Belgium My Collection of ODMs of Belgium

[Riley1965]

Medaille Du Prisonnier De Guerre 1940-1945

Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945

Medaille Van De Krijgsgevangene 1940-1945

Established: 20 October 1947

Awarded to Belgian Prisoners of War in WWII. This replaced the card which was issued earlier. A Bronze bar was placed on the ribbon for every three months of captivity. This medal was also awarded posthumously.

OBVERSE...

Doc

[Riley1965]

Medaille Du Prisonnier De Guerre 1940-1945

Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945

Medaille Van De Krijgsgevangene 1940-1945

REVERSE...

Doc

[Hendrik]

This replaced the card which was issued earlier. A Bronze bar was placed on the ribbon for every three months of captivity.

Hello Doc,

Allow me to make a few corrections : the medal did not replace the card - instead, the card was kept by its owner and served as certificate for the medal. And, bronze bars indicate each period of 12 months of captivity started. Hence, 48 months + 1 day would entitle one to have 5 bars on the ribbon.

Looking forward to seeing more of your collection !

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Riley1965]

Hello Doc,

Allow me to make a few corrections : the medal did not replace the card - instead, the card was kept by its owner and served as certificate for the medal. And, bronze bars indicate each period of 12 months of captivity started. Hence, 48 months + 1 day would entitle one to have 5 bars on the ribbon.

Looking forward to seeing more of your collection !

Cheers,

Hendrik

Thanks Hendrik!!! It seems that my book by Daniel Byrne has some incorrect info. But, right now it is my only resource. I've made the corrections to the book. More medals coming later today...

Doc

Edited November 17, 2008 by Riley1965

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Doc

I am looking forward to seeing more.

Hendrik actually has a very useful site for Belgian medals

http://users.skynet.be/hendrik/

it's worth a visit.

[Riley1965]

Medaille De La Resistance Armee 1940-1945

Armed Resistance Medal 1940-1945

Medaille Van De Gewapende Weerstand 1940-1945

Established on 16 February 1946. The medal was awarded for armed resistance during the German occupation or to those who assisted in the resistance. The medal was also awarded psthumously.

Thanks to Hendrik I now have the correct ribbon for the medal

Doc

[Riley1965]

YSER Medal

Yser Medal: Awarded to those who, between 17 and 31 October 1914, were part of the army fighting on the IJzer-river, in French "Yser", and fought with distinction.This bronze medal (with a greenish shade and with a green enamelled medallion above) was instituted on 18 October 1918 and immediately follows the War Cross 1914-1918 in importance. Allied military personnel who participated were also eligible. The obverse depicts a naked, helmeted man, standing and holding a lance (symbolising the halting of the German advance) with to his right the dates "17-31 / OCT. / 1914". In the enamelled medallion the word "YSER" can be read. The reverse shows a wounded lion on a battlefield background. Underneath is the word "YSER" while the medallion has the royal crown over the letter "A" (King Albert I). The ribbon is red with broad black edges. Both obverse and reverse are rather poorly executed for a medal with such an historical importance : between the dates mentioned the Belgian Army fought along the river IJzer and stopped the German advance, lead by General von Falkenhayn. During this gallant action the Belgian Army suffered some 60,000 casualties, more than a third of its total strength.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Belgium War Cross(Croix de Guerre) 1914 - 1918 with Bronze Palm attachment

Established: 25 October 1915

Awarded to military personnel for an act of bravery in combat. Also to Volunteers over 40 years old or under 16 years old with at least 18 months service to a combat unit.

Additional attachments:

Silver Palm for fifth award of bronze palm

Gold palm for fifth award of silver palm

Bronze, silver and gilt lions for award by regimental, brigade or division

Miniature version of Belgian Order Fourragere can be attached to the medal

Doc

[Riley1965]

La M?daille de la Victorie 1914-1918

De Overwinnungsmedaille 1914-1918

The Belgian WWI Victory medal, instituted 15 July 1919, was given to mobilized Belgian troops who served between 1 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was designed by Paul DuBois and about 300,000 medals were awarded.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Medaille Commemorative Du Regne De Leopold II (1865-1905)

Leopold II 1905 Commemorative Medal (1865-1905)

Herinnerings Medaille Van De Regering Van Konig Leopold II

This medal was awarded for 20 years of service during the period of 1865-1905

First variation was Established: 21 July 1905

Second variation established on 6 July 1951.

This medal had dates 1865-1909

Third Variation was established on 31 January 1952.

This medal has dates 1885-1909

The medal shown here is the is the First Variation.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Decoration Civique Pour Anciennete De Services Medaille

Civil Decoration for Long Service Medal

Burgerlijk Ereteken Voor Ancienniteit, Medaille

Established: 21 July 1867

Awarded for 25 years Long Service in the recipients field of endeavor. There are three classes.

1st class-Gold

2nd Class: Silver

3rd Class: Bronze

Doc

Edited March 10, 2009 by Riley1965

[Riley1965]

La decoration Du Labor

Decoration for Labor

Ereteken Van De Arbeid

Established: 9 May 1863

It was awarded to workers and artisans for distinction in their fields. On 29 April 1958 it was renamed the Agricultural and Industrial Decoration. There are two Classes:

1st Cass- Gold Crown and Rosette on ribbon

2nd Class- Silver crown on plain ribbon.

This is the 1st Class Decoration.

Doc

Edited March 10, 2009 by Riley1965

[Riley1965]

La decoration Du Labor

Decoration for Labor

Ereteken Van De Arbeid

2nd Class Decoration...

Doc

[Riley1965]

More to come...I need to rest....

Doc

[nesredep]

Hello!

Wow,very nice Collection.

All the best

Nesredep

[Hendrik]

Decoration Civique Pour Anciennete De Services Medaille

Civil Decoration for Long Service Medal

Burgerlijk Ereteken Voor Ancienniteit, Medaille

Established: 21 July 1867

Awarded for 25 years Long Service in the recipients field of endeavor. There are three classes.

1st class-Gold

2nd Class: Silver

3rd Class: Bronze

Hello Doc,

Actually there are 5 classes : 2 crosses and the above 3 medals ... Here's a couple, 1st class cross on the ribbon for fireman and "civil guard" personnel, 2nd class cross on the usual ribbon for civil servants.

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Riley1965]

I probably should have included the crosses in the description. I was trying to stick with the Medals.

GREAT PICS of CROSSES!!!

Doc

[Hendrik]

La decoration Du Labor

Decoration for Labor

Ereteken Van De Arbeid

Established: 9 May 1863

It was awarded to workers and artisans for distinction in their fields. On 29 April 1958 it was renamed the Agricultural and Industrial Decoration. There are two Classes:

Two classes indeed and there's always been a difference in the colour of the wreath indicating whether awarded for long service in industry or agriculture. A couple of agricultural types with their specific green enameled wreath, one on the normal ribbon, the other on a neck ribbon as worn by women :

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Riley

You are of to a nice start.

Here are a Silver and Bronze for valour for civil servants.

[Riley1965]

Ordre De La Couronne-Palme

Order of the Crown-Palme

Kroonorde-Palm

There are two sets of Palmes, Gold (Gilt) and Silver

This is the Gold version

Established: 15 October 1897 By King Leoplod II

It was originally awarded for the Congo State and became a Belgium Order in 1908 when Congo became a Belgium Colony. It was awarded to Belgians and foreigners for Distinguished service in the fields of Commerce, Industry, Literary, Artistic and Scientific works. It could be awarded for both military and civilian services to Belgium and Africa. It has five classes. The Palmes are together the last class.

Doc

[Riley1965]

Here's the Silver Palme...

Doc

[Riley1965]

Medaille Commemorative De La Guerre 1914-1918

Commemorative Medal World War I 1914-1918

Herinnerings Medaille Van De Oorlog 1914-1918

Established: 21 July 1919

Awarded to all Persons serving in the Begian Army in WWI. There are several attachments that may be seen on this medal.

1. Silver Star- Disabled in War

2. Red Cross- Wounded in war

3. Gold Crown- Volunteers

4. Small gold crown- Volunteers

5. Gold or Silver bars (1 Gold equals 5 silver bars)- Volunteers

6. Silver Crown- Intelligence Agaents

7. Silver Lions- Intelligence Agents

8. Bronze Anchor- Merchant Marine

Doc

Edited March 11, 2009 by Riley1965

[Riley1965]

That's all of my Belgian Collection until future additions

Doc

[Hendrik]

Ordre De La Couronne-Palme

Order of the Crown-Palme

Kroonorde-Palm

... It has five classes. The Palmes are together the last class.

Hello Doc,

Is your information coming out of the Byrne book you mentioned earlier in this thread ? If so, that book isn't quite correct. The 10 classes of the Crown Order are :

1. Grand Cross

2. Grand Officer

3. Commander

4. Officer

5. Knight

6. Gold Palms

7. Silver Palms

8. Gold Medal

9. Silver Medal

10. Bronze Medal

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Riley1965]

Thanks Hendrik!!! I'll have to update his book. I've already had to do it with some other ODMs.

Doc

Hello Doc,

Is your information coming out of the Byrne book you mentioned earlier in this thread ? If so, that book isn't quite correct. The 10 classes of the Crown Order are :

1. Grand Cross

2. Grand Officer

3. Commander

4. Officer

5. Knight

6. Gold Palms

7. Silver Palms

8. Gold Medal

9. Silver Medal

10. Bronze Medal

Cheers,

Hendrik