Belgian medals

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Hey all,
I often find Belgian medals; most of them are of no great intrest to me.
I only keep those related to Belgian Congo, all others are sold.
So having them photographed, in order to up load them on (mostly)ebay, I tought I might as well start a thread here for users, who are intrested(!), to recognize them.
The list will not be complete from day one (and might never be!) but you will get a general idea about most current Belgian medals.
I will start with orders of chivalry and then go from the oldest to the younger one's.
I hope you enjoy it.
And feel free to pm me if any error needs to be rectify.
cheers
|<ris

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The Order of Leopold is one of the three (current) Belgian national honorary orders of knighthoodIt is the highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civilian division.
Issued in five classes:

Grand Cordon ('Grootlint'), who wears the badge on a collar (chain) or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left side of the chest;
Grand Officer ('Grootofficier'), who wears a badge on a necklet, plus a star on the left side of the chest (created on 31 December 1838);
Commander ('Commandeur'), who wears the badge on a necklet;
Officer ('Officier'), who wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left side of the chest;
Knight ('Chevalier/Ridder'), who wears the badge on a ribbon on the left side of the chest.
You get to see the civilian officer's medal;

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Next is a military (because of the crossed swords!)knight of the Leopold Order;

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Next are the Order of the African star and the Order of the Lion.
Unfortunately no example can be showed, original medals are rare and high on my wanted list because related to Congo.
Following the independence of Congo in 1960, both orders are no longer awarded but still considered to be Belgian Orders.

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The Order of the Crown established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II.The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved for service in the Congo Free State.Still in use and given for other services.
They also come in civilian and military division.
And in five classes, plus two palms and three medals:
Grand Cross, which wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
Grand Officer, which wears a star on the left chest, and may also wear the neck badge;
Commander, which wears the badge on a neck ribbon;
Officer, which wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
Knight, which wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
Golden Palms, which wears a wreath of golden palms on a ribbon on the left chest;
Silver Palms, which wears a wreath of silver palms on a ribbon on the left chest;
Gold Medal, who wears the medal on the left chest;
Silver Medal, who wears the medal on the left chest;
Bronze Medal, who wears the medal on the left chest.
You get to see the knight medal in civilian and military implementation (...and my finger !(lol!))

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The golden palms and the golden medal of the same order;

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The Order of Leopold II is the last one of the orders of chivalry.
The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as king of the Congo Free State. The order is awarded for meritorious service to the Sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwil.
It also come in 8 different grades.
Here is the military knight grade;

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Next is WWI medals, most important and most current is the war cross.
It does come however in different forms and with different distinctions.
It is a military decoration established by royal decree on 25 October 1915.For the WWI medal central medallion is bearing the relief image of a "lion rampant" on its obverse and the royal cypher of King Albert I on its reverse. It was primarily awarded for bravery or other military virtue on the battlefield. The award was re established on 20 July 1940 by the Belgian Government in exile in London for recognition of bravery and military virtue during World War II.The post-1940 decoration could also be awarded to units that were cited. The decoration was again re established by royal decree on 3 April 1954 for award during future conflicts.
When the person being awarded the Croix de guerre was mentioned in despatches, this distinction was denoted by a device worn on the ribbon, either a small lion or a palm adorned with the monogram "A" (for King Albert I):

Bronze lion: regimental level

Silver lion: brigade level

Gold lion: divisional level

Bronze palm: Army level

Silver palm: five bronze palms

Gold palm: five silver palms

When awarded posthumously, the ribbon of the Croix de guerre was adorned with a narrow black enamel bar.
Firts in one withe the lion distinction and bars (but I don't know what they stand for...!!)
Next are medals with the palm distinction;

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The war cross fourragére was worn by all officers, NCO and soldiers belonging to a unit that was rewarded the war cross.

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De "ironmedal" ;the second most important WWI medal,was established on 18 oktober 1918. Given to all who participated in stopping the German forces progress at the banks of the "Iron river" between 17 and 31 oktober 1914. It was also given to allied soldiers.
A rather poor detailed medal for such a great effort...nearly one third of the Belgian army (60.000 men)was decimated on the given dates.