Belgium WW1 Volunteer Combattant Medals

[Tim B]

Tried to search for old threads and couldn't find any on this one. A bit of a surprise as I thought most awards have been discussed already.

Here are two Volunteer Combattant Medals for WWI service. First one shown has the word "Voluntariis" on the reverse.

Tim

Edited May 20, 2010 by Tim B

[Tim B]

Here's the other variety with "Volontariis" on the reverse.

[Tim B]

The fronts are virtually identical with the two soldiers representing the 1830's and WW1 eras.

Designer's mark is on the right edge.

Tim

[Tim B]

The reverse is where the difference is. Not sure why two different spellings; anyone?

Tim

[JPL]

According to Andre Borne, in his book "Distinctions Honorifiques de la Belgique", the inscription on this medal should be VOLONTARIIS. He does note that there is a variant with the inscription VOLUNTARIIS.

Hope this helps.

Jean-Paul

[Kvart]

Volunteer members of Force Publique, were they awarded this medal?

[TacHel]

Are you suggesting these might be fakes? Their low value kind of contradicts such an undertaking don't you agree? Different makers?

[TacHel]

I just checked the web sites of 2 European and 1 North American dealers, they hold multiple examples of both variants all advertised as original...

I honestly had never noticed this before. Any expert opinion on this?

[Detlev]

As you mention it, François, both are seen as authentiques.

So, the VOLUNTARIIS version is not fake.

Only difference, according to 'Borné' is the finishing of the medal itself :

by the VOLONTARIIS version, the medal is in patinated bronze, while the VOLUNTARIIS version should be more patinated dark ocre-yellowish instead of bronze...

Cheers,

Detlev

[GM1]

Here is my set of Volunteer Combattant Medals:

Not that the version without inscription is smaller (demi taille?)

Best regards,

GM1

[belgoman]

hello, the smaller one is issued by the association of volunteers (Fédération nationale des Volontaires de guerre) and thus is a non-official item.

Hope this helps,

best regards

[GM1]

Thanks for the explanation!

Regards,

GM1