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Yser Medal
The Yser Medal (french: Médaille de l'Yser, nl, Medaille van de IJzer) was a Belgian campaign medal of World War I, established on 18 October 1918 to denote distinguished service during the 1914 Battle of the Yser in which the Belgian Army stopped the German advance of the German invasion of Belgium. Statute The Yser Medal was awarded to the members of the Belgian Armed Forces who were part of the army fighting along the Yser river between 17 and 31 October 1914 that proved themselves worthy of the distinction. The medal could also be awarded to foreign nationals, members of allied military forces who took part in the Battle of the Yser. The medal could be awarded posthumously. The Yser Medal was worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other awards of Belgium, was placed directly after the Croix de Guerre (War Cross). Medal description The Yser medal was a 35 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze and surmounted by a smaller diameter gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flag Of Belgium
The national flag of Belgium ( nl, vlag van België, french: drapeau de la Belgique, german: Flagge Belgiens) is a tricolour consisting of three equal vertical bands displaying the national colours of Belgium: black, yellow, and red. The colours were taken from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant, and the vertical design may be based on the flag of France. When flown, the black band is nearest the pole (at the hoist side). It has the unusual proportions of 1315. In 1830, the flag, at that time non-officially, consisted of three horizontal bands, with the colors red, yellow and black. On 23 January 1831, the National Congress enshrined the tricolor in the Constitution, but did not determine the direction and order of the color bands. As a result, the "official" flag was given vertical stripes with the colors black, yellow and red. Previous flags After the death of Charlemagne, the present-day territory of Belgium (except the County of Flanders) became part of Lotharingi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Victor Van Strydonck De Burkel
Lieutenant-general BEM Victor Jean Clement, ''Baron'' van Strydonck de Burkel (16 July 1876, Antwerp – 4 August 1961, Etterbeek) was a general of the Belgian Army and the primary architect of the formation of the Free Belgian Forces after Belgium's official surrender on May 28, 1940 in World War II. Military career First World War and Interwar In 1918, as an officer in the 1st Regiment of Guides, Victor van Strydonck commanded the last cavalry charge in western Europe, the successful Charge of Burkel. For his role in the charge, van Strydonck was made a baron and given the title "de Burkel" in 1937 after the location of the battle. A cavalry officer, van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the Cavalry School (1920–1923) and the 1st Cavalry Division (1928–1933), served as the inspector-general of the Belgian Gendarmerie (1933–1939), and was the commander of the Cavalry Corps (1933–1939) prior to World War II. In 1938, Van Strydonck announced his retirement from the army but ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orders, Decorations, And Medals Of Belgium
Belgium has established numerous orders of knighthood, decorations and medals since its creation in 1830. Below is a list of the main awards. Orders Order of Leopold Order of the Crown Order of Leopold II Order of the African Star Royal Order of the Lion War medals and decorations Belgian Revolution (1830–31) Franco-Prussian War (1870–71) World War I (1914–1918) World War II (1940–1945) Korean War (1950–1953) Current awards Military medals and decorations Civilian medals and decorations Commemorative medals Belgian Red Cross References * Quinot H., 1950, ''Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition.'' (Hasselt) * Cornet R., 1982, ''Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl''., (Brussels) * Borné A.C., 1985, ''Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830–1985'' (Brussels) * Van Hoorebeke, 2007, P., ''175 Ans de l'Ordre de Léopold et les Ordres Nationa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Race To The Sea
The Race to the Sea (; , ) took place from about 1914 during the First World War, after the Battle of the Frontiers () and the German advance into France. The invasion had been stopped at the First Battle of the Marne and was followed by the First Battle of the Aisne a Franco-British counter-offensive. The term describes reciprocal attempts by the Franco-British and German armies to envelop the northern flank of the opposing army through the provinces of Picardy, Artois and Flanders, rather than an attempt to advance northwards to the sea. The "race" ended on the North Sea coast of Belgium around 19 October, when the last open area from Diksmuide to the North Sea was occupied by Belgian troops who had retreated after the Siege of Antwerp (28 September – 10 October). The outflanking attempts had resulted in a number of encounter battles but neither side was able to gain a decisive victory. After the opposing forces had reached the North Sea, both tried to conduct offen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flemish People
The Flemish or Flemings ( nl, Vlamingen ) are a Germanic ethnic group native to Flanders, Belgium, who speak Dutch. Flemish people make up the majority of Belgians, at about 60%. "''Flemish''" was historically a geographical term, as all inhabitants of the medieval County of Flanders in modern-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands were referred to as "Flemings", irrespective of their ethnicity or language. The contemporary region of Flanders comprises a part of this historical county, as well as parts of the medieval duchy of Brabant and the medieval county of Loon, where the modern national identity and culture gradually formed. History The sense of "Flemish" identity increased significantly after the Belgian Revolution. Prior to this, the term "Vlamingen" in the Dutch language was in first place used for the inhabitants of the former County of Flanders. Flemish, however, had been used since the 14th century to refer to the language and dialects of both the peoples ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cross Pattée
A cross pattée, cross patty or cross paty, also known as a cross formy or cross formée (french: croix pattée, german: Tatzenkreuz), is a type of Christian cross with arms that are narrow at the centre, and often flared in a curve or straight line shape, to be broader at the perimeter. The form appears very early in medieval art, for example in a metalwork treasure binding given to Monza Cathedral by Queen Theodelinda (died 628), and the 8th-century lower cover of the Lindau Gospels in the Morgan Library. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper (i.e. about 1200) is found in the arms of Baron Berkeley. Etymology The word ''pattée'' is a French adjective in the feminine form used in its full context as ''la croix pattée'', meaning literally "footed cross", from the noun ''patte'', meaning foot, generally that of an animal. The cross has four splayed feet, each akin to the foot, for example, of a chalice or candelabrum. In German it is cal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antoine Depage
Dr. Antoine Depage ( Watermael-Boitsfort, 28 November 1862 – The Hague, 10 June 1925), was the Belgian royal surgeon, the founder and president of the Belgian Red Cross, and one of the founders of Scouting in Belgium.John S. Wilson (1959), Scouting Round the World. First edition, Blandford Press. p. 35, 37 Depage married Marie Picard in 1893 and they had three children. Marie Depage died on 7 May 1915 in the sinking of when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Medicine Depage studied medicine at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and graduated magna cum laude in 1887. He became one of the founders and the first secretary of the International Surgical Society (1902–1912). In 1903 he founded a surgical institute, the Berkendael Institute, and Edith Cavell became its head nurse. During World War I Depage established the military hospital l'Océan at De Panne. He became the first head of the surgical department of the Brugmann hospital (1923). Antoine Depage ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Léon De Witte De Haelen
Baron Léon Alphonse Ernest Bruno de Witte de Haelen, born Léon de Witte (12 January 1857 – 15 July 1933) was a Belgian army officer and general who served during World War I. He is particularly known for commanding the Belgian Cavalry Division at the Battle of Haelen in 1914. Military career De Witte entered the Royal Military Academy in 1874. He was promoted to Sous-lieutenant in 1878. In 1880, he requested a transfer to the cavalry and was posted to the 2nd Chasseurs à Cheval. He received his Brevet d'état-major (BEM) in 1887, and between 1906 and 1910 served as commander of the 1st Guides Regiment. He held command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade between 1910 and 1913 and was in command of the newly created Cavalry Division when Belgium was invaded by Germany in 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in August 1914, just 6 days before commanding his division at the Battle of Haelen. The Belgian victory at the battle, nicknamed the "Battle of the Silver Helmets" afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aloïs Biebuyck
Aloïs Biebuyck ( 28 June 1860 – 28 January 1944) was a Belgian Lieutenant General who fought in the First World War. Aloïs lost both parents at a young age and was raised by his uncle in Brussels. He followed a military career and became a major in 1906 and a colonel in June 1914. In World War I, he defended with the 2nd Carabinier regiment the Nete River between Lier and Duffel. At the Battle of the Yser, he personally led the 3rd Carabinier regiment in a counteroffensive near Pervijze on 22 October 1914. He was hit by three bullets and transported to the hospital in Calais, where his son lieutenant Marcel Biebuyck died in his presence on 29 March 1915. After 7 months in hospital, Aloïs returned to the front on 14 May 1915. He was promoted to Major-General on 11 June 1915, Aide-de-camp of King Albert I on 1 August 1915, and Lieutenant-General on 30 March 1916. He became commander of the 6th Army division on 8 August 1917, and in the Fifth Battle of Ypres he led the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armand De Ceuninck
Armand Léopold Théodore, Baron de Ceuninck (27 May 1858 – 12 April 1935) was the Minister of War of Belgium, serving in the last year of World War I. Biography He entered the army in 1871, became an artillery sergeant in 1874, then entered the artillery and engineering section of the Royal Military College. A sub-lieutenant of artillery in 1880, he was named General-staff adjutant (''adjoint d'état-major'') and, in 1893, passed out as captain in the cadre spécial d'état-major. At the outbreak of World War I he was staff colonel and head of the staff section of the army. In this position he assumed the heavy yet delicate task imposed by mobilisation and the putting of the army on a war footing. Promoted to major-general on 6 September 1914, he was placed at the head of the 18th Mixed Brigade (Grenadiers), of which he took command on 9 September at the moment when the unit was conducting operations around Antwerp. He took an active part in operations, and confirme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albert Lantonnois Van Rode
Albert Bruno Amédée Lantonnois van Rode (19 June 1852 – 2 April 1934) was a Belgian Lieutenant General descendant from an aristocratic family. He was Vice-Governor General of the Congo Free State and later commanded a division during World War I. Early years Lantonnois van Rode was born in Mons on 19 June 1852, son of Lambert Lantonnois and Emilie Hubertine Ghislaine van Rode de Schellebrouck. He entered the Military Academy in April 1870, and was appointed second lieutenant on 8 April 1872. On 10 December 1877 he was appointed to the first regiment of guides. He was commander of the 8th Line Regiment (1903–1905) and of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers (1905–1908). Lantonnois was commander of the West Flanders Province from 1908 to 1909. Congo In November 1905 Lantonnois was stationed as Vice-Governor General of the Congo at Boma, the main port and capital of the colony. In July 1906 he sent a troop of 20 soldier to Kingoye on the border with the French Congo to establi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
