| 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. |
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 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 |
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. |
| 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. |
