| Bill's Belgian Medals A Collector's View |
As we move into 2006, I have an exciting year in prospect with the planned launch of my first book on October 17 by HarperCollins in New York - the biography of a great statesman and diplomat! Although the manuscript is complete, the editing process will require periods of complete attention, so from time to time, there may be no updates to my site. However, I will endeavour to keep it current and interesting for fellow collectors. For the moment though, I have been adding to it whenever I can and my collecting continues apace as you can see from this page. Please enjoy browsing and providing me with feedback and correcting errors - much appreciated. Bill Simpson |
This amazing miniature group of medals is mounted on a rose gold chain and the medal on the left of the group is common enough - the Leopold 1 Order. However, next to that is the rare 'Rescuers of Antwerp'; then a gold service star for Belgian Congo service. The medal at the extreme right is the Leopold 2 Medal for acts of bravery, awarded for rescuers from fire or drowning etc. But the medal 2nd from right is a very rare Napoleon 3 medal - The 1859 Battle of Solferino Medal. This was issued to French soldiers returning from 1859 Italian Campaign who participated in the battle. Although issued mostly to the French, many Italian officers also received it. It is a very interesting medal for both Italian and French collectors and the full size medal is classified as Rare. I have never seen a miniature example hence my decision to buy it. Here are some notes on the battle. The Battle of Solferino (24 June 1859) The decisive clash of the war of Italian unification; the suffering of the wounded left without care was the inspiration for the founding of the Red Cross. The battle was the key episode in the struggle for Italian unification. The French, allied to the Sardinians, with Emperor Napoleon 3 at their head, faced the Austrian troops. The first exchange of gunfire took place shortly after three in the morning; by six o'clock the battle was in full swing; bright sunshine bore down on some 300,000 men who were slaughtering each other. In the afternoon, the Austrians abandoned their positions one by one; when night fell, the battlefield was strewn with more than 6,000 dead and 40,000 wounded. The medical services of the French and Sardinian armies were overwhelmed: the French army had fewer doctors than veterinarians, transportation was non-existent and cases of bandages had been left behind. Those wounded who were able to do so headed for the nearest village -- Castiglione -- in search of a little food and water; 9,000 reached it, pouring into houses and barns, squares and narrow streets. In the church of Castiglione, the Chiesa Maggiore, Henry Dunant, (founder of the Red Cross) helped by local women, cared for the wounded and dying for three days and three nights. |
The Medaille Commemorative Croix Des Passeurs (FCAE) above is also featured in a major group - see the link to the Belgian Spy. |
This is a superb matched Great War group of 9 medals that includes the increasingly scarce Yser Cross. While the recipient was a volunteer, the Commemorative medal lacks the usual crown on the ribbon. |
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| Copyright Bill Simpson © 2006 |
This is a superb fully documented World War 2 group of medals awarded to a long term soldier - Elias Staelens who served in the Rheinland before the war and who participated in the 1940 campaign before becoming a member of the armed resistance. A classic group with most of the certificates. Other medals and certificates are shown below. |
| Last Updated 17 November 2007 |