Hendrik

A 3rd Army Corps cross (also Eastern Africa campaign) with "Ferreo" on the FERT sword clasp. Anyone out there that knows the significance of this sword device ? [attachmentid=27733] [attachmentid=27734]

... and a 2nd Division Cross (Eastern Africa campaign in the 1936-41 period). The CC.NN. is the abbeviation for "Blackshirts". [attachmentid=27731] [attachmentid=27732]

Some Italian crosses came in ... 1st Army Cross (WW I) [attachmentid=27729] [attachmentid=27730]

Magnificent is indeed the word for it ! Perfect manufacture, Mr. Bron certainly knew his job ...

Kortrijk is about an hour away by car for me

Tony, Both are ranks : Flying Officer is the equivalent of a Lieutenant in the army (Oberleutnant in Germany), Pilot Officer of a 2nd Lieutenant (Leutnant) Regards, Hendrik

Reverses encountered : [attachmentid=26772] [attachmentid=26773] [attachmentid=26774]

and the certificate ... [attachmentid=26771]

[attachmentid=26769] [attachmentid=26770]

[attachmentid=26767] [attachmentid=26768]

[attachmentid=26765] [attachmentid=26766]

Close-ups of the bars following ... [attachmentid=26764]

This interesting bronze cross was created on 16 March 1944. Its central obverse medallion shows Queen Wilhelmina surrounded by the text "VOOR KRIJGSVERRICHTINGEN" (For war operations). The design stems from the earlier 1869 Expedition Cross and the reverse is plain but for the manufacturer's data (F.S.Inv Kon. Begeer Voorschoten). It was awarded for participation in general war operations and/or specific war actions which were recognized by small-lettered bars on the ribbon. In total 12 such bars were instituted, five for general operations and seven for specific actions. Several of the latter can be worn on one medal but only one bar for general operations is allowed per recipient. The general operations bars are : KRIJG TER ZEE 1940-1945 (War at Sea) OORLOGSVLUCHTEN 1940-1945 (War Flights) OORLOGSDIENST KOOPVAARDIJ / 1940-1945 (War Service, Merchant Navy) OORLOGSDIENST VISSERIJ / 1940-1945 (War Service, Fishery) KRIJG TE LAND 1940-1945 (War on Land) The special actions bars are : NEDERLAND MEI 1940 NEDERLANDSCH INDI? / 1941-1942 (Dutch East-India, now Indonesia), also found as NEDERLANDS-INDI? / 1941-1942 JAVAZEE 1941-1942 NOORD AFRIKA - ITALI? 1941-1942, changed on 6 January 1948 to MIDDELANDSE ZEE / 1940-1945 ARNHEM - NIJMEGEN / WALCHEREN 1944 NORMANDI? 1944 OOST-AZI? - ZUID-PACIFIC / 1942-1945 Does anyone have a picture of the NEDERLANDS-INDI? / 1941-1942 or the NOORD AFRIKA - ITALI? 1941-1942 bars to post here ? [attachmentid=26763]

Not sure at all but what about "In Memoriam" (in memory of) ... Do correct me if I'm wrong !

Hello Otto, Interesting group of miniatures to a Belgian army officer who rose through the ranks. He fought in WW1 from the start of the war and went into the resistance during WW2. For the sake of completion, here's what they are, from left to right : 1. Order of the Crown, Commander class (lacking its centre medallion) 2. Officer in the Order of Leopold II, pre-1951 unilingual type 3. WW1 War Cross (Croix de Guerre), probably lacking one or more ribbon devices but that is not uncommon with Belgian miniatures 4. The Yser Cross (1930's substitute for the Yser Medal ... quite rare as a miniature !) 5. War Commemorative Medal 1914-1918, probably missing a few front service ribbon bars, again not uncommon with miniatures 6. WW1 Interallied Victory Medal 7. WW2 Commemorative Medal with crossed sabres device 8. WW2 Armed Resistance Medal 9. Military Cross, 2nd class (long service as an officer) I suspect the Order of the Crown and of Leopold II would both have been awarded with crossed swords on the ribbon to indicate the recipient was a WW1 veteran. As the recipient served in both world wars but "only" has the 2nd class Military Cross, it's reasonably certain he started as a soldier, became a NCO and finally got a commission as officer.

Thanks Dave, very interesting bit of information ! Makes me even more appreciative than I already was when receiving the box and its contents as a gift from a buddy in Chicago ! Think I'll buy him a few more beers next time he and I meet up

Marcus, The box is a wooden one. It came with the rosette and ribbon bar but no medal (had to find one, similar to the one in your picture, elsewhere ...).

This is the MOH box that I have ... No idea as to what period it stems from. [attachmentid=26371]

... and a very early casualty as well ! A very nice document confirming these posthumous medals and indeed rare. Good show

Hello Stijn, Consulted a little booklet (Nimmergut catalog) and found these mentioned : - Dienstehrenzeichen 1833-1839 - Dienstehrenzeichen 1. Klasse f?r Offiziere f?r 25 Dienstjahre (gilt), ----- 1st Model, 1833-1850, cypher "W" ----- 2nd Model, 1850-1864, cypher "W" ----- 3rd Model, 1864-1891, cypher "K" ----- 4th Model, 1891-1918, cypher "W", reverse "F?r treue Dienste" - Dienstehrenzeichen 2. Klasse f?r Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften f?r 20 Dienstjahre (silver) ----- 1st Model, 1833-1850 ----- 2nd Model, 1850-1864 ----- 3rd Model, 1864-1891 ----- 4th Model, 1891-1918 - Dienstalterszeichen f?r 30 Jahre (Schnalle 1851-1870) - Dienstalterszeichen f?r 24 Jahre - Dienstalterszeichen f?r 18 Jahre - Dienstalterszeichen f?r 12 Jahre - Dienstalterszeichen f?r 6 Jahre - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, 1st Model (Schnalle) 1874-1892, cypher "KR" - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 1st Model (Schnalle) 1874-1892 - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, 2nd Model (Schnalle) 1892-1913, cypher "WR" - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 2nd Model (Schnalle) 1892-1913 - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, 3rd Model (Cross) - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 3rd Model (Medal) - Milit?r-Dienstauszeichnung 3. Klasse, 3rd Model (Medal) - Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, 1st Model (Schnalle), cypher "K" - Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 1st Model (Schnalle) - Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 1. Klasse, 2nd Model (Cross), cypher "W" - Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 2nd Model (Schnalle) - Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse, 3rd Model (Medal) As you can see, a pretty impressive list and it would indeed be nice to see pictures to go with this list and possibly some more dates to complete the issue periods ...

Don't know about the British medal but I very much doubt you can still "claim" French WWI medals : applications for the WW 2 (!!!) Medal of Liberated France are no longer processed as of a few years ago ...

My final one : the Order of Resistance 1940-1944. Two classes were created : a medal and a cross. It would appear that only the cross was ever awarded and possibly only posthumously. [attachmentid=24891] [attachmentid=24892]

and the Military Medal (M?daille Militaire), the highest military decoration of the Grand-Duchy and awarded for exceptional distinguished military achievements. Churchill, Montgomery, Eisenhower were among the recipients. Spink & Son manufacture once again ... [attachmentid=24885] [attachmentid=24886]

Over to WW2, obverse and reverse of the 1940 War Cross (Croix de Guerre) - the one in these pictures is supposedly manufactured by Spink & Son of London ... [attachmentid=24877] [attachmentid=24879]

... and a bronze medal of the same order [attachmentid=24873] [attachmentid=24876]