My Modest Belgian collection....

[Farkas]

Hi Gents

My Belgian collection....

'A Ses Heros' Medallion regarding Vivegnis. 1914 - 1918. (one of my favourites..)

Named to N. Ernoux.

Below: I think this is a later award relating to reconstruction efforts...

and a few badges....(modern I guessing)

Below: I seem to recall this is Belgian but nothing else...

Hope you Gents like them....

tony 

[Farkas]

Hi Gents

tony 

[Stuka f]

Hello,

the medal you think is for reconstructions effort, is in fact a very common civil medal for labor. Any labor, and not particularly linked to any war.

The patch isn't Belgian, to me! More English , judging by the crown....

[Farkas]

7 hours ago, Stuka f said:

Hello,

the medal you think is for reconstructions effort, is in fact a very common civil medal for labor. Any labor, and not particularly linked to any war.

The patch isn't Belgian, to me! More English , judging by the crown....

Hi Stuka f

my modest collection just got a little smaller!

thanks for the advice

good to know.

tony 

[VC89]

Stuka is right. The medal is the Industry and Agricultural Decoration or under it's later name Decoration of Labour (medal is the same only the name changes) and has nothing to do with the army.

But on the bright side, it has the name of the maker on it's back (J. Fonson Brussels) wich makes it more uncommon (even rare) to find (even in Belgium). Someone told me this was done in the early 20th century, but I can't verify that.

Nevertheless with the discription on the back it's the hardest to find medal in your modest collection . If it hadn't any discription on it's back it's the easyest medal to find.

Your (metal) badges are cap badges of the Infantry: 2nd line regiment (dragon, used since 1950 till disbanment) and 11th line regiment (shield and trees, used since 1949 till disbandment).

 

Vincent

Edited September 9, 2017 by VC89

[Farkas]

12 minutes ago, VC89 said:

Stuka is right. The medal is the Industry and Agricultural Decoration or under it's later name Decoration of Labour (medal is the same only the name changes) and has nothing to do with the army.

But on the bright side, it has the name of the maker on it's back (J. Fonson Brussels) wich makes it more uncommon (even rare) to find (even in Belgium). Someone told me this was done in the early 20th century, but I can't verify that.

Nevertheless with the discription on the back it's the hardest to find medal in your modest collection . If it hadn't any discription on it's back it's the easyest medal to find.

Your (metal) badges are cap badges of the Infantry: 2nd line regiment (dragon, used since 1950 till disbanment) and 11th line regiment (shield and trees, used since 1949 till disbandment).

 

Vincent

Hi Vincent

Thanks for your information on the badges. Nice to know what I have.

And....

The medal is now back in favour!

Thanks again

tony

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

after several years I’ve finally got a few things to add…

 

I’ve just picked up more empty boxes than I have medals for 😊

 

 

 

and a little while ago I picked up this battledress dated 1973 without details…

 

 

 

 

and this cap missing it’s badge dated 1964…

 

 

 

I think the shoulder lightning badge is signals 🤷‍♂️

The lightning badge looks a different age to the number 5.

 

Any thoughts welcome as always Gents.

 

cheers

tony

Edited April 12, 2023 by Farkas
Foolishness.

[Graf]

Nice boxes Congrats

[Farkas]

Normally I wait for things to arrive but I can’t wait…

I went looking for pretty things for my boxes and 👇

 

 

 

If I’m not mistaken the swords make it 1939 onward and the earlier design on the front before the 2 language design makes it pre 1951/2?

 

I didn’t know this at the time I just thought it looked great. Cost £22 +3post, I’d have paid more, the ribbon is great.

I didn’t care if it belonged in the blue box but I have just read the other box thread again and now think it might anyway.

 

So Gents, how did I do ??

 

tony

[Hendrik]

Hello Tony,

 

You are correct as to the time periods for crossed swords and bilingual motto but, unfortunately, the swords are not of the original official design. The sword blades are quite different as can be seen in the picture underneath.

 

Regards,

Hendrik

 

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

the good news is although the swords are not the correct design, they are the original ones belonging to this ribbon at least…

The ribbon has been reversed previously likely due to the fading and the swords are clearly outlined in both positions of wear.

 

In this picture it shows they were worn pointing down 👇 

In this one they are pointing up 👇

 

Maybe the different ways are unintentional but if intended is it possibly the reason for changing the ribbon round?

 

 

 

Although the swords are not the usual wider design they match those seen used elsewhere… 👇

So I’ve decided to arrange them like this for the time being, pointing up on the more faded position 

 

I think it’s a suitable filling for the box 👇.

 

tony

PS.  As usual, I’ve got carried away while looking at a new field of interest.

I’ve got 6 more since this one 🤷‍♂️
& Now I guess I need more boxes 😊

 

I’ll post some pictures of them shortly but in the meantime

I guess 3 are common but nice examples 

2 are better but have issues to address 

& 1 is hopefully a nice find 🤞I like it.

 

tony

[Graf]

Nice work Tony

[Farkas]

Thanks Graf 

[VC89]

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the wrong type of swords. Belgium was (and is) not that strict when it comes to medals and decorations and many variants do exist. So the wrong types of swords don't really mean that it is fake or added by the seller to get more money.

The swords should also be a later addition to the medal anyway. They were awarded for actions (war titles as they call it) during WW I but are created by Royal Decree in 1939 and the gilded ones by R.D. in 1971. I haven't seen the original publication of the R.D.(just the text), so I'm not sure if there is a drawing of the swords attached to it.

 

Even the later swords (40-45) have different versions. 

[Hendrik]

12 hours ago, VC89 said:

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the wrong type of swords. Belgium was (and is) not that strict when it comes to medals and decorations and many variants do exist.

I totally agree with the above and, furthermore, Royal Decrees and such can be misinterpreted and lead to variations of what is the "Order of Leopold II with swords" ...

 

 

Regards,

Hendrik

Edited May 15, 2023 by Hendrik

[Graf]

On 15/05/2023 at 03:52, VC89 said:

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the wrong type of swords. Belgium was (and is) not that strict when it comes to medals and decorations and many variants do exist. So the wrong types of swords don't really mean that it is fake or added by the seller to get more money.

The swords should also be a later addition to the medal anyway. They were awarded for actions (war titles as they call it) during WW I but are created by Royal Decree in 1939 and the gilded ones by R.D. in 1971. I haven't seen the original publication of the R.D.(just the text), so I'm not sure if there is a drawing of the swords attached to it.

 

Even the later swords (40-45) have different versions. 

I agree

[Graf]

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

These are the first 3 of my 6 newbies…

 

 

• The first was described as

’Belgian Congo Medal’

Early C20th Administrators Decoration.

• The next was described as

’King Leopold II Commemorative Medal’

These 2 were together, came from a house clearance not a dealer, and the ribbons are sown in the same manner. The commemorative medal to me would seem to be in suspiciously fresh condition if not for the above.

Is it reasonable to put them together or are they not of the same period? 

 

• The third was described as

‘Army Long Service Medal - Order of Leopold II Gold Class’

This one has a good weight and again a nicely faded ribbon

I know this is the pre 1951/52 design but is there any way to date it further please?

 

They all have a nice box to rest in…

(Incl. postage- £12 / £10 / £11)

 

Any thoughts welcome as always Gents,

cheers

tony

 

[Hendrik]

Hi Tony,

 

I strongly suggest paying a visit to http://www.medalcorner.fr/ ... For the above three, look under Belgium - Others and then Leopold II era.

 

Regards,

Hendrik

[Graf]

2 hours ago, Hendrik said:

Hi Tony,

 

I strongly suggest paying a visit to http://www.medalcorner.fr/ ... For the above three, look under Belgium - Others and then Leopold II era.

 

Regards,

Hendrik

Hi Tony

I also advice to to try to focus on certain Orders and periods and gradually build up your collection

 

 

Cheers

[VC89]

15 hours ago, Farkas said:

I know this is the pre 1951/52 design but is there any way to date it further please?

Between 1908 and 1951. 

 

If you are interested in Belgian medals/decorations, Hendrik's website is a very good one to identify and get a summary of the medal. For most collectors it got all the information they need. If you want to know more about them you're going to need to learn how to read French or Dutch 😋

 

For Belgian orders there is a good book in English called "The Spirit of the Lion, Orders of Belgium" by Antti Ruokonen.

 

There was also a website about the Military Decoration created by Guy Deploige (I think he's a member here too) but the link I saved is now invalid . Does anyone know if he has a new website/link?

[Graf]

2 hours ago, VC89 said:

Between 1908 and 1951. 

 

If you are interested in Belgian medals/decorations, Hendrik's website is a very good one to identify and get a summary of the medal. For most collectors it got all the information they need. If you want to know more about them you're going to need to learn how to read French or Dutch 😋

 

For Belgian orders there is a good book in English called "The Spirit of the Lion, Orders of Belgium" by Antti Ruokonen.

 

There was also a website about the Military Decoration created by Guy Deploige (I think he's a member here too) but the link I saved is now invalid . Does anyone know if he has a new website/link?

Very good points I also have problem opening this site Yes Guy is a member of this club  He is also involved in  the Royal  Military Museum in Brussels

Hi Tony,

Apart from the Hendrik site ,those are the books are also very good references if you want to get involved with Belgium Awards

[Farkas]

16 hours ago, Hendrik said:

Hi Tony,

 

I strongly suggest paying a visit to http://www.medalcorner.fr/ ... For the above three, look under Belgium - Others and then Leopold II era.

 

Regards,

Hendrik

Your site looks great Hendrik 👍👍

 

I’ll be back on there tonight 🍻

[VC89]

Took a look at my library and found another English book about Belgian medals:

• "Identification of the more common Medals of Belgium" by Daniel M. Byrne.

 

Simular to Hendrik's website but with less information, unclear pictures and it only goes as far as 1977. But it has a ribbon chart at the beginning, so it can help with identifying unknown belgian medals.

 

[Graf]

18 hours ago, VC89 said:

Took a look at my library and found another English book about Belgian medals:

• "Identification of the more common Medals of Belgium" by Daniel M. Byrne.

 

Simular to Hendrik's website but with less information, unclear pictures and it only goes as far as 1977. But it has a ribbon chart at the beginning, so it can help with identifying unknown belgian medals.

 

That could be a very nice and helpful Especially if has ribbon charts