IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: Belgium

The Military Cross (Belgium)

The Military Cross (Croix Militaire / Militair Kruis) is a military long service decoration of Belgium established on 11 February 1885 by Royal Decree and awarded to commissioned officers in the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service or to Non-Belgian military officers for distinguished service in favor of the Military of Belgium.

The Military Cross, second class is awarded to Belgian military officers after 25 years of service. The Military Cross, first class is awarded to Belgian military officers after 25 years of service as a commissioned officer.

The award may be awarded to Commissioned Officers of non-Belgian armed forces for distinguished service towards the Belgian Defence. In such a case, the second class is awarded to officers below the rank of brigadier general. The first class is awarded to general officers.

The Military Cross Design

The award is a black enameled Maltese cross with a 1 mm gilt edge. The aarms end in eight 2 mm in diameter gilt spheres and gilt crossed swords pointing up are positioned between the arms of the cross.

The obverse central medallion bears the Belgian lion rampant, pre-1952, while the reverse bears the royal cipher of the reigning monarch. After 1952, the reverse is identical to the obverse.

The ribbon is green silk moiré and has two 5 mm wide red stripes set 1 mm from the ribbon’s edges. There’s a suspension ring passing through the orb of a pivot mounted crown.  The Military Cross First Class differs only from the second class award in the form of a rosette on the ribbon in the same colors as the ribbon.

The Military Decoration for Exceptional Service

The Military Decoration (Décoration Militaire / Militaire Ereteken) is a military award of the Kingdom of Belgium established on December 23, 1873 and awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service.

The Decoration is awarded in two classes: Military personnel below the rank of Officer are awarded the second class after ten years of service. Five years after the award, they are awarded the first class of the medal.

The Military Decoration for Exceptional Service Design

The award is a gilt cross pattée surmounted by the royal crown of Belgium with four rays between the cross arms.

The obverse bears a circular central medallion with a Belgian lion and a circular relief inscription: “Unity makes Strength” in French (“l’union fait la force”) or Dutch (since July, 8, 1952, “eendracht maakt macht”). The reverse is identical except for the central medallion, which bears the royal monogram of the reigning monarch surrounded by the relief inscription “ARMÉE * MÉRITE * ANCIENNETÉ” (“ARMY * MERIT * SENIORITY“).

Since July, 8, 1952, only a Belgian lion is depicted, without surrounding text or reference to the reigning monarch.

The ribbon is silk moiré of seventeen alternating longitudinal stripes of red, yellow and black. The medal is suspended by a ring through the suspension loop. A gilt inverted metal chevron is affixed to the ribbon of the award first class.

The Civic Decoration (Belgium)

The Civic Decoration (Décoration Civique / Burgerlijke Ereteken) is a civilian decoration of the Kingdom of Belgium first established on 21 July 1867 by royal decree to reward exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity.

A second royal decree of 15 January 1885 extended the award to state civil servants for long service, and it was once more amended by royal decree in 1902 to include long service in the Civic Guard and firefighters.

Two wartime variants were created to reward civilians who distinguished themselves during the World Wars.

The Civic Decoration is awarded in two categories:

  • The Civic Cross (First and a Second Class),
  • The Civic Medal (First, Second and Third Class).

The Civic Decoration Design

The badge of the Civic Cross is a white enameled maltese cross with the central medallion bearing the monogram of King Leopold I or of King Albert I on the obverse and reverse. Between the arms of the Cross are:

  • Crossed swords for the Civic Cross 1914–1918.
  • Crossed flaming torches for the Civic Cross 1940–1945.
  • A Burgundy Cross for the Civic Cross for administrative services and for services as a firefighter.

The ribbons differ with the type of award:

  • For long and distinguished service in the administration: Red with three vertical black stripes.
  • For exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity: Red with two vertical black stripes bordered on each side by a yellow line.
  • For long and distinguished service as a firefighter: Green with two vertical white stripes.
  • For the 1914–1918 award: Pale green with vertical black, yellow and red stripes on each edge and a central vertical gold stripe.
  • For the 1940–1945 award: Saffron with vertical black, yellow and red stripes on each edge and a central vertical black stripe.

The 1914-1918 Medal for National Restoration

The 1914-1918 Medal for National Restoration was instituted on 22 May 1928 and awarded for meritorious service in organizations rebuilding Belgium after the First World War.

The 1914-1918 Medal for National Restoration Design

The medal is circular and struck in bronze gilt designed by Alfonse “Alf” Mauquoy.

The obverse depicts a woman (representing Belgium), holding flowers, against a background of a city with a tower being repaired. The reverse shows the ruins of Ypres with the dates “1914” and “1918” and in a panel underneath, embellished by two oak leaves, the inscription: “SOUVENIR DE LA RESTAURATION NATIONALE” / “AANDENKEN VAN DE NATIONALE HERSTELLING“) (“In remembrance of the national restoration”).

The ribbon is red with two light blue edge stripes.

The Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food

The Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food was instituted on 31 May 1919 and awarded to those who had been active in the ‘National Committee’.

The Committee was able to direct aid and assistance to the neediest, operating under American protection and within the constraints of the occupying German forces. Much of Belgium was German-occupied from August 1914 and by the following month groups of civilian volunteers had sprung up to alleviate hunger and hardship. The Committee was also important politically and culturally in maintaining a Belgian civil identity through the period of occupation.

The Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food Design

The medal is circular and was engraved by Devresse. It’s divided into 4 classes, each struck in a different material:

  • 1st class: In gilded bronze and rosette ribbon.
  • 2nd class: In gilded bronze.
  • 3rd class: In silvered bronze.
  • 4th class: In bronze.

The ribbon is red with white edges.

The Queen Elisabeth Medal

The Queen Elisabeth Medal (Médaille de la reine Élisabeth / Koningin Elisabeth Medaille) is a Belgian decoration created in October 1916 by royal decree to recognize exceptional services to Belgium in the relief of the suffering of its citizens during the First World War.

The medal was awarded to people, both Belgians and foreign nationals, who, like Queen Elisabeth herself, had worked and cared for the suffering victims of war for a year or more prior to 10 September 1919.

The award wasn’t limited to the medical care of the sick and wounded and included people working in hospitals (they received a variant with a red enameled cross within the suspension wreath). Many Belgian and foreign doctors and nurses received the medal too.

The Queen Elisabeth Medal Design

The medal measures 36 mm (1.4 in) in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze (although many recipients opted for silver or gilt silver variants). It has four sections inset by 1 mm (0.039 in) giving it the slight outline of a cross and a slightly raised edge on both sides.

The obverse bears the relief right profile bust of Queen Elisabeth with the circular relief inscription “ÉLISABETH REINE DES BELGES“ (“ELISABETH QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS”). The reverse bears the relief image of a nurse sitting and holding an oil lamp with the circular inscription in Latin “PRO PATRIA HONORE ET CARITATE“ (“FOR COUNTRY HONOUR AND CHARITY”). Below are the years “1914 – 1916”.

The ribbon was 38 mm (1.5 in) wide silk moiré with 6 mm (0.24 in) wide pink edge stripes. The medal was suspended by a ring through a suspension loop; a laurel wreath with a hollow center served as the base for it. Awards made for services to wounded or invalided soldiers incorporated a red enameled cross within the wreath.

The King Albert Medal

The King Albert Medal (Médaille du Roi Albert / Koning Albert Medaille) is a Belgian medal established on 7 April 1919 by royal decree and awarded to people who were exceptionally meritorious in promoting, organizing or administering humanitarian and charitable work that assisted Belgians in need during the First World War.

The medal could be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners.

The King Albert Medal Design

The medal measures 35mm in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze. Its obverse bears a central medallion bearing the left profile of King Albert I with the inscription in French or in Dutch “ALBERT KING OF THE BELGIANS” (“ALBERT ROI DES BELGES” /ALBERT KONING DER BELGEN”) surrounded by a 5mm wide laurel wreath along the entire medal circumference.

On the reverse is the relief inscription on four lines in French or in Dutch “IN TESTIMONY OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION” (EN TEMOIGNAGE DE RECONNAISSANCE NATIONALE” / “ALS BLIJK VAN’S LANDS ERKENTELIJKHEID”) with the years “1914-1918” below.

The ribbon is 38mm wide dark red silk moiré and bears a single 3mm wide longitudinal central stripe in the national colors of Belgium (1mm red, 1mm yellow and 1mm black). The ribbon bears two such stripes if the recipients distinguished themselves in the covert resupply of occupied Belgium. The medal is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop.

The Deportees’ Cross 1914-1918

The Deportees’ Cross 1914–1918 (Croix des Déportés 1914–1918 / Weggevoerdenkruis 1914–1918) is a Belgian war medal established by royal decree on 27 November 1922 and awarded to Belgian citizens deported to Germany for forced labor during the First World War.

Deportees who died during their deportation were not awarded this cross, instead, they received the Order of Leopold II with the ribbon bearing a central longitudinal gold stripe.

The Deportees’ Cross 1914-1918 Design

The medal measures 38mm wide and is struck in bronze. It’s a cross pattée with identical plain obverse and reverse. The horizontal arms bear the relief inscription “1914” on the right arm and “1918” on the left arm.

The ribbon is 37mm wide dark red silk moiré adorned with 3mm chevrons in the national colors of Belgium. The cross is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop.

The Political Prisoner’s Medal 1914-1918

The Political Prisoner’s Medal 1914–1918 (Médaille du Prisonnier Politique 1914–1918 / Medaille van de Politieke Gevangene 1914–1918) is a Belgian medal established on 26 December 1930 by royal decree and awarded to Belgian civilians who were detained for a minimum of one month by the Germans during the First World War following an act of courage or devotion towards the Allies’ cause.

Recipients of this medal also automatically received the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal and the Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918.

The Political Prisoner’s Medal 1914-1918 Design

The medal measures 35 mm (1.4 in) in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze. Its obverse bears a 25 mm in diameter central medallion with the left profile of King Albert I and the inscription in French or in Dutch “ALBERT KING OF THE BELGIANS” (“ALBERT ROI DES BELGES” / “ALBERT KONING DER BELGEN”) surrounded by a 5mm wide laurel wreath along the entire medal circumference.

On the reverse of the central medallion, the relief inscription on four lines in French or in Dutch “IN TESTIMONY OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION” (“EN TEMOIGNAGE DE RECONNAISSANCE NATIONALE” / “ALS BLIJK VAN’S LANDS ERKENTELIJKHEID”) and the years “1914–1918” below.

The ribbon is 38mm wide light blue silk moiré and bears a single 4.5 mm (0.18 in) high horizontal central stripe in the national colors of Belgium (1.5 mm red, 1.5 mm yellow and 1.5 mm black). The medal is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop.

The Liège Medal

The Liège Medal is an unofficial World War I campaign medal issued by the city of Liège to its 1914 defenders against German invaders.

The Liège Medal (Médaille de Liège / Medaille van Luik) is an unofficial World War I campaign medal issued by the Belgian city of Liège to its 1914 defenders against the German invaders.

The medal was first issued in April 1920 during a large ceremony presided by the Duke of Brabant (later Leopold III) and Lieutenant General the Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman, military commander of the defense of Liège between 5th and 16th of August 1914. The medal was awarded to the military defenders of the city and later to residents of the city of Liège who were condemned to imprisonment by a German tribunal.

The Liège Medal Design

The medal measures 35mm in diameter and is circular and struck from bronze (although, being unofficial, some recipients had theirs gilded or silvered). It has a 2mm wide raised edge on both sides with laurel leaves along the entire circumference.

The obverse bears the relief image of the Liège Perron superimposed over a decoration akin the French Legion of Honour and bisecting the year “19” “14”. Along the circumference, a relief inscription reads “LA VILLE DE LIÈGE A SES VAILLANTS DEFENSEVRS” (“THE CITY OF LIÈGE TO ITS VALIANT DEFENDERS“). The reverse bears the relief image of a battle scene including soldiers fighting on near a partly destroyed bunker on the bank of the Meuse river.

The ribbon is a 38mm wide silk moiré half red and half yellow, the colors of the city of Liège. The medal is suspended by two interlocking rings, the lower one passing through a suspension loop on the top.