1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal
The 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal (French: Médaille du Combattant Militaire de la Guerre 1940–1945, Dutch: "Medaille van de Militaire Strijder 1940–1945") was a Belgian war medal established by royal decree on 19 December 1967 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces who fought from the United Kingdom during the Second World War.[1]
| 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal | |
|---|---|
 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal (obverse) | |
| Type | War medal |
| Awarded for | Combat duty during the Second World War |
| Presented by |  Kingdom of Belgium |
| Eligibility | Belgian citizens |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Established | 19 December 1967 |
 Reverse | |
Award description edit
The 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal is a 38mm wide bronze Greek cross with semi-circular protrusions filling the gaps between the arms up to 3mm from the cross arms' ends. The obverse bears the relief image of a "lion rampant" at the centre of the cross. The reverse bears a vertical broadsword bisecting the years "1940" and "1945" inscribed in relief.[1]
The medal is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop from a 36mm wide silk moiré ribbon. The colours of the ribbon are divided as follows from the left to the right edge: 6mm green, 2mm red, 3mm yellow, 2mm black, 1 cm yellow, 2mm black, 3mm yellow, 2mm red, 6mm green.[1]
Notable recipients (partial list) edit
The individuals listed below were awarded the 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal:[2]
- Lieutenant General Roger Dewandre
- Lieutenant General Ernest Engelen
- Lieutenant General Sir Louis Teysen
- Lieutenant General Constant Weyns
- Police Lieutenant General August Van Wanzeele
- Aviator Lieutenant General Armand Crekillie
- Aviator Vice Admiral Sir André Schlim
- Cavalry Major General Jules François Gaston Everaert
- François Ernest Samray[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Royal Decree of 19 December 1967 creating the 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal". Belgian Defence Ministry. 19 December 1967.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Recipients of the 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal compiled from the ARS MORIENDI web site" (in French). ARS MORIENDI. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ Royal decree 19-12-1967
Other sources edit
- Quinot H., 1950, Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition. (Hasselt)
- Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)
- Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830–1985 (Brussels)
External links edit
- Bibliothèque royale de Belgique (In French)
- Les Ordres Nationaux Belges (In French)
- ARS MORIENDI Notables from Belgian history Archived 6 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (In French and Dutch)