Bill's Belgian Medals

A Family Tribute The Hick Family

    This group of medals is an
    exceptional acquisition – it a family
    group comprising father, mother and
    son.

    They were all members of the Secret
    Army in Belgium during World War 2,
    but tragically father and son both
    died in different concentration camps
    during early 1945.

    I was fortunate in acquiring, not only
    their medals (many of them awarded
    posthumously), but also a vast
    quantity of supporting
    documentation, certificates,
    membership cards, and brassards.

    But the biggest surprise was the
    purchase of another "Death Pillow"
    used to display their medals,
    following only weeks after I had
    purchased a similar Death Pillow at
    Wavre.

    This superb long service group of medals belonged to Pierre Hick - the father, who clearly had a distinguished
    career in the Army during World War 1 and beyond.  This exceptional group of 19 orders and medals include the
    following:

    Officer of the Order of Leopold 1 with Palm (Posthumous)
    Officer of the Order of Leopold 2 with Crossed Swords (Posthumous)
    Knight of the Order of Leopold 1 (Military Division)
    Knight of the Order of the Crown
    Knight of the Order of Leopold 2
    Gilt Palms of the Order of the Crown
    Gold medal Order of Leopold 2
    Croix de Guerre with Palm (Albert WW1)
    Croix de Guerre with Palm (Leopold 3) (Posthumous)
    Armed Resistance Medal (Posthumous)
    Yser Medal
    Croix de Feu
    Political Prisoner's Cross 1940-45 (Posthumous - entitled to 3 stars)
    Volunteer medal Bar Pugnator (Posthumous)
    Victory Medal 1914-18
    Commemorative Medal 1914-18 with 1 gilt bar and 2 silver bars - 3 years 6 months active service.
    1940-45 Commemorative Medal with Crossed Sabres (Posthumous)
    Military Decoration (Albert)
    Commemorative Medal 100 Years National Independence

    The group of medals to the right belonged
    to the son,Victor Hubert Maria Hick, and
    were awarded posthumously.

    Knight of the Order of Leopold 2 with clasp
    Croix de Guerre with clasp
    Resistance Medal
    Political Prisoner Cross (entitled to 3 stars)
    Volunteer Medal (Bar Pugnator)
    1940-45 Commemorative Medal with
    Crossed Sabres
Bill's Belgian Medals


    This posthumous citation from the
    Secret Army for Pierre Hick loosely
    reads:

    "Died gloriously for King and Country on
    31.3.45"

    "A member of the Resistance who had
    the blood of our fathers in his veins.  

    He joined the ranks without fear and
    acted against the enemy and his
    henchmen, despite the enormous and
    continuous danger of our clandestine
    actions.  

    He made continuous efforts to enlarge
    our team.  

    He can be called a real patriot and made
    the highest sacrifice: his life.  

    He died as a martyr in the concentration
    camp of Saal-am-Donau."


    This posthumous citation from the Secret
    Army for Victor Hick loosely reads:

    "Mention in dispatches"

    "For the following reason: excellent soldier of
    the Secret Army.  

    He participated with success in clandestine
    actions against the enemy.  

    He showed courage and self-sacrifice during
    his tasks.  

    He didn't spare any effort to serve his country
    and king.  

    He has played his part in the final victory and
    made the ultimate sacrifice, his life.

    He died as a martyr in the concentration camp
    of Ganacker on 5.4.45."


    After the end of the war, and
    following the loss of her husband
    and son, Mevrouw Anna Hick
    maintained active contact with
    many veterans associations,
    including:

    the Confédération Nationale des
    Prisonniers Politiques et Ayants
    Droit de Belgique,

    the Union des Fraternelles de
    l'Armée Secrete,

    the Fédération Nationale des
    Combattants de Belgique,

    the Nationale Unie der Moeders en
    Vrouwen van Terechtgestelde en
    van Overleden Politieke
    Gevangenen

    the Fédération Royale Les
    Vétérans de Roi Albert Ier  and

    the Federation Nationale des
    Militaires Mutiles & Invalides de la
    Guerre

    (the latter like her husband Pierre).

    All of the family medals - 31 in total - come with the original certificates and some are framed.

    The two groups of medals and certificates above belonged to the wife, Mevrouw Anna-Isabella Hick-Schaevers and
    were awarded by Stad Hasselt, Provincie Limburg - the bronze medal in 1972, and silver medals in 1980 and 1988.

    The Hick family association with the Secret Army continued for many years after the end of WW2, as Mevrouw Anna
    Hick was awarded the Silver Medal of the Union des Fraternelles de L'Armée Secrete (U.F.A.S.) - Secret Army in
    January 1959 for work for the Limburg Sector, Zone II during the war. She subsequently received the Silver Cross
    with two stars in June 1971 and finally was awarded the Gold Cross in September 1980.
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Last Updated 17 November 2007

    This a just a fraction of a range of membership cards for the Hick family dating from just after WW1 until the 1980'2
    and includes posthumous Armée Secréte membership cards for Pierre and Victor Hick .

    The brassards and affiliation cards to the Secret Army were included with the mass of material relating to the Hick
    family.