The
Belgian War Cross
(Croix
De Guerre)
1914-1918
The
Belgian War Cross was
instituted on 25 October 1915 and could be awarded to foreign military
personnel. In addition to bravery, it was awarded to military personnel
with at least 5 front stripes (3 years of frontline duty), for good
conduct,
to volunteers either over 40 years or under 16 years old with at least
18 months of service in a combat unit, for escaped military personnel
who
re-entered the army or for military personnel who, through severe war
wounds,
were invalided out.
Devices
could be worn on
the ribbon when mentioned in the Order of the Day : a mention on Army
level
was recognized by a bronze palm with the letter "A" (King Albert I),
five
mentions on Army level by a silver palm while 5 silver palms were
replaced
by a gold one. A mention on regimental, brigade or divisional level was
recognized by bronze, silver or gilt lions.
In
some instances a small
version of the Belgian Orders' Fourragère can be worn on the
ribbon
as e.g. the Order of Leopold I Fourragère.
The
obverse of the cross,
which has crossed swords between the arms, shows a rampant lion in its
central medallion. The reverse is identical but for the replacement of
the lion by the royal cyper "A". The ribbon is red with five green
stripes.
References:
Special
thanks to Hendrik
Meersschaert for providing information about this medal.
For more
information on
Belgian medals, click HERE
to go to his website: Hendrik's Medal Corner.
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