Belgian Volunteer Combatant’s Medal 1914–1918 (Medaille van de Vrijwillige Strijder)

Original Volunteer Combatant’s Medal 1914–1918 (Medaille van de Vrijwillige Strijder). The Volunteer Combatant’s Medal 1914–1918 is a Belgian wartime service decoration established by Royal Decree on 17 June 1930. It was awarded to Belgian citizens and foreign nationals who voluntarily enlisted in the Belgian Armed Forces during the First World War.

This medal honors those who chose to serve of their own free will, often under extremely dangerous front-line conditions.

Award Criteria

The medal was granted to individuals who:

• Voluntarily enlisted and served in a combat unit in a danger zone for at least 6 months

Eligibility was later extended to include:

• Volunteers over 40 years old with at least 3 months of front-line service

• Volunteers over 50 years old with at least 1 month of front-line service

• Medical personnel with at least 2 years of service in non-occupied Belgium

• Young volunteers who fled occupied territory to enlist

• Wounded personnel

• Posthumous awards

Design & Characteristics

• Material: Bronze

• Shape: Circular medal (36 mm) with a distinctive crescent-shaped upper section, giving a total height of approx. 50 mm

Obverse:

• Foreground: head of a WWI Belgian soldier wearing a helmet, facing left

• Background: head of an 1830 Belgian revolutionary volunteer, symbolizing continuity of national struggle

• Upper crescent: Belgian crown above laurel branches

Reverse:

• Latin inscription along the edge:
  “VOLUNTARIIS PATRIA MEMOR”
  (“The homeland remembers its volunteers”)

• Center: the dates 1914–1918

Ribbon

• Color: Royal blue moiré silk

• Simple and elegant, emphasizing the honor of voluntary service

Condition: As seen in the images.

A historically rich and symbolic Belgian decoration, highly desirable for collectors of First World War and volunteer service medals.