Gldank

The African War Medal 1940-1945 was awarded to officers and other ranks of the Belgian Armed Forces who served at least one year between 10 May 1940 and 7 May 1945 in Africa or the "Force Republic" (best described as the colonial armed forces). Instituted 30 January 1947 by Prince-Regent Karel, this medal could be awarded with up to four bars: Nigerie, Moyen-Orient (Middle East), Madagascar and Bimanie. Aircrew personnel received a double wing pin on the ribbon for service in an operational or transport unit. A rectangular bronze medal with rounded lower edge and sloping shoulders with a laterally pierced loop for the ribbon suspension. The medal front depicts the heads of a European soldier and an African soldier wearing a kepi with the dates "1940-1945 below. Signed "TDUPAGNE" (for the Belgian African sculpture Arthur Dupagne, 1895-1961). The reverse is plain. Belgian forces served in the colonies of the Congo and Ruanda-Urundi but also in Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine and Madagascar during WWII. There was a separate medal issued to Belgians forces who helped restore Ethiopia to Emperor Haile Selassie in 1941 following the earlier Italian invasion. I have seen this medal in groups without any bars attached to the ribbon so would the bare ribbon account for service in Libya, Egypt, Sudan or Palestine? Or, should there be at least the bar " Moyen-Orient" (Middle East) to cover these service areas? I truly do not know. Are there others out there with the answer? Here is the medal in my collection.

Nice order thank you. This is why I collect Belgian orders and medals.

Thank you for the comments. The Belgian Order of the African Star is another beautiful order of the Congo era that is no longer issued. The hanging ribbon you see is a lapel pin ribbon of the order which would normally be worn on the veteran’s jacket lapel. I just hang them from the medal/order suspension loop to keep it with the order.

The Order of the Lion was created by King Leopold II, as king of the independent state of Congo, in 9 April 1891. Awarded in five class and three medals: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Bronze Medal. Presented for meritorious service to the Belgian colony or its sovereign. The Order's badge has 2 intertwined letters "C" (Congo) between the cross arms and the reverse medallion bears intertwined letters "L" (Leopold) over the letter "S" (Sovereign). The Order's motto, "TRAVAIL ET PROGRES" (Labor and progress) surrounds the obverse central medallion (a gilt lion on blue enamel). The medals of the order were awarded to Non Commissioned Officers (NCO)s and other ranks, to "lower" rank public servants, etc. This order is no longer issued by Belgium. Here is a sample of one from my collection.

Very Rare is my guess!

Very nice group!!

Wow! I found the answer myself. The medal is the FEDERATION DES ANCIENS COMBATTANTS (FAC) MEDAILLE DE LA RECONNAISSANCE PREMIÈRE CLASSE or FEDERATION OF WAR VETERANS (FAC) MEDAL OF THE RECOGNITION FIRST CLASS.

Hello, I have this Crown Medal in my collection. I am pretty sure it is Belgian but I am trying to identify it. Is it for Belgian Congo Service? Thank you.

Hello, I have a nice medal in my collection but am trying to find out more about it. First, is it Belgian? With an anchor and a red cross in the center, I think it may be a Life Saving Medal of some kind, Does anyone know more? Thank you.

I have a nice cross here but not sure what it is for. It hangs from a older Belgian Red Cross type ribbon but I am not sure if it is Red Cross. It may be a Belgian Firemans medal for 25 years of service. Does anyone have an idea or more information? Thank you.

Here is a great link to the ROYALE UNION NATIONALE DES ANCIENS DES ARMEES D'OCCUPATION, DES FORCES BELGES EN ALLEMAGNE ET HORS FRONTIERES http://runaofba.site.voila.fr/

Thank you. I thought it rather strange myself when I received it years ago but just left it alone. At least the sword device is not attached to the ribbon so easy to remove.

No, my sample just happens to be pinned at an angle. Should be horizontal accross the ribbon. I do not think I have any extra bars. I do not really add ribbon attachments to medals unless they fall off and I know what was originally there in the firstplace. Belgian eBay or maybe a Belgian on this forum may be able to help you out. I would not change it myself as it is as it is meant to be. Maybe look for a more correct example to aquire for your collection...

No, my sample just happens to be pinned at an angle. Should be horizontal accross the ribbon. I do not think I have any extra bars. I do not really add ribbon attachments to medals unless they fall off and I know what was originally there in the firstplace. Belgian ebay of maybe a Belgian on this forum may be able to help you out.

Yes, give or take a few years...

Veterans do many strange things for different reasons sometimes. Availability of the correct attachment at the time of veteran ownership may have been the deciding factor on your sample. A miniature medal attachment on a full size medal was used. Although not the official way, the end justifies the means. Here is a more correct sample:

English translation: "Royal Federation Society of Noncommissioned Officers of Belgium" This is a veteran's recognition medal of the Federation(Veterans of King Leopold II). Many styles, manufacture variations and ribbon styles. Yours is the standard medal and ribbon style. That said, more information becomes sketchy...

Here is a French one.

Glad to help where I can. I have been collecting Belgian for 10 years and am still learning.

No, I misunderstood you. I was talking about the candy striped palm bars. You remain correct on the long palm leaf!! Now, it is my turn to

Different manufactures...

Agin, an upgrade from the palm to a higher order...

Yes