Belgian WW1 Medals : African Campaigns 1914-17 Medal

Hello All,

The Commemorative Medal of the African Campaigns 1914-1917

Awarded to those that participated in the campaigns in the Cameroons, Rhodesia, German East Africa and in the border area of Eastern Belgian Kongo between 1914 and 1916.

This silver (for Europeans) or bronze (for native troops) medal was instituted on 21 February 1917. A further campaign, from Tanganyika into German East Africa and resulting in the capture of the town of Mahenge in October 1917, is commemorated by a bar "MAHENGE" instituted in 1931.

The obverse shows a seated lion, its front paws on a rock, and in the background part of a hill and some tropical trees and plants. A small star adorns the top of the medal. This same star is also found on the reverse, flanked by the dates "1914" and "1916"(1st type) or "1917"(2nd type). The remainder of the reverse is taken in by three laurel branches, partially covered with the names of the regions (larger letters) and places (smaller letters) where troops were engaged : KAMERUN / OUESSO ASSOBAM / MULUNDU JAUNDE / AFRIQUE ORIENTALE ALLEMANDE / KIGALI / NUANSA UDJIJI / USUMBURA BIARAMULO / KITEGA ST MICHEAL / TABORA". The ribbon is pale blue with yellow edges.

Cheers,
Hendrik

Dear Hendrik coucou2

,
Congratulations for this interesting statement.
I know there are new manufactures of this medal, Fibru or others makers. How can we identify old and new ones ?
Thanks in advance.
CONTOUTOS

Dear Contoutos,

I've only seen one or two of those newly manufactured medals and they just looked so new that one could not mistake them for anything else. However, this may well cause problems in future years when those restrikes are getting toned and looking less new. Maybe someone else has a clue whether there are any other points to observe ?

Best regards,
Hendrik