GM1

Comparison of my two Buls knights, see the difference between the lions and also the laurel wreath which seems to be inverted. The one of the box has the typical fluted ring where the other one has a normal one. cheers GM1 Close-up of the rings and crown

A Buls’ knight in its box, found on a flee market in Malaga (Spain). Cheers!

These miniatures are in my collection and I’ve taken some additional pictures. No faded colores, but the ribbon doesn’t seem to match with the silver medal of the Order of Orange-Nassau, lacking the blue borders. Still a mystery…

Thank to @JohanH and the combination of the Polar Star and White Rose Order I finally managed to identify this miniature chain. It belonged to Leo van Puyvelde, curator of the Belgian museums of fine arts and one of the monument men during world war II. More information: https://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/van-puyvelde-col-leo Cheers, GF1 I have confirmation of the following orders by the different Chancelleries: Grand Officer Order of Leopold (Belgium) Grand Officer Order of the Crown (Belgium) Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) Commander of the Legion (France) Commander Order of the Polar Star (Sweden) Commander Order of the White Rose (Finland) tbc: Dannebrog and Order of the Italian Crown. Doubt about the first one, not sewed... and the ribbon is larger than the rest. On his Obituary confirmed: Commemorative medal of the war 1914-1918 Interallied Victory MEdal Commemorative medal of the 100 years of Belgium's independence. Cheers, GM1

Three civil orders of three different centuries, each king wanting to leave his mark... Order Charles III: The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III was established by the King of Spain Carlos III, by Royal Decree of September 19, 1771 to bestow hose people who have stood out especially for their good actions for the benefit of Spain and the Crown. Since its creation, it is the most distinguished civil decoration that can be awarded in Spain. Although it is within the category of Military Orders since its creation, it formally became a civil order in 1847. Order Isaballa the Catholic: The Royal and American Order of Isabella the Catholic was created by the King Fernando VII on March 14, 1815, in order to «To reward the proven loyalty to Spain and the merits of Spanish and foreign citizens for the good of the Nation and especially in those exceptional services rendered in favor of prosperity of the American and overseas territories ”. By Royal Decree of 26 July 1847 this Order was reorganized, taking the name of the Royal Order of Isabella the Chatholic. Civil Merit order: The Order of Civil Merit was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain. If I'm not mistaken, both breast stars are from the category called "Numbered Commander": It is granted to citizens who, having provided notable services to Spain, had the Commandar for more than three years, or meet the requirements for the Grand Cross but do not hold or have held any of the positions to receive it. Their clear connection to the Grand Cross means that their number is also limited to two hundred. Cheers GM1

A question about the Order of the Italian Crown recipients: are there resources (both on and off-line) available for non-italian people bestowed with this order? I'm trying to track a belgian recipient in the 1930s... Thanks in advance, GM1

A picture of the reverse side...

Another from my collection: A high Belgian civil servant or diplomat with the commander cross of the Polar Star among others. Especially the 7th in row is a mistery: the medal of the Belgian Royal Household (under king Albert) - Medal for servants of Foreign Courts or Foreign Heads of State, for services rendered during official visits (instituted, on 21 July 1889, in three classes (bronze, silver and silver gilt)), although the ribbon is from the King Albert Medal. Cheers

Thank to JohanH: The orders are as following: Order of the Sword - grand cross (not mentioned in the list because his entry is on the page showing grand crosses) RCXIII:sO = Knight of the Order or Carl XIII (Freemasons) RNO ( Knight of the Order of the North Star) PersLSO2kl (Persian Lion and Sun Order 2nd class) KÖFrJO m kr (Commander of the Austrian Frans Josef Order with breast star) KBKrO (Commander of the Belgian order of the Crown) KDDO2gr (Commander of the Danish Dannebrog order 2nd grade) KItS:tMLO (Commander of the Italian Order of S:t Maurice & Lazarus) JHSO3kl (Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd class) KNedONO m sv (Commander of the order of Orange-Nassau with swords) KNS:tOO (Commander of the Norwegian Order of S:t Olav) RPrRÖO2kl (Knight of the Prussian Red Eagle Order 2nd class) OffFrHL (Officier of the French Legion of Honour) OffFrdel'Ip (Officier de l'Instruction Publique) f. 65 means he was born in 1865 and the last date (30 6/6) is the date he received the grand cross of the order of the Sword.

Another miniature chain, with the Order of the Sword. Best regards, GM1

Woow JohanH!!! That’s great!!! I’ll try to do some research on him! Thanks a lot! GM1

Here are some of mine, with the Royal Order of the Polar Star (in gold), Commemorative Stockholm Summer Olympics 1912, Swedish Landsturm medal, among others. Sadly no attributed. Bert regards, GM1

Thanks VC89! It got into my collection like 1 year ago, bought from internet. The unofficial LII was that paid my attention. best regards GM1

Thanks for the replies! Indeed it seems that it is a police commissioner (head of police) uniform, from the beginning of the 1900. the back of the frame shows that it was framed in Gent (Gand). The frame with its medals The order of Leopold II has swords under the crown, which is an unofficial version (only allowed with the Order of Leopold). The Military Decoration 1st Class is from the Leopold II period. There is the bronze medal of the Civil Decoration for Bravery. Four silver front stripes on the Commemorative Medal for the war 1914-18 A bronze palm on the War Cross.

Can anyone help me with the identification of this Belgian uniform, presumibly from a NCO? The odd thing is that he's wearing an unoffical Knight Order of Leopold II with swords. Thanks in advance, Gm1

It is definitely a Belgian society that still existed in 2000 (https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewTBlokDoc&DATUM='11/07/2000'&ID=33558367&TYP=combull&LANG=nl), although no web site nor information about medals for members.

A piece of my collection from the Congo Freestate:

Thank you very much for your reply! Don't know if there is a manufacture's mark on the top point of the star at the back, in the ball suspension? Details of the green graving on the anvers is very nice. Best regards, GM1

Dear Owain, Thank you very much for your information! The chain has medals going from 1936 to 1960's, There is no evidence that confirms it as Syrian, just by design and the drawing on the star. I haven't found any other medal that seems similar, so the local (Spanish) manufacture can be the explanation why it is so different. The Syrian Order of Merit was founded in 1953, correct? (I'm not an expert) This means it couldn't be awared by the Vichy, right? Best regards, GM1

Hi! I have this Syrian Order of Merit miniature in a chain of a Spanish diplomat. Any idea why the ribbon is different and the medal is missing some of the elements? Thanks in advance, Best regards, GM1

Hi Guy, I suppose that one is the European Community Monitoring Medal (This medal was awarded for 21 days service between July 27th 1991 and June 30th 1993 in and around the Former Yugoslavia, http://www.servicecomm.co.uk/catalogue.php?product=609&productID=european-community-monitoring-mission-medal), while the other one is the mentioned ICFY medal. Both have the same ribbon and appearance. Best regards, GM1

Here are some interesting papers on a Belgian soldier that died in Corea. There is a letter from the Corps Commander to the parents (with picture), a diploma awarding posthumous the Commemorative Medal for Foreign Theatres with Coree-Korea bar, a diploma awarding the War Volunteer Medal and a diploma awarding posthumous the Knight Cross of the Leopold II Order with Palm, the War Cross 1940 with Palm and the Medal for War Volunteer-Fighter. Best regards, GM1

Ch. fr. means Chevrons de Front, the frontlines earned by the soldiers during the war. (first frontline after 1 year service, then 1 per six months). Maximum of frontlines is 8. Best regards, GM1

​ Just in case someone offers you this medal, it has been stolen from my collection during post handling in France. Thank you for your co-operation. GM1

You're right Bill, it seems like the same suspension... although with a better finishing. I recall having seen such a suspension some years ago, but I can't remember the webpage... Thanks a lot! GM1