Belgium Belgian marching medals (MESA and Ijzer)

[JensF.]

Agreed. I will never understand why people "design" such ugly awards...

[Jef]

Agreed. I will never understand why people "design" such ugly awards...

Cheaper...? made in China....?

regards,

Jef

[Chris Boonzaier]

The soldiers face looks like one of the twin detectives from the TinTin books!

[TacHel]

Looks like King Albert discovered McDonalds... And Krispy Kream... And Scotch Eggs...

That, or he was overthrown by the Michelin Man... ;)

Edited December 1, 2012 by TacHel

[TacHel]

Cheaper...? made in China....?

regards,

Jef

OMG that's it! Look at the face! It's chairman Mao! :o

[JensF.]

I hate "Made in China"!!! :cheeky:

[TacHel]

Hello Gents,

This morning I saw this "4 dagen van de IJzer mars" medal om a fleamarket. I couldn't resist to buy it... only 2€. A 2003 edition

I saw it has a new view.....I'm afraid the guy on the medal doesn't look like King AlbertI anymore. But what can you expect for 2 €...

kind regards,

Jef

I just found myself one like yours but dated 1999...

As you mention, he now looks nothing like King Albert... I think he looks more like Tom Jones!

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-3030-0-44774200-1365176577.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2013/post-3030-0-36560000-1365177120.jpg

[JensF.]

lol He really looks like Tom Jones!

Some days ago I registered for taking part in the 2013 marche.

[TacHel]

lol He really looks like Tom Jones!

Some days ago I registered for taking part in the 2013 marche.

Take some pics!! They'd be a great addition to this post.

[JensF.]

Yep, of course

[Jef]

Yep, of course

And Jens,let us know if the Belgian organizers of the march still use Tom Jones as a model for the medal.

Jef

[JensF.]

Here the 2014 design of the 4 x 32 km medal. No Tom Jones anymore.
I will take part this year. Maybe they changed the design for the 4 x 24 km medal too.

[TacHel]

Nice, thanks!

[Jef]

Here the 2014 design of the 4 x 32 km medal. No Tom Jones anymore.

I will take part this year. Maybe they changed the design for the 4 x 24 km medal too.

Well I must say the 2014 edition looks much better.

Thank you ,Jens

Jef

[VC89]

As far as I'm concerned these are not official medals, but the recepients are allowed to wear the medals on a military uniform only the year when the medal was received.

Will also show a pic of the Mesa in a next post.

They are indeed unofficial medals and, as Jef said, may be worn till December 31 of the year the medal was received but I don't think anyone stated yet that someone who participated in three editions may wear it permanently.

Apparently these regulations apply for the "MESA" and "Vierdaagse van de IJzer" medals.

Source:

http://www.orderofleopold.be/nl/deco01.php (Dutch)

http://www.orderofleopold.be/fr/deco01.php (French)

http://www.orderofleopold.be/en/deco01.php (English)

[JensF.]

This time I took part at the Vierdaagse van de Ijzer on the 4 x 24 km trail. No Tom Jones anymore for the 4 x 32 km medal and the one I received is the six-pointed silver one. I took part at the Last Post in Ypres and some other events too. It was an awesome week in Belgium!!