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The Centenary of National
Independence Commemorative Medal. (1930)
Medaille Commemorative du Centenaire de l'Independence
National (1930)
Instituted 20th July 1930 by the
King, primarily as a commemorative of the centenary of Belgian
independence, but also to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his
accession to the throne. This medal was awarded for 20 years good
and faithful service to the country, at least part of which would
have been in the reign of King Albert. Entitlement would be
automatic to those who had been awarded the Civic Decoration,
or the Military Decoration, and completed 20 years service. The
period considered for entitlement would be that prior to the 1st
January, 1931.
Service prior to 1st January 1906 would not be considered if it had
already been successfully counted towards entitlement for the
Commemorative Medal of King Leopold II.
Ex-servicemen of the Great War were allowed to add one year for an
army mention in dispatches, and one year for the award of the Croix
de Guerre with palm, or additional palm for long service at the
front. Six months would also be added for each front line service
chevron. ( i.e. service at the front counting double.)
Changes to the criteria for the Civic Decoration in 1932 also made
more civilians in public administration eligible for the
Independence Commemorative. A decree of 31st January 1933 further
extended it to civil servants in the African colonies.
Allegedly a number of medals were allocated to the committees of
several charitable organisations such as the Red Cross, for
distribution within their organisations.
Our friend Quinot has (again) something to say about the award of
this medal in relation to the 1914 - 18 conflict ; Civilians
(meaning civil servants who qualified via long service) who
spent the war at home in their 'slippers' were basically given this
medal, yet the fighting men of 14-18, 'who has left their
bones and spilt their blood from Liege to the Yser' did not
qualify (except for a tiny minority). He goes on to remark
that had it not been for the Belgian soldier then Belgium would have
ceased to exist and there would have been no need for a centenary
medal anyway !
Description: silver plated bronze, of horizontally
elongate octagonal form, 29 mm high by 32 mm wide. The rim of the
medal is moulded into a picture frame effect, with a crown and
suspension ring on the top. Obverse: The three overlapping busts of
the three monarchs of Belgium; Leopold, Leopold II and Albert.
Reverse: an oak and laurel wreath with the dates 1830 1930
superimposed.
Ribbon: White, with narrow Belgian tricolour stripes at
the edges.
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