belgium Medals of Belgian Municipalities (WW I & II)

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After the war, many municipalities and cities awarded some medals to honor their combatants or victims of the war. These medals are not official and information about them is scarce. In this topic I show my own collection of them and share the information I have found.

Feel free to contribute your own pieces and/or information.

Ghent

Awarded by the city of Ghent during the "Gentse Feesten" (Eng: The Ghent Festival) of 1920, in presence of members of the royal family, to all WW1 combatants and deported of the city of Ghent. The medal was also awarded to the widows or the rightful claiments of a fallen soldier.

On of the shown pieces came in the box of the manufacturer "Jules Jooris".

 

Medal of the Three Cities (Ypres, Diksmuide and Nieuwpoort)

Created in 1955 and awarded by one of the three cities to combatants (usualy French or Belgian) who fought in their region. A bar with the name of the city is added on the ribbon of the medal. It is possible that one combatant has two or all three bars on the ribbon. 

 

Medal of Liège

Awarded in 1920 during a ceremony, with crown prince Leopold (later King Leopold III) en General Leman (Commander of the Fortifications of Liège in 1914), to the defenders of the fortifications around the city and to inhabitants of the city who were political prisoners and tried by a German Court.

 

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Frameries

The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the war.

 

Roeselare

The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the Armistice.

 

Wetteren

Awarded to their combatants. The date on the medal indicate a commemorative medal to the 50th anniversary of the Armistice.

 

Massemen

Awarded to the civilians of the municipality who were claimed by the Germans for forced labour.

 

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Jemeppe-sur-Meuse

Awarded to combatants of the municipality.

"Jemeppe S/M [sur-Meuse] in recognition to their combatants 1945"

 

St. Jean-Geest

"The Municipality of St. Jean-Geets Gratitude 1940-45"

 

Liège

The medal shows the city's gratitude towards their liberators (3th US Armored Divison) in the design of the medal. It shows the head of a G.I. with a laurel wreath on his helmet. To it's side it shows the Perron of Liège (symbol of the city) and the Statue of Liberty (symbol of America).

"City of Liège V [Victory] 1940 1945"