The 1914 – 1918 Fire Cross (, ) was a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
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
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. The medal was established by
royal decree
A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...
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. 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
The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''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
The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...
, at upper right, the Sun breaking through clouds. On its reverse, a large laurel branch extending diagonally from bottom left to top right and bisected by the relief inscription on two lines in
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
"SALUS PATRIAE SUPREMA LEX" roughly translating into "THE NATION'S SALVATION IS OUR HIGHEST DUTY". In the top left corner, a royal crown from which seven relief rays extend downwards, at bottom right, the relief years on two rows "1914" and "1918", at bottom left just below the laurel branch's stem, the name of the awards designer, "A. Rombaut".
The cross hangs from a 36mm wide red silk
moiré ribbon with three 4 mm wide longitudinal blue stripes, one at centre, the other two on either side 1 mm from the ribbon's edges.
Notable recipients (partial list)
The individuals listed below were awarded the Fire Cross:
*
Aviator Lieutenant Colonel Baron Willy Coppens
*Lieutenant General Alphonse Ferdinand Tromme
*Major General Maurice Jacmart
*
Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Piron
*Lieutenant General Jules Joseph Pire
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Sir Maximilien de Neve de Roden
*
Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Victor Van Strijdonck de Burkel
*Lieutenant General Georges Deffontaine
*Lieutenant General Alphonse Verstraete
*Lieutenant General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-Walcourt
*Lieutenant General Joseph Leroy
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Jules De Boeck
*Lieutenant General Fernand Vanderhaeghen
*Lieutenant General Robert Oor
*Lieutenant General Libert Elie Thomas
*Lieutenant General Léon Bievez
*Cavalry Major General Baron Beaudoin de Maere d’Aertrycke
*Major General Paul Jacques
*Chaplain General Louis Kerremans
*
Lieutenant General Baron Armand de Ceuninck
*Lieutenant General
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 ...
*Cavalry Lieutenant General Vicount Victor Buffin de Chosal
*Lieutenant General Doctor Edmond François Durré
*Baron Joseph van der Elst
*Governor Jacques Delvaux de Fenffe
See also
*
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 those awards.
The order of precedence is difficult to establish as Belgium does not keep an up-to-date listing with dormant ...
References
Other sources
* 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)
External links
Les Ordres Nationaux Belges(In French)
(In French)
(In French and Dutch)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fire Cross 1914-1918
1934 establishments in Belgium
Military awards and decorations of Belgium
Awards established in 1934