Brigade-Piron

Ah, well - worth asking

Anyone else?

Fair enough. I'll keep a look out then.

Thank you!

Is it an easy one to find?

Hello,

I saw this image on wikipedia and was intregued!

Here is the photo (hopefully it works):

Could someone tell me more about this medal? Is it rare?

All the best,

BP

Thank you very much Demir!

Sorry to necropost;

Demir - You mentioned that there is a museum attached to the veteran's association - could you give me the address? I've been to the museum in Istanbul which is very good, but I would like to add your one to my list of 'to go' sites!

Thanks - and amazing collection!

That's very interesting! I believe that they may well have been issued to Lux troops in lieu of the Belgian Article 4 medal - not necissarily for Korean service - but often in Korean medal groups all the same.

Do you have any ideas about the age of my one?

BP

Brett

I've checked my medal and it does indeed have the mark in the place you indicated, though I wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't looking specially. I guess that indicates that its a real one - with ribbon replaced?

Laurence - that's a very nice medal!

Thank you for all your help,

BP

Hello,

I've just got this medal and I wondered if you could give me any further details about it. I would really like to know a rough issue date for it if that is possible.

If anyone knows anything about this type of medals issues to Luxembourg Korean War veterans, I'd also be interested to hear that.

Many thanks,

Guy

Hello chaps,

I thought I'd put some pictures up of my Infantry M43 Gymnastorika - apologies if you've already seen it elsewhere. Yes, it doesn't look much like your WW2 issue type (or any issue type for that matter), but I've shown it to some very eminent people in the field of Soviet Uniforms and they tend to agree that this is the emergency "Blokada" issue. The material is poor, the faux-pocket flaps have come off, the buttons are the bakelite type used to secure braces. More surprisingly, the cuffs are without buttons and have a V-shape turn up.

The shoulder boards are dated 1945, but have at some point have been changed.

BP

Hello - apologies if this is in the wrong forum.

First a bit of background.

http://www.anciens-combattants.lu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66:historique-du-corps-des-volontaires-pour-la-coree-&catid=54:corps-des-volontaires-pour-la-coree&Itemid=54

Around 70 Luxembourg soldiers served in Korea as part of the Belgian UN contingent. 2 were killed in battle, 19 were wounded and one was awarded the US silver star.

So now to the medals:

These are the medals awarded to Mr. Beringer, recipient of the US Silver Star for heroism in Korea.

http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/battle_honors/p_beringer.htm

These are (I believe) two sets of medals awarded to the Luxembourgers KIA in Korea.

Both of these pictures were taken at the Royal Museum of the Army (klm-mra.be) in Brussels by me.

Now for the question - the Luxembourg Order of the Oak Crown - was it awarded as a matter of course to Luxembourgish soldiers in the Korea contingent?

BP

Ah, that's much clearer - thanks!

I'll have to wait 'till next week to check my medal, but I've examined the photos I've got of mine - and they seem to have some text (?) in the same area as the text on yours.

I'll check and get back to you when I can. I must get a copy of the book you refered to as well!

All the best,

BP

Thanks Brett,

I don't suppose you could post/send me a photo of the mark on yours? I cannot find a picture one on the internet.

Thanks again,

BP

Hello guys,

I'd like to show you some of the Belgian army bits I have that are connected with the Second World War.

A Second World War type Belgian Adrian helmet. This one is said to have been found near the beach at Dunkirk!

Some cap badges:

1 = Pre war Lion (for use on side caps - tounge has snapped off)

2 = German-produced post war version (1945-7?)

3 = UK 1940-1943 Version

Belgian Army in the UK badge, this one was excavated (hence the condition) from near the base of the 2nd fusileers in the UK.

Early type MkII helmet of the Belgian contingent - certainly not a post-war reissued example! Note the mud/sand/sawdust mixed up in the paint to make it less reflective!

Group of patches from a soldier of the Piron Brigade (post-1944 type)

BP

Sorry to necropost, but I'd just clarify that the Belgian contingent was awarded ONLY the French language Corée version regardless of their origine.

The unofficial V-shaped ribbon version is, as far as I know, also only French (but with the bilingual Corée-Korea bar).

BP

I believed that the Ying/Yang symbol were originally intended to be little badges on the medal ribbon, but often fell off which is why later versions have ribbons with the design woven in?

BP

Thank you very much for the information!

Brett - I'm not sure about that detail about the UN medal - mine does not have the J. Demeret on it - is this a matter of concern? The other thing is the safety pin fastening is not on many examples of this medal I've seen (which usually have the standard double bayonette fastening) - is this common?

Thanks again!

I've been trying to amass a few of these "Psy-War" pamphlets too. I've not yet got the safe conduct pass, but I pick them up when I can.

Here are a few of mine:

"PEACE" magazine, published by the Chinese People's Volunteers which basically consists of short articles and cuttings taken from western newspapers about anti-war demonstrations, protests and the like. There's a rather disturbing letter from a POW on the back.

A few Korean language ones - I've not yet had them translated and the red one may be either Northern or Southern (if anyone could help I'd be much obliged)

Finally, my 'favourite'. This is an Xmas card dropped, I believe, in the lines oposite the Commonwealth soldiers who would pick them up. Inside the card (which is signed off by the Chinese and North Korean forces) is a type-written note especially for UK forces:

and inside:

Truely a piece of history.

B-P

Hello guys, this is my first post on this board, so be nice!

I'm really interested in the Belgian-Luxembourg Contingent (BUNC) in Korea so below I've put pictures of the medals I've got so far. I apologise for the awful quality of the photography, but they're the best I've got at the moment.

First up, the Medal for Foreign Operations.

Note the Corée-Korea bar.

Second, the Medal of the War Volunteer (post-1952 version) with Corée-Korea bar. The PUGNATOR bar is missing.

Next, the Belgian-Type UN Medal:

I'd apreciate any information on this type - why was the standard medal not used?

Then, the Militaire Decoratie/Decoration Militaire Article 4 medal:

I believe that this is this medal is an unofficial version and that the Corée-Korea bar was not authorised. The EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT (along the top) L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (along the bottom) legend and lions of both sides, means that it was issued from 1952 (?) though I'd be grateful if someone could confirm this. Also, I'm afraid that I don't know whether this is the 'good service' or the 'gallantry' type - the chevron is correct for the former, the ribbon for the latter, which type is it - or is it both?

Thanks!

BP