Hendrik

Hi Gents,

According to Borné, the Royal Decree of 15 december 1917, published in the "Belgisch Staatsblad"/"Moniteur Belge"  of 23 - 31 december 1917, does stipulate the lion device being cut out. It would be lovely to actually see a scan of the original published text of that decree ...

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Elizabeth & all,

What has perhaps not been stated clearly is that - although their wear was condoned - the above wound medals were considered non-official awards until 2016. Up till then the official award consisted of an enamelled red star being affixed on the corresponding campaign medal or a slip-on bar with a red star being placed on the campaign medal's ribbon.

The latter, on the WW2 Commemorative Medal, would perhaps fit your 1940-48 time frame depending on what exactly you're looking for.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Duncan,

The bar was awarded for participation in air operations effected from the UK territory between 25 June 1940 and 8 May 1945 :

"Barrette « Grande-Bretagne » pour les opérations aériennes effectuées de ce territoire du 25 juin 1940 au 8 mai 1945"

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Duncan,

I'm afraid the "citation star" on the bronze class of this medal only serves to puncture a perfectly good ribbon. If the medal was awarded with a citation, it would have been its silver class. Normally the silver class comes with a blue enamelled star on its ribbon; an award with a citation was denoted by a red enamelled star.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi Nick,

Nice one. The reverse translate to something like "one victory of faith, one will : peace". The dates suggest the 50th anniversary of Italy's entry into WWI. The obverse indicates the provincial federation of Verona of the National Veterans Association.

Regards,

Hendrik

Thanks, Gents, for that info - one learns every day on forums (and I need better reading glasses too !) ?

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi,

I don't know anything about ranks and uniforms but the medals worn in the picture suggest a civilian diplomatic official. The neck badge and breast star of the Order of Nichan-Iftikar point to service in Tunisia and the presence of the Belgian Order of Leopold, civilian division and the Portuguese Order of Aviz further confirm diplomatic service. The first two medal, Academic Palms and Agricultural Order are among the commonest French decorations for officials.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi,

I think that a honorary rank as displayed on the diploma means the recipient was no longer in the armed forces reserve at the time. It would also mean that such was his rank when in said reserve and that he thus never rose to general rank.

I'm certainly no expert in the matter but I'm inclined to think it is another Pierre Huot that received this decoration, the name is not that uncommon ...

Ha, just now, when going over the diploma again, I happen to notice the date of birth is indicated on it : 3 January 1920 - so not your Brigadier General born in 1904 ! Sorry for the bad news.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi,

It may help to note that on the diploma he's identified as Honorary Infantry Lt.Col. ...

Regards,

Hendrik

Is it possible to merge this topic with the earlier  identical one

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Simon,

The "7" likely refers to the wearer's unit : the 7th Regiment of .... infantry, cavalry, artillery, dragoons, "tirailleurs africains", etc. etc. With the Military Medal fourragère in place, the only unit I can find is the "Compagnie 15/12 du 7^e régiment de génie ( 09/08/1917 ) " (source : website France-phaleristique).

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Duncan,

You might find the France Phaleristique website useful : look under DECORATIONS and then scroll down to MEDAILLES D'HONNEUR ... lots of "civil" medals there ?

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello,

Further to the above, the Leopold I monogram with the "I" in the centre merely indicates it was manufactured by the firm of Wolfers, the "II" in the centre points to manufacture by the firm of Heremans.

Regards,

Hendrik

Very nice and interesting website, Dave - keep up the good work !!!

Regards,

Hendrik

On 19/03/2021 at 08:38, Hendrik said:

The bar "ALGERIE"  in the pictures was manufactured by the Paris firm of Arthus-Bertrand.

It could be awarded for campaigns up till 1906.

The last action for which the clasp was allowed was a reconnaissance  mission to Oued-Nesly under the  command of  a Major Pein between 23 and 30 January 1906. Your medal is from 1914 at the very earliest.

I don't think it is possible to attribute it to a particular battle/campaign/mission unless you have information about its original recipient.

Also, the time between the campaign and the award of a medal and bar may be considerable. By way of example, I have a Colonial Medal with clasp TUNISIE (last campaign ended in 1918 for that clasp) and its award certificate is dated November 1931 ...

Tchüß,

Hendrik

Hi,

It only needs one to make a mistake and then others copy it on from there ... I've seen it happen before ?

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello Gentlemen,

The above Colonial Medal is of the 2nd official type and manufactured by the Paris Mint (silver mark "1" between cornucopia). This type was manufactured between 1914 and 1962. The 1930 date on the northeastmedals website makes no sense to me ...

The bar "ALGERIE"  in the pictures was manufactured by the Paris firm of Arthus-Bertrand.

It could be awarded for campaigns up till 1906.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi Nick,

Once again my heartfelt thanks for your quick and knowledgeable reply !

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi,

I would appreciate any information on this medal and its box.

Thanks & regards,

Hendrik

A geographical indication : always useful and  never to be scoffed  at !?

Thank you very much,

Hendrik

Hello All !

As mentioned in another post (thanks again for the quick answer, JapanX) I recently acquired a Wound Badge. It came in what I assume is its original  and somewhat damaged box of issue which is, however, marked in ink on both the outside and inside of the lid. Obviously, I'd love to know what is written there and so, it's over to the experts ...

In case a close-up would help :

and, on the inside :

Thanks & regards,

Hendrik

Thank you very much, Nick !

Regards,

Hendrik

Hello !

A small badge, in its box of issue (?), has recently arrived with me as part of a lot containing a Japanese Wound Badge.  I'm hoping one of the experts on this forum can shed more light on it ...

Thanks & regards,

Hendrik

Hello Numis,

The medal you refer to in your original post is, as Vincent pointed out, not an official Belgian medal. Its obverse bears the head of the sovereign under which reign it was issued (i.e. Leopold II or Albert I - I can't recall seeing any other king's representation).

Official Belgian lifesaving awards were created during the reigns of Leopold I and Leopold II and you might wander over to Hendrik's Medal Corner and find then in the "Other Awards" section.

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi,

As Pat mentions in the post above, it's the French Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour), Chevalier class (knight class) of the 3rd Republic era (1870-1951) and its ribbon is plain red.

At the bottom, the mark is quite likely a boar's head (indicating the cross is silver) and the mark on the ring should be "AB & Cie" with a wheel under a star, i.e. the Arthus-Bertrand maker's mark.

Regards,

Hendrik