Jef

Hello Gents, Found this in " Le mirroir" of 4 April 1915. France wanted to institute a War Cross, but what model? This was a possibility. (First pic) At the end this model was chosen (second pic). Taken from " Le Mirroir" of 2nd May 1915. Thought you would like to know this. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Nice book, James. Wonder where you found it.When I asked the Belgian RC info about its medals they sent me a list with names, no pics at all. The bars I have are made the american way. With a pin and two catches. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Gldank, I must say you are well informed, never saw that RC booklet before. Here an update for you. The round pins, silver and Gilt pelicans are changed almost 15-20 years into newstyle bars. Still silver ans gilt pelicans. kind regards, Jef

Hello Roel, The RC still award medals and since about a year and a half they also give those " pin-style" trinkets like you call it. So when i asked for info (as told in my post of yesterday) they send me all the pins from 1 to 75. When I donated the 100th time I got the 100th pin. As far as I'm concerned, nothing very special, they are all alike. The pins are in a plastic box wrapped in a piece of cardboard. Enclosed is a scan of the cardboards and two pins 1 and 100. I prefer the medal itself. Kind regards, Jef

Hello again, I have seen some RC medals on dealers websites, but before you buy a medal wait for a second or third opinion. Suppose I'm wrong. This is a Belgian non-official medal and there is not much info nor documentation on non-official medals. I have two RC medals ( medal for 40 blood donation with bar 60 and bar for 80 and since a short time a medal for 100 donations) When I got my last medal I have asked the Red Cross Belgium for regulations and awardmodalities. They only sent the last regulations, post WW II. So concerning the earlier medals I'm not quite sure. So If I'm wrong, sorry. kind regards, Jef

Hello Pluribus, I think it's the left medal with the right ribbon. The right medal is the more modern, post WWII version. Hope other members will assume. kind regards fron Flanders, Jef

Thank you Paul, for this addition.

Hello Irish Gunner, I bought this medal (togheter with a Knight's Templar Membership Cross) several years ago on a military fair in Zillebeke, Belgium. The seller told me the medals once belonged to a British collector. I'm afraid that's all I know. When looking for more info, I asked our friend Kev in Deva to ID this medal. Kev sent a mail with a pic to his friend in the US. In this way I knew it was a cross for "Veterans of Foreign Wars of US" ( Thanks again, Kev). That american collector also told the the bar on top were captain's bars. That's all I know from this medal. If someone is able to add something, please do. With kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello again, Odulf, Enclosed is the reverse of the medal, in case you need it. With kind regards, Jef

Hello Odulf, Is this de medal you would like to see, Jef

Hello Farmer, I'm very impressed when looking to your Leopold Order collection. Thanks for sharing. Happy Newyear, Jef

Hello Toondowndon, Thank you for showing your snakebuckle. I immediately saw, your snake has a head and a tail, my snakes have two heads and no tail at all. A big difference and a question more to answer. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello guys, Thisone doesn't give much information. Only 31 IR. Is there anyone who can explain this, please? Kind regards, Jef

Dear Odulf, Thank you for your answer. Concerning the "Why" of the design: If the manufacturers would have made a simple S hook-shaped piece of iron, it would be even more cheaper, but I was wondering why especially the figure of a snake? It feels oriental. And it was used world-wide, mostly by western forces. I think this question will never be solved. The origins are fainted in the mist of time. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Hendrik, Thank you for the information, Jef

Hello James, Never saw this before. Definitely a non official medal. The only thing I recognise is the ribbon of the Commemoration medal 1870-1871. See below please. kind regards, Jef

Hello James, Never mind, you don't have to apologize. You think about this medal, aren't you? But as far as i'm concerned, it has nothing to do with the UN although the Belgian forces were part of the UN forces. This is a Belgian official medal established in 1952 ( the medal shown in previous post was established in 1946). This medal is called: (in dutch)medaille van oorlogsvrijwilliger, oorlogsvrijwilliger-strijder, translated(????) War volunteer, War volunteer-combatant. So the owner of this medal was a volunteer in the second war ( bar 1940-1945) and also volunteer in the Corean War ( bar Pugnator). Actually I never understood why the Belgian government made a second Volunteer medal( with the same ribbon) I read this medal even could wear a bar 1914-1918(?) Although there is a medal: WWI Volunteer medal( with dark blue ribbon). If the service ribbon is meant for the war in Corea, it need a tiny "pugnator" bar. Guy, Hendrik, L4H, OLI4 please correct me if I'm wrong,I don't want to give James wrong info. With kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Hello James, What ribbon do you have in mind for the volunteersmedal 40-45? Enclosed you find two medals of my collection, with the same ribbon. As background I used a ribbon chart of Alec Purves' MOD of World War II. I admit the colours of the medai I posted are a bit fainted by the light, but the ribbons are correct,isn't it. If I'm wrong, please correct me. kind regards, Jef

Hello again, Excuse me something went wrong with my previous post and by the way, Guy was first. I also found n° 17 might be the Belgian medal for volunteers 40-45???? Jef

Hello, N° 5 might be this non official medal given by the town of Ghent. Kind regards, Jef

N° 5 might be this non official medal. A WWII commemoration medal given by the Town of Ghent. Kind regards, Jef

Hello Paul, Thank you for the info and photographs. It seems a lot of gents are interested in this tiny snake. Best regards, Jef

Hello Hugh, About the English motto: i think the badge wears an English motto because the Bn. was raised in Britain during or at the end of WWII. By the way the motto of the Belgian 1st Bn. paracommando is: "Who dares wins" the badge is the same of the British SAS. The 3rd Bn. has the moto "Belgium" and not België/Belgique. Every motto is English spelled and not Dutch nor French. Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Separate crowns were used in headdress, as collarbadges, in shoulderboards. Alone or in addition with numbers, crossed sabres, crossed rifles, crossed lances... Kind regards from Flanders, Jef

Seems to be a badge of the Grenadiers ( post WWII). I'm not a specialist on this topic ( Belgian post WWII badges),I used an excelent reference work of Urbain Huyghebaert, "Evolutie van de Belgische Militaire Kentekens 1830-2010" Kind regards, Jef