The 1870–71 Commemorative Medal (french: Médaille Commémorative 1870–71, nl, Herinneringsmedaille 1870–71) was a Belgian

campaign medal A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of an armed force who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater. Campaign medals are very similar to service medals but carry a high ...

established by royal decree on 20 September 1911 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Army who were mobilized during the period from 15 July 1870 to 5 March 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War.

Award description

The 1870–71 Commemorative Medal was a 32mm in diameter circular bronze medal with raised edges on both sides. Its obverse bore the

escutcheon Escutcheon may refer to: * Escutcheon (heraldry), a shield or shield-shaped emblem, displaying a coat of arms * Escutcheon (furniture), a metal plate that surrounds a keyhole or lock cylinder on a door * (in medicine) the distribution of pubic ha ...

of the Coat of arms of Belgium under a royal crown. To the left and right, along the circumference of the medal, the relief inscription "L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" ("Strength through unity"). The reverse bore a stylised relief capital letter A, the monogram of King

Albert I of Belgium Albert I (8 April 1875 – 17 February 1934) was King of the Belgians from 23 December 1909 until his death in 1934. Born in Brussels as the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-S ...

over the years 1870–71 also inscribed in relief. The medal was suspended by a ring through the suspension loop from a 35mm wide silk moiré ribbon divided into seven equal 5mm wide longitudinal stripes, black, light green, red, light green, red, light green and black.

Notable recipients (partial list)

The individuals listed below were awarded the 1870–71 Commemorative Medal: *Lieutenant General Harry Jungbluth *Lieutenant General Sir Antonin de Selliers de Moranville * Lieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman *Lieutenant General Georges Guiette * Lieutenant General Albert Lantonnois van Rode *Cavalry Lieutenant General Fernand du Roy de Blicquy * Lieutenant General Baron Théophile Wahis *Lieutenant General Louis Cuvelier *Lieutenant General Baron Albert Donny *Lieutenant General Emile Libbrecht *Cavalry Lieutenant General Count Frédéric van der Stegen de Putte *Cavalry Major General Count Théodore-Louis d’Oultremont *Major General Louis Mory *Lieutenant General Charles-Marie Braconnier *Lieutenant General Firmin Joseph de Bray *Lieutenant General Auguste Alexandre Corneille De Ceuninck *Lieutenant General Constant Joseph Alfred Demarest *Lieutenant General Henri Pierre Lambert George *Lieutenant General Joseph Hellebaut *Lieutenant General Augustin Houbion *Lieutenant General Jacques Eugène Muller *Lieutenant General Paul Timmermans *Lieutenant General Alexandre Cousebandt d’Alkemade *Lieutenant General Count de T’Serclaes de Wommersom *Lieutenant General Henri Louis Laurent Clooten *Cavalry Colonel Baron Raoul Snoy

References

Other sources

* 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

Les Ordres Nationaux Belges
(In French)

(In French)

(In French and Dutch) {{DEFAULTSORT:1870-71 Commemorative Medal Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium Military awards and decorations of Belgium Awards established in 1911 1911 establishments in Belgium Aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War Campaign medals

Award description

Notable recipients (partial list)

See also

References

Other sources

External links