1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal

1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal

1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal (obverse)
Awarded by Kingdom of Belgium
Type War medal
Eligibility Belgian citizens
Awarded for Military Service during World War 1
Status No longer awarded
Statistics
Established 21 July 1919

Reverse of the medal

Ribbon bar
World War 1 Belgian infantry officer Ivan Colmant, a recipient of the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal
Major General Baron Edouard Empain, a recipient of the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal
Lieutenant General Baron Léon de Witte de Haelen, a recipient of the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal

The 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal (French: Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914–1918, Dutch: Oorlogsherinnerinsmedaille 1914–1918) was a Belgian commemorative war medal established by royal decree on 21 July 1919 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces who served during the First World War that were eligible for the inter-allied victory medal.[1]

Medal description

The Belgian 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal was struck from bronze, it was 47 mm high by 31 mm wide, triangular shaped and with rounded sides. On its obverse, the relief left profile of a helmeted soldier within a 29 mm in diameter circular recess, the helmet adorned with laurels. Between the circular recess and the bottom left corner of the medal, the relief date "1914", in the lower right corner, the relief date "1918". In the upper point of the triangle, above the circular recess, the relief images of a lion rampant with an oak branch to its left and a laurel branch to its right. On the reverse, near the top, the relief image of a crown surrounded by the same branches as the lion on the obverse, below the crown, the relief semi circular inscription in French on two rows over the large relief dates "1914 – 1918", "MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE / DE LA CAMPAGNE", the inscription repeated in Dutch below the dates "HERDENKINGSMEDAILLE / VAN DEN VELDTOCHT" (COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF THE 1914 – 1918 CAMPAIGN).[1]

Ribbon and devices

The medal was suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a 39 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with an 11 mm wide central yellow stripe bordered by 1 mm wide black stripes.[1]

Multiple devices were allowed for wear on the ribbon:[1]

Notable recipients (partial list)

The individuals listed below were awarded the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal:[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Royal Decree of 21 July 1919 creating the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal". Belgian Defence Ministry. 1919-07-21.
  2. ↑ "Recipients of the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal compiled from the ARS MORIENDI web site" (in French). ARS MORIENDI. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.

Other sources

External links