The Lowdown on the Low Country

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:25pm #1

Belgium, most recently in the news for breaking the world record in government formation...ironically the motto of the country is "strength through unity". These days - anything but.
But...the place does have a rich history. Colonialism, two worlds wars, Korea, Nato HQ means a wealth of military awards and medals and mostly quite affordable. Throw the monarchy into the mix and you have knighthoods and civilian merit awards.

So below in this thread, some of the items I have collected on that country.

Il y a en Belgique, des Wallons et des Flamands; Il n'y a pas de Belges.
- Jules Destree

In Belgium, there are Walloons and Flemish. There are no Belgians.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:26pm

The commemoration medal of WW2 - this version, judging buy the tags on the ribbon, was awarded to a resistance fighter.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:30pm

The award to the political prisoner of WW2, the stars on the ribbon bar signify the length of time detained, each star equivalent to 6 months.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:34pm

This cross was awarded to persons deported during WW1 for forced labour. The horizontal arms of the cross bear the years of conflict 1914-1918.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:45pm

Awarded to the defenders of the city of Liege. the front contains the text "la ville de liége a ses vaillants defenseurs" - Liege and its valiant defenders.
The rear depicts a rather apocalyptic scene from the front line.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:48pm

Awarded to persons that volunteered for military service during WW2. The front side bears a volunteer with a backdrop of a large "V" (Vrijwilliger = Volunteer)

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:54pm

The centenary medal from foundation of the state in 1830 to first century celebrations of 1930. It show three Kings in profile, Leopold I, Leopold II (he of Congo infamy) and Albert I. The ribbon displays the national colours.

Just love the patina on this one, it was worth buying for that alone.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 8:59pm

The Order of Leopold II, in this case the variant is for a Knight. Crossed swords mean it was awarded during wartime.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 9:03pm

Awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy. If the deed was mentioned in the military dispatches, then a bronze palm was appended to the ribbon.

Jagdtiger · 03-07-2011 9:39pm

Some very nice medals there with great designs!

I've always wanted to get some more Belgian medals, but ended up getting

swept up into German imperialism.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 9:43pm

There will be more in the days ahead

Just picked up a batch and photographed them all!

Polish stuff - that is another country I want to collect more of.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:09pm

The Yser campaign medal from 1914 whereby the "race to the sea" was brought to an abrupt end and four years of stalemate and slaughter set in.

One of my favorite items, it is both ugly and strangely beautiful at the same time;

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:12pm

Awarded for acts of resistance to the occupying forces in 1940-1945. The ribbon colour is symbolic - black for occupation, red for the blood shed, green for hope.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:17pm

Commemorates the conflict of 1914 -1918 and awarded under the same conditions as the victory medal. I have two of these with different patinas.

Shiny like new:

Like an old copper 2 pence coin:

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:19pm

Awarded to those that came under fire on the front line. There are three versions of this medal, but the differences are very slight. It is a good solid piece, quite heavy and chunky.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:22pm

Standard allied WW1 victory medal with image of Victory with wings outstretched. As usual of the propaganda of the time, it was not a conflict, but the "big war for civilisation". This text is standard on the allied vitory medals.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:25pm

Medal for the deportees of WW2. This medal is unique among Belgian awards in that it contains a swastika. The imagery is clear, a worker is forceably seized and ordered to leave.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:27pm

Medal for donating blood and with extra pin! I am not normally into this type of thing but I find it looks amazing! Better designed and made than some military awards!

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:29pm

Awarded to those that resisted working for the occupier during WW2. Different ribbons are possible, green with white striopes means the recipient refused to perform military duries.

HerrScheisse · 03-07-2011 10:36pm

Labor Valorem Medal of the National Association of Former Prisoners of War thus non-official - this is available in gold, silver and bronze. Awarded to those that gave support, financial or social, to the prisoners of WW1 and WW2.

Morlar · 04-07-2011 2:21am

Those are very interesting, particularly liked the WW1 Victory one.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 5:48pm

Thanks Morlar!

MedalFuhrer was telling me of a plot to collect all the allied victory medals and I must admit, its a good idea. The one I posted contains the shields of 9 allied countries on the rear. I am not sure if all 9 issued victory medals? Anyone got any idea?

Jagdtiger · 04-07-2011 6:00pm

Here are is a list of the countries that issued a victory medal:

Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia (Serbia), France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Thailand (Siam), Union of South Africa and United States of America.

As far as I can remember the Cuban one is one of the hardest to get.

On a side note, Victory looks so much hotter on the Belgian victory medal

than on the British one...

arnhem44 · 04-07-2011 6:59pm

Brazil would be the hardest to come by and can set one back up to a thousand euros closely followed by Cuba often reaching prices in excess of six hundred from what I've seen.One word of warning though is that some of the medals in this series are copied quite often,Japan been one to be careful of.The South African version has the same front as the British medal but the revesre is different,the language is both in English and Dutch.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:03pm

Jagdtiger wrote: »

On a side note, Victory looks so much hotter on the Belgian victory medal

than on the British one...

She looks like Scarlet Johannsen with wings! MM MMM MMMMM...

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:05pm

arnhem44 wrote: »

One word of warning though is that some of the medals in this series are copied quite often,

That is another benefit of Belgian medals - they are not much copied since the excessive demand does not exist.

Good to know though, I was not aware of this, I always thought victory medals were so plentiful they would not be worth copying.

But if the price is high, the shysters are nigh!

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:14pm

Awarded for 25 years civic service. Bears the monogram of King Albert. Comes in two classes, second class is silver, and first class is gold.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:18pm

Awarded to military personnel for loyal service during the period 1909 and 1934.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:24pm

This medal commemorates 50 year anniversary of the 1918 armistice. It also bears the name of the coastal town of Nieuwpoort, where forms the mouth of the Yser river.

Quite an ugly medal actually. Ugly coloured ribbon, ugly design, everything about it is ugly!

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:25pm

Cross awarded to the forces of occupation of the Rhineland.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:27pm

Medal awarded to POWs during WW2. The bar on the ribbon denotes one year imprisonment.

HerrScheisse · 04-07-2011 10:32pm

Awarded in three classes, gold, silver and bronze.

MedalFuhrer · 05-07-2011 10:19pm

Wow Herr Scheisse, that is some Belgian collection that you have there now! I'm impressed!

Even thinking of the blood donor one, imagine how many years of donating blood that it would take to get awarded that medal!

HerrScheisse · 19-07-2011 10:11pm

This one just in - De Kroonorde - or Order of the Crown.

Founded by Leopold II of Congo fame. Or perhaps infamy. It has long since been accepted into the Belgian Chivalric Award system and comes in a broad variety of classes.

It can be awarded for multiple reasons, for commercial, industrial, artistic service to the country; It is also awarded for loyal service and long service in Africa.

This particular example I have is as awarded to a Knight. It comes from a collection of about 8 different awards to the same individual. They were sold seperately so the grouping is dispersed, scattered to the four winds as it were. I was happy to win the bid on this item.

MedalFuhrer won the Leopold II so maybe he will post it up, and also damn him for sneaking in that bid on me

The order was accompanied by an award diploma signed by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel, now an MEP. However I do not show the individuals name as it is quite recently awarded (anno 2000).

Its a beautiful piece, sturdy yet elegant. I might be tempted to wear it myself :pac:

Step23 · 21-07-2011 1:36pm

You have a very nice collection there Herr Scheisse, looking at all your nice Belgian awards makes me wish I hadn't sold all mine.

Stephen

MedalFuhrer · 24-07-2011 3:38am

Nice arty photos Herr Sheisse.

A few of my chocolate eater medals....

The Order of Leopold II with ribbon bar for service during WW2. I only got this last week so I am chuffed!

And documents.

HerrScheisse · 24-07-2011 9:03pm

That sure is a nice Leopold II, as perfect an example as you would find anywhere! Much cleaner than my sample.

But some shyster got in there before me

The first document is or the award of the order signed by the Foreign Minister.

The second document is for the award of the swords on the ribbon, it is from the Minister of Defense at the time. He served in the Verhofstadt government. Verhofstadt has since sought greener pastures on the European side of politics.

That's a keeper for sure!

PS That Leopold II is for a "Knight".

MedalFuhrer · 24-07-2011 9:31pm

Sweet! I must get you to fully translate the devil tongue for me. It is a beautiful medal and is pristine as are the documents. The only thing missing is the box for the medal.

HerrScheisse · 26-07-2011 10:15pm

Here is the "devil tongue" de-deviled for you

Kingdom of Belgium

The Minister of Defense has the honour to award
the distinguished insignia of two crossed swords
with bar 1940-1945 to...

Mister....

Holder of the Knight's Cross in the Order of Leopold II
and in recognition of services rendered to the country
during the conflict of 1940-1945.

Given with number 2814 on 27th April 2000

Minister of Defense

Andre Flahaut

HerrScheisse · 26-07-2011 10:28pm

Here is the award diploma:

Kingdom of Belgium

Diploma

On the proposition of the Minister of National Defence,
in the reign of his majesty the King Albert II,
in recognition of services rendered to the association
of former servicemen or assimilated, of combat veterans and war invalids, to confer by royal decree, the decoration of

Knight in the Order of Leopold II

to Mister...

Signed

Minister of Foreign Affairs

HerrScheisse · 27-07-2011 5:13pm

I made a small error on that second translation, it was late and the blood must have rushed to my head but it was the wrong head.

"Il a plu" I confused the verb “pleuvoir” meaning "rain" with "reign"...

It is actually from “plaire” meaning like / please.

So the correct translation is:

Kingdom of Belgium

Diploma

On the proposition of the Minister of National Defence,
it pleases his majesty the King Albert II,
in recognition of services rendered to the association
of former servicemen or assimilated, of combat veterans and war invalids, to confer by royal decree, the decoration of

Knight in the Order of Leopold II

to Mister...

Signed

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Erik Derycke

MedalFuhrer · 27-07-2011 5:32pm

HerrScheisse wrote: »

I made a small error on that second translation, it was late and the blood must have rushed to my head but it was the wrong head.

And did you pass out?

Thanks for the translation!

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 3:59pm

...went to the market :pac:

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:00pm

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:01pm

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:02pm

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:06pm

This medal was awarded to all who werved in the Belgian armed forces in Britain during World War II. The front side features a sword pointed upwards and the war years, the reverse a lion centrally located within the cross.

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:09pm

This semi-official badge was awarded to members of the Belgian Red Cross(Dutch: Rode Kruis) during the war years 1940-1945.

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:11pm

Similar to the Volunteers medal previously posted, the design is slightly different and the ribbon has the bar "Pugnator" which is Latin for "Combatant".

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:15pm

You get this one for paying your taxes loyally for 30 years :pac:

This version is first class, in box and with minitaure included.

HerrScheisse · 06-08-2011 4:20pm

The Lowdown on the Low Country

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