Lanyard

[Jef]

Hello,

Lanyards are quite decorative to display with medals. I believe, so far there are no threats about lanyards in this forum, if I'm wrong, please tell me. They have the same colour as the ribbon of a medal or order. I think about the Belgian Order of Leopold and the Belgian War cross. Attached is a red lanyard. I cannot find any Belgian medal with a red ribbon. My next thoughts are going to the French L?gion d' Honneur. Is there anyone who has an idea?

With kind regards,

Jef

[Christophe]

Sorry, but it seems to be too pink to be the L?gion d'Honneur. But, maybe it is the pic...

Ch.

[ErikMuller]

Sorry, but it seems to be too pink to be the L?gion d'Honneur. But, maybe it is the pic...

Ch.

It's the Belgian Fouragere for the Order of Leopold I.

[Riley1965]

There are Fouragerres for the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre.

Doc

Edited January 21, 2007 by Riley1965

[ErikMuller]

Here is a picture of the Yser Medal with a miniature lanyard for the Order of Leopold I.

[ErikMuller]

And of a Croix-de-Guerre 1914-1918 with a miniature lanyard for the same decoration.

[ErikMuller]

Those miniature lanyards were unofficial, but they are seen quite often.

[Jef]

It's the Belgian Fouragere for the Order of Leopold I.

Dear Eric, Riley and Christophe,

Thank you for any help. I have put three lanyards side by side on my scanner in order to show the colours much better. From left to right War Cross/croix de guerre ( First or Second War, I don't know, who tells me?)- Order of Leopold- the red lanyard.

The color of the red lanyard has a bit fainted, when I look to a part which goes into the brass end, it's bright red.

Eric, very nice mini lanyards.

kind regards,

Jef

[ErikMuller]

If it's bright red, so it must be the lanyard for the Legion of Honor.

However, the Netherlands Army also has a red lanyard (just called Red Lanyard) awarded for meritorious acts by NCO and enlisted men. I have no clue how that one looks like off uniform.

Cheers,

Erik

[Christophe]

The point is that it does not look bright red... compared to the Croix de Guerre one.

Ch.

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

However, the Netherlands Army also has a red lanyard (just called Red Lanyard) awarded for meritorious acts by NCO and enlisted men. I have no clue how that one looks like off uniform.

The Orange Lanyard is a unit verion of the Military Order of William. It looks quite simple. You can read more about it here.

[ErikMuller]

The Orange Lanyard is a unit verion of the Military Order of William. It looks quite simple. You can read more about it here.

The Orange Lanyard is not the Red Lanyard. The Orange Lanyard was a unit award which is no longer awarded, the Red Lanyard is an individual award which is still awarded.

The Orange Lanyard has nothing to do with the Military Order of William. It was awarded in the fashion of the U.S. Distinguished Unit Citation.

[ErikMuller]

The Orange Lanyard is a unit verion of the Military Order of William. It looks quite simple. You can read more about it here.

I knew there was a reason why I never use Wikipedia: it's mostly wrong! And the guys filling it use pictures they don't have the copywright for it.

The Orange Lanyard was awarded to:

- the Divisional Colours of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division (Which also got the MWO and the Resistance Commemorative Cross)

- the Divisional Colours of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Which only got the Resistance Commemorative Cross)

- IXth Army Air Force Troop Carrier Command

So nothing to do with the MWO!

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

I think you are right. The soldiers of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade obtained the right to wear the Orange Lanyard in 1944 or 1945, while the banner of the Brigade was awarded with the Order of William by Queen Beatrix as late as in 2006. I saw the diploma of the award at the Polish Institute in London. This means that unlike the Franch or Belgian fourragere, which always comes with a decoration to a unit, the Orange Lanyard is a separate award.

What about the Red Lanyard? Isn't it the countarpart of the Orange Lanyard for peacetime operations?

Best regards,

Lukasz

[ErikMuller]

I think you are right. The soldiers of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade obtained the right to wear the Orange Lanyard in 1944 or 1945, while the banner of the Brigade was awarded with the Order of William by Queen Beatrix as late as in 2006. I saw the diploma of the award at the Polish Institute in London. This means that unlike the Franch or Belgian fourragere, which always comes with a decoration to a unit, the Orange Lanyard is a separate award.

What about the Red Lanyard? Isn't it the countarpart of the Orange Lanyard for peacetime operations?

Best regards,

Lukasz

No it is a completely different kind of award. It is awarded to individual NCO's and men for meritorious conduct. This can be performing better that to be expected, saving life, giving first aid to a fellow soldier of a civilian during difficult circumstances, etc.

I don't know when it was instituted, but the first mention of it I found dates back to 1967.

Cheers,

Erik

[Jef]

Thank you for your help, guys.

So, Erik, you think it's a Dutch lanyard? Was wondering if we have to make difference between lanyards ( fourrag?res) which have an Order or medal as origin and lanyards which are marks of recognition. I have been looking on the internet, and was unable to find info.

Attached is a lanyard which I got from a Belgian veteran who got his training in Ireland begin 1945. Although he never saw action, his batallion ( Bataljon Rumbeke) wore this lanyard. So I can say, it almost has a function of a badge?!?

So the first group ( which has an award as origin) has the characteristic brass end. The second group which I name the recognition mark lanyard has no brass end at all. I'm afraid this is my logical conclusion. What do you think?

With kind regards,

Jef

[ErikMuller]

I have no clear (or large) image of a soldier wearing the Red Lanyard (Rode Erekoord), so I can't see if there's brass at the end of them.

I know of at least two other Dutch 'unit' identity lanyards:

The Fuselierskoord (Fusilier Lanyard) of the Garderegiment Prinses Irene

The United Nations Lanyard (for UN Vets)

These two I have had in the past and were without brass.

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

I think the difference lies in the name itself. A cord which originates from a decoration for a unit and which has a metal ferret (pencil) at the end is called a fourragere, while the one which is not associated with an order or decoration, and does not have a pencil is referred to as a lanyard. Lanyards do not have to be awarded for meritorious service - sometimes they are simply part of the uniform, denoting unit affiliation or qualification.

For example a few Polish units during WWII authorized lanyards (not fourrageres!) of different colors to wear, but I have been able to determine only two that were awarded for recognition of gallantry: soldiers of the 1st Independent Brigade of Podhale Rifles received a lanyard in Norwegian national colors from King Haakon for participation in defense of Norwayin 1940 and members of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade for gallantry at Arnhem, during Operation Market Garden in 1944 received the Dutch Orange Lanyard from the Queen. Some other Polish units were authorized to wear French and Belgian fourrageres as well.

I have an idea: let's make a list all fourrageres/lanyards awarded for gallantry or meritorious service. My proposals are as follows:

France - fourrageres to:

1. Legion d'Honneur

2. Medaille militaire

3. Croix de Guerre WWI

4. Croix de Guerre TOE

5. Croix de Guerre WWII

Belgium - fourrageres to:

1. Order of Leopold

2. Croix de Guerre (did the fourrageres for WWI and WWII have different patterns?)

I wonder if the Order of the Crown had a fourragere as well.

The Netherlands:

1. Orange Lanyard

2. Red Lanyard

Norway:

1. Norwegian Lanyard

Romania - fourrageres to:

1. Order of Michael the Brave

2. Military Virtue Medal

3. Order for Aeronautical Virtue

4. Order of the Star of Romania

(Credit to Carol I)

Poland - a fourragere to:

1. Order of the Military Cross - a very fresh one

I wonder what other countries use(d) fourrageres/lanyards. I am curious about Portugal for example. The country had a War Cross, modeled on the French CdG. Any Portugese specialists here?

Cheers,

Lukasz

[Jef]

I think the difference lies in the name itself. A cord which originates from a decoration for a unit and which has a metal ferret (pencil) at the end is called a fourragere, while the one which is not associated with an order or decoration, and does not have a pencil is referred to as a lanyard. Lanyards do not have to be awarded for meritorious service - sometimes they are simply part of the uniform, denoting unit affiliation or qualification.

For example a few Polish units during WWII authorized lanyards (not fourrageres!) of different colors to wear, but I have been able to determine only two that were awarded for recognition of gallantry: soldiers of the 1st Independent Brigade of Podhale Rifles received a lanyard in Norwegian national colors from King Haakon for participation in defense of Norwayin 1940 and members of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade for gallantry at Arnhem, during Operation Market Garden in 1944 received the Dutch Orange Lanyard from the Queen. Some other Polish units were authorized to wear French and Belgian fourrageres as well.

I have an idea: let's make a list all fourrageres/lanyards awarded for gallantry or meritorious service. My proposals are as follows:

France - fourrageres to:

1. Legion d'Honneur

2. Medaille militaire

3. Croix de Guerre WWI

4. Croix de Guerre TOE

5. Croix de Guerre WWII

Belgium - fourrageres to:

1. Order of Leopold

2. Croix de Guerre (did the fourrageres for WWI and WWII have different patterns?)

I wonder if the Order of the Crown had a fourragere as well.

The Netherlands:

1. Orange Lanyard

2. Red Lanyard

Norway:

1. Norwegian Lanyard

Romania - fourrageres to:

1. Order of Michael the Brave

2. Military Virtue Medal

3. Order for Aeronautical Virtue

4. Order of the Star of Romania

(Credit to Carol I)

Poland - a fourragere to:

1. Order of the Military Cross - a very fresh one

I wonder what other countries use(d) fourrageres/lanyards. I am curious about Portugal for example. The country had a War Cross, modeled on the French CdG. Any Portugese specialists here?

Cheers,

Lukasz

That's a great idea Lukasz.

For Belgium I have to add a fourrag?re for The Order of the African Star, a mixed one African star/ War Cross, and another mixed one Order of Leopold/African star

Thank you again, Lukasz and Erik

Jef

[Hendrik]

... a mixed one African star/ War Cross, and another mixed one Order of Leopold/African star

Hello Jef & all,

When would those mixed ones have been created (date of decree) ? I fear they are fantasy ones but would love to be proven wrong !

On the other hand, in March 1953, the regulations on the Order of Leopold fourrag?re were changed considerably by creating three classes (and basically retroactive to WW2) :

1st class : three gilt thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is gilt (for units with 16 citations minimum)

2nd class : three silver thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is silvered (for units with 8 citations minimum)

3rd class : no interwoven stripes, ferret is bronze (for units with 4 citations minimum)

Cheers,

Hendrik

[ErikMuller]

Hello Jef & all,

When would those mixed ones have been created (date of decree) ? I fear they are fantasy ones but would love to be proven wrong !

On the other hand, in March 1953, the regulations on the Order of Leopold fourrag?re were changed considerably by creating three classes (and basically retroactive to WW2) :

1st class : three gilt thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is gilt (for units with 16 citations minimum)

2nd class : three silver thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is silvered (for units with 8 citations minimum)

3rd class : no interwoven stripes, ferret is bronze (for units with 4 citations minimum)

Cheers,

Hendrik

Sweet, didn't know that! Seems my Belgian fourrageres are incomplete then!

[Hendrik]

Seems my Belgian fourrageres are incomplete then!

Hello Erik,

... and I fear they will remain so for a while longer : those threaded ones are pretty rare and thus expensive. Still, every Belgian fourrag?re you have is one more than I have - zilch here, haven't wandered off the beaten path for those yet

Hendrik

[Jef]

Hello Jef & all,

When would those mixed ones have been created (date of decree) ? I fear they are fantasy ones but would love to be proven wrong !

On the other hand, in March 1953, the regulations on the Order of Leopold fourrag?re were changed considerably by creating three classes (and basically retroactive to WW2) :

1st class : three gilt thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is gilt (for units with 16 citations minimum)

2nd class : three silver thread stripes woven into the fourrag?re, ferret is silvered (for units with 8 citations minimum)

3rd class : no interwoven stripes, ferret is bronze (for units with 4 citations minimum)

Cheers,

Hendrik

Hello Hendrik,

Thank you for meddle this lanyarddiscussion and for the info about the Order of Leopold fourrag?re. While looking for info on the internet I saw this:

http://www.klm-mra.be/engels/collecties/OM...e/vuurkoord.htm

kind regards,

Jef

[ErikMuller]

@Hendrik: I got them in a lot once. Don't even know where to find them at the moment.

@Jef: I think Guy has some explaining to do Where do the other three Lanyards come from?

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

The 'mixing' of fourrageres seems to be Belgian invention. Have never heard of it. A good idea anyway. Is it found in other countries' fourrageres too?

What about the remaining Belgian orders: Order of the Crown, of Leopold II and of the Lion. Have they had fourrageres as well?