Victory Medal 1914-1918 (Belgium)


The Victory Medal is the Belgian variant of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 was a Belgian commemorative war medal established by royal decree on 15 July 1919 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces who served during the First World War. Later royal decrees enlarged the list of potential recipients to include service in African campaigns and under special circumstances, to members of the merchant navy and fishing fleet. In all, 350,000 were awarded.
The Belgian sculptor Paul Du Bois was responsible for the design.
It is worn immediately after the Yser Medal in the Belgian order of precedence.

Award description

The Belgian Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 was a 36mm in diameter circular gilt bronze medal. Its obverse bore a winged victory standing on a globe, her arms and wings spread out, looking down at Earth. The reverse bore, superimposed over a laurel wreath, the coats of arms of the Allies, starting at center top and going clockwise, French Third Republic, United States, Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Greece, Brazil, Serbia, Portugal, Kingdom of Italy, United Kingdom, and at center, the Royal Coat of Arms of Belgium. Along the outer circumference, the relief bilingual inscription in French and Dutch "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION".
The medal was suspended by a ring through a suspension loop from a 38mm wide silk moiré rainbow coloured ribbon common to the Inter-Allied Victory Medals 1914–1918 of all of the First World War Allies.

Notable recipients (partial list)

The individuals listed below were awarded the Belgian Inter-Allied Victory Medal:
Plk. gst. Jaroslav Hajicek