Jef

Hello Oli4, Thank you for answering , but I'm afraid I have to agree with Hendrik and Guy. It would be very logical if the bust of King Albert was on that medal. You are quite right, our king was respected by all our allies. I checked once more my Quinot book and the determinations of the King Albert medal, Political prisoners medal 14/18 .... Every time the author mentioned the pic of King Albert , but he didn't in the determination of the Commemorative medal 14/18. With kind regards, jef

Hello Oli4, I have read it before in the book of Alec Purves, and know I read it again. Is this really King Albert? My book of Henri Quinot says.....la t?te d'un soldat casqu?... translated is this " a head with a helmet" In what book did you found this? I'm very curious. kind regards, Jef

Thank you Hendrik, your information is very helpful. Jef

Hello Hendrik, Still have a question about those would-be POW miniature bars in the 4th medal. In the attachement you see on the left similar bars as on the 4th medal (the only difference is, the gold one is separate from the 3 silverones). One gold and three silver bars in one piece. On the right I scanned a service ribbon of the POW medal with five bronze bars. In a book I found every bar means one year of POW. Literature told me the bars of a Belgian WWII POW medal must be bronze. The tiny bars on the left are gilt and silver ( even don't have the same size!) If those left bars are no POW bars, for what medal are they ment? Second question: a black bar for the POW's, and a silver bar for a front stripe. In many cases the silver bar might be oxidated and looks black. How can you see the difference between a black and an oxidated silver bar. By the way, I see I haven't answered your question about the 1st medal in the second pic. Sorry. But it's definitly black enamel. With kind regards, Jef [attachmentid=51136]

This is the reverse of this medal. Li?ge is a town in the french speaking part of Belgium. Jef [attachmentid=50785]

Hello Robert, It seems Belgium has insignia with the same purpose. Attached you find a Belgian medal of 1932.It wears the same abreviations NLD. I guess it means NOTRE DAME de LOURDES. Translated is this OUR LADY of LOURDES. I think it was worn by groups of pelgrims which visited Lourdes. Maybe as an ID or a souvenir? I remember my mother told me she went to Lourdes in 1948, and she has a pale bleu cross pin as an ID. I don't know if the pin wears the same abreviations. I have to look for it... best regards, Jef[attachmentid=50783]

Hello Oliver, Actually I was thinking in the same direction about that first commemoration medal. But I cannot find it back in my files. So far, this thread has learned me a lot. How comes? I have an old book of Henry Quinot...I don't have the Born? book. But, they all are written in French. I don't know a good medal reference book (of Belgian medals) which is written in Dutch, my language. Medec and Globe are trying to change this, so I'm looking forward to their new dossier. I hope in the future they will make one of the Commemoration medal in all its shapes. Keep up the good work. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Hendrik, Thank you for correcting me. I learn every day. By the way, I have checked the back of that third medal: one gold and three silver ones. kind regards Jef

Hello Darrel, If the two bars are silver one's, I would say Yes. The maximum of front stripes is eight. Jef

And some other ribbon insignia. The medal on the extreem right, with the large crown is not official and wrong, as far as i'm concerned. But, I happened to know the owner of the medal, a friend of my grandfather, a volunteer of october 1918. With respect to him, I treasure this one. yours, Jef [attachmentid=50158]

Hello, Here are some commemoration medals in my collection. See the different way of front stripes insignia. Or am I wrong , Hendrik? Jef[attachmentid=50156

Reverse:it's hard to see on this scan, but at the back of the service ribbon, I can read BC B- SG DG Stijn, Hendrik or Guy, do you know what this means? With kind regards, Jef [attachmentid=48724]

Hello Stijn, As requested an IJzer medal/cross with a service ribbon in my collection. Jef [attachmentid=48723]

That's right, Jim. You can find the origins of that wild cat in the crest of the arms of the Dukes of Sutherland. I believe the same cat is in the WW I badge of the 5th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Mike, Thank you for the info. I have this award since 15 years in my collection. Do you have any idea of it's value? kind regards from Flanders, Jef

And the reverse, sorry for the hazy pic. Mike, it seems the Fleur de Lys cross had another attachment to the white metal greek cross. What do you think about this? Jef [attachmentid=46723]

Hello Mike, Here is anotherone, Jef [attachmentid=46722]

Rick, Tom, Stogieman, thank you for your help. Jef

hello, In my collection I have a ribbon bar with another type of crossed swords. Never saw this before on the Hindenburgkreuz ribbon. It looks like Belgian crossed sabres. Is this rubbish? Jef [attachmentid=45421][attachmentid=45420]

Thank you John, I will ask the family. Jef

Hello John, I'm afraid, I don't know what you mean by " were they purchased off the open market?" The medals were sent last year by the Medal Department to the family Nicolson. And I can't believe those people would give me wrong info. regards, jef

Thank you Mr. Chairman for your message. To illustrate your sentence:"....They will be given as mementos to the next of kin...." I can add a pic. While researching the carreer of W/O John Devlin's crewmate, F/Sgt Cecil Nicolson, the bomb aimer of Lancaster JB 455 (crashed 16 June1944) we understand that his family never received his medals. So, last year, the relatives wrote to the Medal Department. After inquiring Medal Dept. decided to issue the 39/45 Star, France&Germany Star, Air Crew Europe Star and the 39/45 War Medal. Finaly, after 61 years the family Nicolson received Cecil's medals. This happened last Christmas. A present to be proud of! Kind regards, jef [attachmentid=45196]

Dear Ed & John, Again, thank you for your help. Before I posted this question, I had been looking in my books to ID the ribbon. .. with no succes. I also have a War issue of "ABC of the RAF" ( new edition 1943). It's a quite detailed book full of interesting info but there is no mention about the 1939/43 star in the pages about decorations awarded to RAF personel. I'm in debt to you both. kind regards, Jef

Thank you for your help. Drinking a Flemish ( strong) beer on your health , no, two If there is anything I can help, please let me know. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello Joerookery, Interesting info you have. Sometimes I think to restorate this "thing"... make it more attractive... should I try to make a stem myself? Or should I keep it unfinnished? Grateful for your advice. yours, Jef