Belgian Victory Medal Accession Number: RELAWM14866

Description

Belgian Victory Medal. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: Winged Victory with her head facing left, arms outstretched downwards, holding a sword in the right hand, a laurel wreath in the left and standing on a segment of a globe. Reverse: The arms of Belgium in the centre, surrounded by a laurel wreath and a ring of nine shields representing the principal allies (France, USA, Japan, Rumania, Brazil, Serbia, Portugal, Italy and Great Britain), superimposed on two oak branches. Around the circumference is 'DE GROOTE OORLOG TOT DE BESCHAVING - LA GRANDE GUERRE POUR LA CIVILISATION'. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 38 mm double rainbow watered ribbon.

Contextual Description

Instituted on 14 July 1919 and awarded to all Belgians who had served during the First World War between 1 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Various decrees up to 17 August 1951 extended the issue of this medal to include European and African troops who had served in Africa, personnel of the merchant marine and fishing fleet, as well as civilians who had been awarded the Medal for Political Prisoners. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.

Details

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918

Places

• Belgium

Units

• Belgian Forces

Tags

• Belgian awards and medals