Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War
Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War
| Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War | |
|---|---|
**Awarded by Kingdom of Belgium** | |
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | Personnel of the Belgian Armed Forces, members of the Belgian Resistance, Belgian Merchant Navy personnel |
| Awarded for | Military service between 10 May 1940 and 7 May 1945 |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 16 February 1945 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Volunteer's Medal 1940–1945 |
| Next (lower) | Foreign Operational Theatres Commemorative Medal |
 Medal reverse  Ribbon bar | |
The Commemorative Medal of the 1940–45 War (French: Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45, Dutch: De Herinneringsmedaille van de Oorlog 1940–1945) was a military decoration of Belgium. It was established by royal decree of the Prince Regent on 16 February 1945 to recognise Belgian servicemen and women who served during World War II. It was also awarded to members of the Belgian Resistance and members of Belgium's Merchant Navy on the side of the Allies. Later decrees allowed for its award to foreign recipients of the Belgian Croix de Guerre.[1]
| Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War | |
|---|---|
| **Awarded byKingdom of Belgium** | |
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | Personnel of the Belgian Armed Forces, members of the Belgian Resistance, Belgian Merchant Navy personnel |
| Awarded for | Military service between 10 May 1940 and 7 May 1945 |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 16 February 1945 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Volunteer's Medal 1940–1945 |
| Next (lower) | Foreign Operational Theatres Commemorative Medal |
Medal reverse Ribbon bar | |
Award description
Insignia
The Commemorative Medal of the War 1940–1945 was a 38mm in diameter circular bronze medal, the obverse bore a large V for Victory sign with a relief roaring lion in the V, at lower left was the relief year "1940", at lower right the relief year "1945". A 3mm wide laurel wreath encircled the entire medal on both the obverse and reverse. On the reverse, within a 5mm wide raised circle, the relief inscriptions (French: MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE) within the upper half and (Dutch: HERINNERINGSMEDAILLE) in the lower half, in the center of the raised circle, two 3mm high raised horizontal bars positioned 8mm apart, the upper one bearing the relief inscription (French: DE LA GUERRE), the lower one bearing (Dutch: VAN DER OORLOG), at center, between the two horizontal bars, the relief years "1940–1945".[1]
The medal was suspended by a ring through a lateral suspension loop from a 37mm wide yellow silk moiré ribbon with 8mm wide edge stripes composed of 2mm wide stripes of yellow, black, white and black, the yellow being closest to the edges.[1]
Ribbon devices
Many ribbon devices are allowed for wear:[1]
crossed sabres denoting combat service in the 1940 campaign or service in the armed resistance,
crossed anchors denoting naval combat service,
crossed lightning flashes denoting service in intelligence,
a small lion denoting a mention in dispatches,
a red enamelled cross denoting a combat wound,
bronze bars denoting years as a POW,
a star denoting colonial troops,
a crown denoting a volunteer,
multiple campaign clasps (some straight, some elliptical): Straight clasps: Ardennes Ardennes Belges Atlantique Nord Bataille D'Angelterre Battaille de Belgique 1940 Beauquesne Belgique Campagne D'Allemagne Campagne De Hollande Canal Albert Canal Albert-Kanne Canal De Terneuzen Canal de Wessem Dieppe Emden Escaut Flandres 1940 Frontiere Italie Knesselare La Dendre 1940 La Gette La Lys 1940 Liege 1940 Manche Namur 1940 Nevele Normandie Oldenburg Ronsele Vinkt Walcheren Winterbeek Yougoslavie Zelzate Zwijndrecht Elliptical clasps: Allemagne 1944–1945 France 1944 Pays-Bas 1944–1945 Tchecoslovaquie 1945 Ardennes 1944–1945
Notable recipients (partial list)
The individuals listed below were awarded the Commemorative Medal of the War 1940–1945:[2]
Lieutenant General Baron Charles de Cumont
Lieutenant General Albert Baron Crahay
Cavalry Lieutenant General Marcel Jooris
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
Major General Maurice Jacmart
Divisional Admiral Léon Lurquin
Aviator Vice Admiral Sir André Schlim
Cavalry Major General Jules François Gaston Everaert
Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Piron
Lieutenant General Jules Joseph Pire
Cavalry Lieutenant General Sir Maximilien de Neve de Roden
Lieutenant General Alphonse Verstraete
Major General Baron Georges Danloy
Lieutenant General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-Walcourt
Lieutenant General Joseph Leroy
Cavalry Lieutenant General Jules De Boeck
François Ernest Samray[3]
Lieutenant General Fernand Vanderhaeghen
Lieutenant General Robert Oor
Lieutenant General Libert Elie Thomas
Lieutenant General Léon Bievez
Cavalry Major General Baron Beaudoin de Maere d'Aertrycke
Major General Lucien Van Hoof
Major General Jean Buysse
Major General Paul Jacques
Commodore Georges Timmermans
Aviator Major General Norbert Leboutte
Police Lieutenant General Louis Joseph Leroy
Police Lieutenant General Oscar-Eugène Dethise
Chaplain General Louis Kerremans
Count Pierre Harmel
Lucienne Marie Adans[4]
See also
List of Orders, Decorations and Medals of the Kingdom of Belgium