The Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1918 War (French: Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914–1918, Dutch: Oorlogsherinnerinsmedaille 1914–1918) was a Belgian commemorative war medal established by royal decree on 21 July 1919 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces who served during the First World War that were eligible for the inter-allied victory medal.
The Belgian 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal was struck from bronze, it was 47 mm high by 31 mm wide, triangular shaped and with rounded sides. On its obverse, the relief left profile of a helmeted soldier within a 29 mm in diameter circular recess, the helmet adorned with laurels. Between the circular recess and the bottom left corner of the medal, the relief date "1914", in the lower right corner, the relief date "1918". In the upper point of the triangle, above the circular recess, the relief images of a lion rampant with an oak branch to its left and a laurel branch to its right. On the reverse, near the top, the relief image of a crown surrounded by the same branches as the lion on the obverse, below the crown, the relief semi circular inscription in French on two rows over the large relief dates "1914 – 1918", "MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE / DE LA CAMPAGNE", the inscription repeated in Dutch below the dates "HERDENKINGSMEDAILLE / VAN DEN VELDTOCHT" (COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF THE 1914 – 1918 CAMPAIGN).
Ribbon and devices
The medal was suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a 39 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with an 11 mm wide central yellow stripe bordered by 1 mm wide black stripes.
Multiple devices were allowed for wear on the ribbon:
A crown for volunteers;Silver bars, the 1st bar denoting a year at the front, consecutive individual silver bars denoting additional periods of six months at the front;Gold bar, worn in lieu of five silver bars;A red enamelled cross for each wound received in combat;Naval anchor, for sailors also awarded the "Maritime Decoration";"1916-R-1917" or "1916-R-1918" clasps to members of the Expeditionary Corps to Russia.The individuals listed below were awarded the 1914–1918 Commemorative War Medal:
Lieutenant General Alphonse Ferdinand TrommeCavalry Lieutenant General Marcel JoorisMajor General Maurice JacmartLieutenant General Jean-Baptiste PironLieutenant General Jules Joseph PireCavalry Lieutenant General Sir Maximilien de Neve de RodenCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Victor Van Strijdonck de BurkelLieutenant General Georges DeffontaineLieutenant General Alphonse VerstraeteLieutenant General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-WalcourtLieutenant General Joseph LeroyCavalry Lieutenant General Jules De BoeckLieutenant General Fernand VanderhaeghenLieutenant General Robert OorLieutenant General Libert Elie ThomasLieutenant General Léon BievezCavalry Major General Baron Beaudoin de Maere d'AertryckeMajor General Lucien Van HoofMajor General Jean BuysseMajor General Paul JacquesCommodore Georges TimmermansAviator Major General Norbert LebouttePolice Lieutenant General Louis Joseph LeroyPolice Lieutenant General Oscar-Eugène DethiseChaplain General Louis KerremansLieutenant General Harry JungbluthCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Albert du Roy de BlicquyLieutenant General Sir Antonin de Selliers de MoranvilleLieutenant General Baron Louis de RyckelLieutenant General Baron Émile Dossin de Saint-GeorgesLieutenant General Baron Honoré DrubbelLieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu LemanLieutenant General Victor BertrandLieutenant General Baron Jules Jacques de DixmudeLieutenant General Georges GuietteLieutenant General Albert Lantonnois van RodeLieutenant General Baron Armand de CeuninckLieutenant General Aloïs BiebuyckCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Léon de Witte de HaelenCavalry Lieutenant General Vicount Victor Buffin de ChosalCavalry Lieutenant General Jules De BlauweMajor General Doctor Antoine DepageMajor General Baron Edouard Empain
