Bill's Belgian Medals

Lifesaving Medals Page 2
    Medals for Courageous Acts, Dedication and Humanity

    When Belgium gained independence in September 1830, the Dutch custom of awarding medals for courage,
    dedication and humanity was continued. These initially took the form of Table medals in gold, silver or bronze
    with the effigy of the new monarch, King Leopold I.

    Medals worn on the chest first appeared when the table medals were surrounded by a metal circle of the same
    material as the medal and attached to a ribbon with the Belgian national colours, of a central black stripe with
    side stripes in yellow and red. In the early 1840's the first medals were produced with a ball and ring
    suspension. A mural crown suspension was soon produced by some medal manufacturers.

    Several decrees detailed size and other medal specifications; however, a number of varieties existed prompting
    a Royal Decree on April 19, 1849 in which the mural crown suspension was officially instituted. The bronze
    medal apparently disappeared. When King Leopold I died in 1865, a new medal with the image of his successor,
    Leopold II. However, in 1867, Leopold II instituted the Civic Decoration and this medal was rendered obsolete
    and thus these medals are very rare.

    The Medal for Courageous Acts, Dedication and Humanity was awarded for an act of courage, devotion to duty
    or courage requiring an individual to put their life at risk.
A pair of lifesaving medals awarded to V.Chiry and to P.C.Claes during the reign of Leopold II.
Lifesaving medals awarded to J.Bruyninche during the reign of King Albert and to the Baron Sigismond of
Konigsbrunn during the reign of Leopold II.
Lifesaving medals awarded to A.Pequignot and to C.Cliquet during the reign of Leopold II.
Lifesaving medals awarded to E.H.J.Roels and to L.Verbehen during the reign of Leopold II.
    Lifesaving medals awarded to A.Neyts during the reign of King Albert and to the P.Sorel during the reign of
    Leopold II.
Lifesaving medals awarded to R.E.M.Bastin and to C.E.M. Bastin - brothers perhaps - during the reign of Leopold II.
A Medal of Honour awarded to Charles Coll of
Luxembourg during the reign of Leopold II.
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A nice pair of lifesaving medals awarded respectively to J.Deguitte during the reign of Leopold II and to
V.Lintermans during the reign of King Albert.
Last Updated 17 November 2007