Jef

Most interesting ,Chris.Thank you for sharing the info. But,do you have info about Sturm-Bataillion N° 4, end October 1918. They almost fought in my garden. I'm dying to know which Regimentsgeschichte I need, to know more about there whereabouts end October 1918. Jef

Cheaper...? made in China....? regards, Jef

Hello Jens, Thank you for the link. But I don't think this medal gets more attractive with the years..... Jef

Hello Gents, Just to let you know, Gibbo,a user of the Great War Forum sent me the info I needed. Anyway, thank you for paying attention to this topic. Jef

I was wondering if anyone has the book: Biography of Sir Winston Churchill, Vol IV, written by Martin Gilbert, on his bookshelf. I would be gratefull if I could have a scan of the page(s) Where Sir Winston visit Flanders 25 oktober- 30 oktober 1918. kind regards and thanks, Jef

Recently new NSB (Nationale Strijders Bond=Royal Veteran organisation) were issued.On the rightside the new model.Left the older medal. This is a non-officiël medal. Jef

Thank you Mervyn for your reply. I'm also looking forward to know other members' opinion. Kind regards, Jef

Thank you for your reply, Mervyn. It's definetely no gold and it is light. Have a third one with small hollow things to fix (5 mm long), not lugs like a regimental badge. sorry for the blurry pic, but you see the way how it can be fixed. Jef

Dear Gents, Can anyone ID these tiny RAF wings? Part of uniform, headdress, sweetheart, medalribbon ornament ???? kind regards, Jef

Hello Frank, Have an old palm in my collection with a stone ( expensive glass ) in top of the leaves. I suppose the maker will put the stone on the front side of the medal. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Again Alan, You can find some maps here: http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww1/ndx5to40.htm kind regards, Jef

Hello Alan, Normally you can buy War diaries here: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/war-diaries-ww1.htm. Jef

OK Jens, Keep us informed about the lay-out of the 2013 version. Jef

Hello Gents, This morning I saw this "4 dagen van de IJzer mars" medal om a fleamarket. I couldn't resist to buy it... only 2€. A 2003 edition I saw it has a new view.....I'm afraid the guy on the medal doesn't look like King AlbertI anymore. But what can you expect for 2 €... kind regards, Jef

I only remember this "twee frikandellen met friet alstublieft"... "met mayonaise of Pickles?" No that's a joke of course. If you send me your mailaddress i'll send the list. I tried to attach the list here, but becomes too small and difficult to read. Don't worry, I'll help you to translate. Jef

Hello Frank, According to my information: silver palms & silver pelican = 160 blooddonations or 300 plasmgifts golden palms & golden pelican = 190 blooddonations or 700 plasmgifts These commandercrosses are named order of solidarity I don't know what the stars on the ribbon means. I got this info from the Red Cross. If you want to I can send you a list, but i'm afraid it's written in dutch. If other gents want to have a scan of the list, send me a PM. Jef

Hello Frank, Hendriks website will give you a cristal clear answer: http://users.skynet.be/hendrik/ go to WWII, you will find the medal. kind regards, Jef

And a not finished medal, a mini and a pin kind regards, Jef

I'm sorry ,Frank. That's a bit the problem with the non-officiel medals. There are no catalogues, no reference books about non-official medals. Only the organisation who instituted the medal knows the modalities and regulations... Wish I could help. Jef

And a related commemoration pennant. kind regards, Jef

I'm afraid I don't know, but I never saw a medal with French text. I guess all the medals are iscribed in Dutch because the march is organised by Flemish people. On the other hand I never saw a MESA medal with Dutch text. Jef

Hello, You can find this info on : www.mil.be Souvenirs No pain, no gain! Medals and Trophies In 2012 all participants will again receive an appropriate souvenir according to the distance covered. This jubilee year ushers in a new cycle, with medals and bars with indication of the date. This means that every participant keeping to the rules will be given a new medal. The medal or trophy can be obtained at the inscription desks after finishing your last walking day. Of course, awards are only granted after verification of the scan results at the start, along the way and at the finishing line. The souvenir you receive will depend on the different distances covered over several days. Each walker only gets one souvenir: “The Four Days of the Yser Medal” is awarded after walking 4 x 32 km; Walking 4 days in any combination of the 16, 24 and 32 km distances, will make you the proud owner of the “Small Medal”; If you walk 4 x 16 km OR 3 x 32 km OR 2 x 32 km + 1 x 24 km, you will still receive the “Silver Souvenir Medal”; Gold pin: at least 2 days, in any combination of the 32, 24 and 16 km distances; Tile 10x10 (while stocks last) or silver pin: 1 day 32 or 24 km; Tile 8x8 (while stocks last) or bronze pin: 1 day 16 km. The 8 km distances will NOT be included when calculating your total distance. You will, however, receive a nice “rosette” each time you cover this distance.

Hello Jens, Sorry for not speaking about variations. From left to right: Year 1973-1997, gold coloured with a 25years jubileeclasp on the ribbon. Large AlbertI bust Year 1994, silver coloured large AlbertI bust Year 1989, silver coloured small Albert I bust The first photograph shows a bronze coloured medal from 1978, also with a small bust. The bust must have been changed between the year 1989 and 1994 (?), maybe another manufacturer? Maybe other users have other year-issues? I dont know what that smaller medal means. Somebody told me: for people who only walked a part of the march, but I don't know. Kind regards Jef

Hello again,Jens As promised a pic of a MESA one. I'm afraid I only have thisone of 1975. kind regards, Jef

Hello Jens, As far as I'm concerned these are not official medals, but the recepients are allowed to wear the medals on a military uniform only the year when the medal was received. Will also show a pic of the Mesa in a next post. Attached is a pic of medals of different years. kind regards, Jef