertheless with the discription on the back it's the hardest to find medal in your modest collection . If it hadn't any discription on it's back it's the easyest medal to find. Your (metal) badges are cap badges of the Infantry: 2nd line regiment (dragon, used since 1950 till disbanment) and 11th line regiment (shield and trees, used since 1949 till disbandment). Vincent
    15. The bar "Korea-Coree" does not belong on this medal but it is not uncommon that veterans put this sort of bars on their medals. Belgium is not very strict about this things. The "Military Decoration (art. 4)", for gallantry, can only have a chevron (for a first class award) and a palm (for gallantry in war) on it's ribbon. There are four types of Palms: with an "A" (created in 1915) with an "LIIIL" (created in 1941) with an "L", (created in 1952) without any monogram since 1954 The black bar means the recipient fell during combat or died from wounds received by the enemy. The mother of the fallen soldier was allowed to wear this medal if this bar was attached. The black bar on your medal looks not well made. It should have silver sides with black enamel (not sure I translated this correctly) in the middle. Personally I thinks it's not genuine. Vincent
    16. Ending with Buls in 2016 and reviving this topic with him (I hope) I bought this knight in the Order of Leopold and believes it it from Ch. Buls (ca. 1845 - 1880s). Unfortunatly I can't decipher the silvermark. I checked it with A. Ruokonen's book "Spirit of the lion" and it seems to match, at least to me, with Charles Buls. I hope someone can verify this or disprove this. Kind Regards, Vincent
    17. Thank you for the reply. @Jef: Indeed ... and I forgot to check it again ... it was probably due that article that I remember something about the field army. Vincent
    18. I was reorganizing my medal collection and found some pieces that I haven't identified or know very little about. Maybe some people here know more about them then I do and are willing to share . Every information is welcome. All of them are (presumed) Belgian and military (or war) related. 1) (mini) I have no clue 2) Came with some sort of membershipcard (last pic), 3) Read somewhere that it is related with the field army (Veldleger) but have no idea which oranisation A.N.V. - N.V.V. is. 4) Oueverture Nationale de Service Social aux Familles de Militaires (O.N.S.S.F.M.) - Nationale Instelling voor Sociale Dienstbetoon aan de Gezinnen van Militairen (N.I.S.D.G.M.) - Translated: National Institution for Social Service to Families of Servicemen. No idea what this institution did or why this medal was awarded (probably for long membership or aiding the institution). 5) Read somewhere that it was awarded to American soldiers who liberated the city of Liege but found no futher info. 6) Probably from a veteran organization of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "Yser" (Free Belgian Forces). Maybe given to soldiers who returned from the occupation in Germeny in 1946. I found that this brigade served there from 1945 till 1946. The B.A.O.R. may indicate they where part of the British Army of the Rhine. Vincent
    19. Thank you, 922F, for showing. I have one case almost exactly like yours (the dark one) but it has an "O" under the crowned "A". On an other forum (https://www.ablhistoryforum.be/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=6331) they stated that it was for an Officer's cross of the Order of Leopold during the reign of King Albert I. My case is definitly switched because I found a Belgian War Cross (1940) in it. Vincent
    20. Thanks to S. Astill (Curator – Military Collections, Exhibitions and Special Projects of the South West Heritage Trust (www.swheritage.org.uk)) who gave me this response: "Somerset became the temporary home to many Belgian refugees fleeing their country following the German attack of August 1914. Committees were set up in towns across the county to raise funds to support the refugee families during their stay. This medal as awarded to people who supported the committee in Taunton through fundraising or other charity work." Vincent
    21. Thanks for the replies. The e-mail is on the way and when I receive a respons I will let you know. Vincent
    22. I recently received this medal but I'm unable to find more information about it. It has a ribbon in the Belgian colors but the design feels British. My best guess is that it is an unofficial medal given to those involved with the aid of Belgians (possibly refugees) in England (Taunton, Somerset?). All information about this medal or this Belgian Committee is welcome. Kind regards,Vincent
    23. The "Carte du Feux" (or Vuurkaart, Firecard) was created by Royal Decree on 14 may 1932 and was awarded to Belgian soldiers who served at least 12 months in an unit that was in contact with the enemy. This time could be reduced to 9 months in certain situations. So to answer your first question: it was created by the Belgian government. The "Golden Book of the Firecard" was first published in 1933 or 1934 and contains the names of those who held the "firecard". It is not complete because the holders must send an application if they wanted to be mentioned in the book. If I'm not mistaken they received this personilized medal when they buy the book. The difference between real ones and fake, I can not tell you. But since this medal is not very expensive (25-30 euros in Belgium) I would not worry about it too much. I have seen silver(ed) ones but I don't know if they are reproductions or custom made by the recipient. Maybe they can help you on the website www.yser.eu. Unfortunately it is only in dutch but you can send them an e-mail. Your medal belonged to soldier Armand -L.-F.C. Le Roye who served with the 12th regiment of the line. He is mentioned in the 1937 edition of the "Golden Book of the Firecard" pg. 191 (with picture). He had 5 frontstripes, received the Warcross with palm, Victory Medal and Commemorative Medal of the War 1914-1918. All this can be found on the website Guy mentioned: click on "goldebooks online" -> "1937" -> and then search page 191 (he's on the top row, second picture). NOTE that it also says "Ostend". This might be his place of birth but it is not certain since the placed mentioned is the place they lived when they applied for the book. Example: My great-grandfather was born in Haacht but "Zaventem" is mentioned because he lived there at that time. Vincent
    24. 60 years ... that must be a hell of a collection you got. I hope you can find the medal and many other "hidden" or "lost" teasures . Don't feel shy to share the rare or uncommon ones with us . Vincent
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