WWI Belgian Military Decoration and Victory Medal

Although I’ve posted the second medal before, I’ve paired these two medals together since they came to me that way from a picker who said they were together when he got them from the estate. Now, the reality is we can never be sure they were awarded to the same soldier, but I’m keeping them together just the same.

The first medal is the Belgian Military Decoration. When awarded with the ribbon shown here it was for gallantry, devotion to duty or exceptional service. The medal could also be awarded with for long service, but with a different ribbon. The decoration was established in 1873 and continues today. The front bears the Belgian lion and the motto "L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" (Strength in unity). The reverse displays the monogram of Albert I of Belgium, indicating it was awarded during his reign (1909-1934). The words “ARMEE * MERITE * ANCIENNETE” (Army * merit * seniority) circle the monogram.

The second medal is a bit more somber. It’s the Belgian WWI Victory medal, awarded to those who fought in that war. The front shows a Victory effigy with spread wings. The center reverse has the Belgian coat of arms and surrounding it are the coats of arms of the nine Allied countries. At the medal's edge are the words "LA GRANDE GUERRE POUR LA CIVILISATION. DE GROOTE OORLOG TOT DE BESCHAVING" (The great war for civilization) in both French and Flemish. The somber part is this: a special law permitted mothers of sons killed in action to wear this medal with an added symbol of mourning - the black enameled bar shown here. This became known as “the mother’s bar”