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Belgian Medal Groups

Some notes on Belgian Medal s and Groups.
 
Provenance/Attribution.  Belgian Orders, Decorations and Medals are generally issued un-named, so it is important that other supporting documentation such as Presentation Certificates or named Presentation Medals accompany the group to give it the proper provenance and attribution.  At the end of WWI, large, non-portable, bronze medallions were issued to holders of the "Carte du Feu" (Fire Card which was replaced in the 1930's by the wearable "Fire Cross" for soldiers who had spent a minumum of 6 months at the Front in the "Firing Line").  Registers (see also below) that recorded each award of the "Carte du Feu" medal have been consulted and are refered to as confirmation of wartime medal entitlements.  These, and other named medals, or award documents, letters. etc typically provide a group's attribution.  (see below for Crossed Swords awards on the ribbons of National Orders)
 
Crossed Swords on Ribbon.  Belgian Orders with crossed swords on their ribbons indicate bestowal of the Order on the individual veteran after a passage of years from the end of the war.  A complicated mathematical formula in used with points for time at the front, wounds, gallantry awards, citations, good conduct, etc and are commemorative of the soldier's war service and an expression of national gratitude.  Awarded over a period of up to 35 years or longer following the end of the War, they were awarded in reverse order of seniority within the National Chivalric System i.e. Order of Leopold II, Order of the Crown and finally the Order of Leopold.  Ocassionally, there may be  promotions within the Order i.e. from Knight, to Officer, etc. 
 
Register of the "Carte du Feu" .   These books were published following the end of WWI up to the outbreak of WWII when they were discontinued.  These registers record a soldier's wartime awards but do not include awards issued for commemorative purposes, such as National Orders with Crossed Swords on their ribbons.  If individuals qualified for an entry in the "Carte du Feu" Book, they would have had to have completed more that 6 months front line service.  In 1934 the non-portable Carte du Feu medallion was converted into the Fire Cross wearing medal.
 
Yser Medal and Yser Cross.  The initial award to combattants of the Yser campaign was in the form of a bronze medal.  Years later, the medal was elevated to the status of a Cross and the wear of the re-designed Yser Cross was authorised.  However, as the individual was obliged to purchase the replacement medal, almost no one did and the soldiers continued to wear the originally issued round medal.
 
 
 
 

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Group of 9. Belgium Infantry Officer WWI.  Belgium WWI Gallantry and Campaign Group of 9 Medals to Lieutenant Jean Laperre, 11th Infantry Regiment.

Well-documented, full-size medal group (8 military awards and 1 large bronze non-portable medal comprising: 1. Order of Leopold (Grade of Chevalier) with swords for War Service; 2.  Order of the Crown (Chevalier) with swords for War Service; 3. Order of Leoplod II (Chevalier) with swords for War Service; 4. Croix de Guerre with 2 Palms (Gallantry); 5. Fire Cross (for more than 6 months in the Firing Line (Trenches); 6. Battle of Yser Medal; 7. Allied Victory Medal; 8. Belgian War Medal.  Large, 70 mm diametre, non-portable Bronze Recognition Medal of the Union Federale des Anciens Combattants (Fedal Union of War Veterans)engraved with the name "M. LAPPERRE, JEAN. FRATERNELLE DU 11E DE LIGNE (Brotherhood of the 11th Infantry).  Note: there is a minor file mark at 2 o'clock reverse edge of large bronze medal.  Surname "Lapperre" shown in two forms - one "p" on regimental roll and 2 "p"'s on medal, however he is the only man of this name in the regiment (complete page of regimental nominal roll included) so no question that this is the same officer. Lovely group of medals to a Belgian officer present at the first battles of 1914, fought  in the hell of the trenches in Flanders on the Western Front for over FOUR years and, though wounded one time, SURVIVED to see the final defeat of the German Army in November 1918.  This group is fully documented with copies of Lieutenant Laperre's service record as it appeared in the 11th Infantry Regiment's History in the Belgian Army records published in the "Livre D'Or de la Carte du Feu" (roughly translated as the "Honour Roll of the Fire Cross (Front Line) Soldiers"), 1933-4. (Extracts enclosed including with list of his awards documented in abbreviated form underneath.  Also included with this group is a professionally prepared display summary of Lieutenant Laperre's service history, suitable for framing (8.5 inches X 11 inches) on high quality card-stock bond. The Belgian Army fought side by side with their Allies - British, French and American soldiers and earned the respect of friend and foe alike for their courage, endurance and group to one of the real heroes of the Great War, the junior officer that endured the horrors of trench warfare.  A rarely seen group from one of the smaller Allied nations that held a vital sector of the Western Front throughout the Great War.  Medals are in excellent condition.  $700

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Medal Group of 8 War Medals and 1 large bronze "Carte du Feu" Medallion to Private Frans Coenye, 11th Infantry Regiment.

Well-documented, full-size medal group (8 military awards and 1 large bronze non-portable medal comprising: 1. Order of Leopold (Grade of Chevalier, Military Division) with swords for War Service; 2.  Order of the Crown (Chevalier) with swords for War Service; 3. Order of Leoplod II (Chevalier) with swords for War Service; 4. Croix de Guerre with  Palm (Gallantry); 5. Fire Cross (for more than 6 months in the Firing Line (Trenches); 6. Voluntary Combattant Medal; 7. Allied Victory Medal; 8. Belgian War Medal (6 Front Stripes).  Large, 65 mm diametre, non-portable Bronze "Carte du Feu/vuurkart" medallion engraved with the name "COENYE, FRANS".   Of interest is that the obverse of the medal is the French Version and the reverse is the Flemish language version.  These are normally in one language or the other, not both.  Lovely group of medals to a Belgian soldier that  fought  in the hell of the trenches in Flanders on the Western Front for over THREE years andSURVIVED to see the final defeat of the German Army in November 1918.  This group is fully documented with copies of his service record as it appeared in the 13th Infantry Regiment's History in the Belgian Army records published in the "Livre D'Or de la Carte du Feu" (roughly translated as the "Honour Roll of the Fire Cross (Front Line) Soldiers"), 1933-4. (Extracts enclosed including with list of his awards documented in abbreviated form underneath.  Copy of 13th Infantry's history (1 page, in French but with dates and places easily recognisable also included, but not shown here).  Also included with this group is a professionally prepared display summary of  his service history, suitable for framing (8.5 inches X 11 inches) on high quality card-stock bond. The Belgian Army fought side by side with their Allies - British, French and American soldiers and earned the respect of friend and foe alike for their courage, endurance and group to one of the real heroes of the Great War, the "ordinary soldier" that endured the horrors of trench warfare.  A rarely seen group from one of the smaller Allied nations that held a vital sector of the Western Front throughout the Great War.  Medals are in excellent condition.  $650

 

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Tim Gushue * P.O. Box 344 * Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 * Canada