North East Medals Footnote
I refer to H. Quinot's caustic comments in his book 'Recueil Illustré des Ordres de Chevalerie et Décorations Belges de 1830 à 1963'

'N'était-ce pas une erreur psychologique d'attribuer une décoration belge de la guerre 1914-1918 à des anciens combattants allemands de la Wehrmacht ? Pour ceux qui l'ont sollicitée ou obtenue, n'était-ce pas se désigner à l'attention des " revanchards " et à la malignité publique, se faire qualifier de traitre à la Patrie Allemande et leur attirer beaucoup d'ennuis lors d'une réoccupation allemande éventuelle, même temporaire ? N'oublions pas que Hitler faisait déjà des siennes en Allemagne, en 1934'

 

The Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Albert
Medaille Commemorative du Règne de S. M. Albert

     Instituted by King Baudouin, 17th February 1962 to commemorate King Albert's service at the head of the Belgian army during the period 1914 -1918. The medal was for all who had 'good and faithful service' in the armed forces anytime between the 18th December 1909 and 18th February 1934.
    Description: 32 mm diameter, in patinated bronze with a ring suspension. Obverse bears the bust of King Albert wearing a helmet adorned with a laurel wreath, and a trench coat with the collar up. (This portrait symbolic of the King's active service in WW1) The legend ALBERTVS REX is above and below.  Reverse; the crowned royal Cypher "A" with an oak branch to the left and a laurel branch to the right. The dates of Albert's Reign 1909 - 1934 form a base to this depiction. Both obverse and reverse bear the designers initials V.D. = Victor Demanet.

Ribbon; yellow, with a narrow central green stripe. ( Yellow [gold] symbolic of the glory of the King and the green stripe represents the Yser.)
 

 

The Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Albert

Medaille Commemorative du Règne de S. M. Albert

 
 
 
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