The Victory Medal is the Belgian variant of the
Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 (, ) was a
Belgian commemorative war
medal
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...
established by
royal decree
A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...
on 15 July 1919 and awarded to all members of the
Belgian Armed Forces
The Belgian Armed Forces (; , ) are the combined national military forces of Belgium. The Monarchy of Belgium, King of the Belgians is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Belgian Armed Forces was established after Belgium Belgian Rev ...
who served during the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
Later
royal decree
A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...
s enlarged the list of potential recipients to include service in African campaigns and under special circumstances, to members of the merchant navy and fishing fleet. In all, 350,000 were awarded.
[
The Belgian sculptor ]Paul Du Bois
Paul Du Bois (; 1859–1938) was a Belgian sculptor and medalist, born in Aywaille, and died in Uccle, a municipality of Brussels (Belgium).
Du Bois was a student of Eugène Simonis and Charles van der Stappen. He studied from 1877 to 1 ...
was responsible for the design.
Award description
The Belgian Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 was a 36 mm in diameter circular gilt bronze medal. Its obverse
The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...
bore a winged victory
The ''Winged Victory of Samothrace'', or the ''Niké of Samothrace'', is a Votive offering, votive monument originally discovered on the island of Samothrace in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Helleni ...
standing on a globe, her arms and wings spread out, looking down at Earth. The reverse bore, superimposed over a laurel wreath, the coats of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic ac ...
of the Allies
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are calle ...
, starting at center top and going clockwise, French Third Republic
The French Third Republic (, sometimes written as ) was the system of government adopted in France from 4 September 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed during the Franco-Prussian War, until 10 July 1940, after the Fall of France durin ...
, United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From Japan–Kor ...
, Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece (, Romanization, romanized: ''VasÃleion tis Elládos'', pronounced ) was the Greece, Greek Nation state, nation-state established in 1832 and was the successor state to the First Hellenic Republic. It was internationally ...
, Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
, Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
, Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...
, United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, and at center, the Royal Coat of Arms of Belgium. Along the outer circumference, the relief bilingual inscription in French and Dutch "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION" (, ).
Notable recipients (partial list)
The individuals listed below were awarded the Belgian Inter-Allied Victory Medal:Antonin de Selliers de Moranville
Antonin Leonard Maurice Ghislain, Knight de Selliers de Moranville (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode 1852 – Ixelles 1945) was a Belgian military officer.
Early life
He was born into a Catholic noble family; his father was Léonard de Selliers de Moranvi ...
*Lieutenant General Baron Louis de Ryckel
*Lieutenant General Baron Émile Dossin de Saint-Georges
*Lieutenant General Baron Honoré Drubbel
* Lieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman
*Lieutenant General Victor Bertrand
* Lieutenant General Baron Jules Jacques de Dixmude
*Lieutenant General Georges Guiette
* Lieutenant General Albert Lantonnois van Rode
* Lieutenant General Baron Armand de Ceuninck
*Lieutenant General Aloïs Biebuyck
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Léon de Witte de Haelen
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Vicount Victor Buffin de Chosal
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Jules De Blauwe
* Major General Doctor Antoine Depage
* Major General Baron Edouard Empain
Plk. gst. Jaroslav Hajicek (Czechoslovakia)
See also
* Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium
Belgium has established numerous orders of knighthood, decorations and medals since its creation in 1830.
Below is a list of those awards.
The order of precedence is difficult to establish as Belgium does not keep an up-to-date listing with dormant ...
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
Bibliothèque royale de Belgique
(In French)
(In French)
(In French and Dutch)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914-1918 (Belgium)
Armed Resistance 1940-1945, Medal of the
Military awards and decorations of Belgium
Awards established in 1919
Interallied Victory Medals of World War I
1919 establishments in Belgium