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Fire Cross 1914–1918
The 1914 – 1918 Fire Cross (, ) was a Belgium, Belgian military decoration awarded to all holders of the so-called "Fire Card" which was awarded to all who came under fire at the front during the World War I, First World War. The medal was established by royal decree on 6 February 1934. It could not be awarded posthumously. Award description The Fire Cross was a 44 mm wide by 54 mm high (including ribbon loop) bronze cross quadrate (heraldry), quadrate. Except for a 3 mm wide plain border, the cross arms were striated, horizontally for the lateral arms and vertically for the vertical arms on both the obverse and reverse. The 30 mm wide by 37 mm high central rectangle bore on its obverse, 5mm wide vertical laurel branches on either side, at center, the relief image of a deserted battlefield with at the forefront, the relief image of a World War 1 Belgian helmet over a bayonet, farther and on a slight elevation at left, a 75 mm howitzer, at uppe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willy Coppens
Willy Omer François Jean baron Coppens de Houthulst, DSO MC (6 July 1892 – 21 December 1986) was Belgium's leading fighter ace and the champion " balloon buster" of World War I. He was credited with 37 confirmed victories and six probables. Early life Coppens was born in Watermael-Boitsfort, son of Omer Coppens, a Belgian impressionistic painter who studied in the Royal Academy of Ghent. The younger Coppens was conscripted into the army in 1912, serving with the ''Premier Regiment de Grenadiers''. World War I In 1914, following the German invasion of Belgium, Coppens transferred to the Motor Machine Gun Corps. On 6 September 1915, he signed up for flight training in the Compagnie des Aviateurs. As a result of shortcomings in Belgium's training, he needed eight weeks of leave to learn to fly. Coppens and 39 other Belgians learned to fly on their own expense in Great Britain. He received his pilot's certificate on 9 December 1915. After finishing in Britain, Cop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
