Medal of the Voluntary Combatant 1914-1918
Encyclopedia
The Medal of the Voluntary Combatant 1914-1918 is a Belgian
medal
awarded to Belgians and foreigners who voluntarily reported for service in the Belgian Armed Forces
and who served in a combat unit in a danger zone for not less than 6 months during the First World War
. It was established on 17 June 1930. Later, the categories of persons eligible to receive it were extended to include volunteers who were older than 40 years of age who had served for 3 months in a combat unit in a danger zone, volunteers who were older than 50 years of age who had served for 1 month and medical personnel who had served for 2 years in non-occupied Belgium. Additional provisions were made regarding awards to youngsters who had fled occupied Belgium and persons who were wounded in action, and posthumous awards.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
awarded to Belgians and foreigners who voluntarily reported for service in the Belgian Armed Forces
Military of Belgium
The Belgian Army is the national military of Belgium. The Belgian Army was established after Belgium became independent in October 1830...
and who served in a combat unit in a danger zone for not less than 6 months during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It was established on 17 June 1930. Later, the categories of persons eligible to receive it were extended to include volunteers who were older than 40 years of age who had served for 3 months in a combat unit in a danger zone, volunteers who were older than 50 years of age who had served for 1 month and medical personnel who had served for 2 years in non-occupied Belgium. Additional provisions were made regarding awards to youngsters who had fled occupied Belgium and persons who were wounded in action, and posthumous awards.
See also
- List of Belgian military decorations
- List of Belgian decorations