Hello All,






Awarded to those who, between 17 and 31 October 1914, were part of the army fighting on the IJzer-river (in French "Yser") and fought with distinction.
This bronze medal (with a greenish shade and with a green enamelled medallion above) was instituted on 18 October 1918 and immediately follows the War Cross 1914-1918 in importance. Allied military personnel who participated were also eligible.
The obverse depicts a naked, helmeted man, standing and holding a lance (symbolising the halting of the German advance) with to his right the dates "17-31 / OCT. / 1914". In the enamelled medallion the word "YSER" can be read. The reverse shows a wounded lion on a battlefield background. Underneath is the word "YSER" while the medallion has the royal crown over the letter "A" (King Albert I). The ribbon is red with broad black edges. Both obverse and reverse are rather poorly executed for a medal with such an historical importance : between the dates mentioned the Belgian Army fought along the river IJzer and stopped the German advance, lead by General von Falkenhayn. During this gallant action the Belgian Army suffered some 60,000 casualties, more than a third of its total strength.





This cross replaces the IJzer Medal and is in fact the same medal but placed on a short armed cross, the top medallion covering most of the top cross arm. Between the cross arms lies a thin laurel wreath.
This decoration was instituted with Royal Decrees of 5 February and 22 August 1934. It can only be worn as replacement of the IJzer Medal, never together with it. As few recipients of the medal were by that time interested in exchanging their medal for the newly created cross (and at their own expense too), the IJzer Cross is fairly rare.
Sometimes this cross can be found on a black ribbon with a central yellow band, the Flemish colours, thus denoting an award to a Fleming but this ribbon is unofficial.

Cheers,
Hendrik

Dear Hendrik

here a group of medals with the Yser Cross and the same group in miniatures





Guy

Guy,

Very cute groups !!! Your wife must like the second group : after all, diamonds are a girl's best friend

Cheers,
Hendrik

Dear Hendrik

Its a fact that my wife like the little ones, they are all in gold exepted the knight cross of the order of Léopold II who is in silver.

but I them too

Guy

Hello everyone,

Here is part of my collection of Belgian awards. I also have this soldiers Yser certificate.

Regards
Jim

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8914/ysercrossfa7.jpg

Jim,

Nice set ! Any chance of a scan of the Yser certificate ?

Cheers,
Hendrik

Hi Hendrik,

The certificate is in a frame on a wall in my house. I have photgraphed it as best as i can for you.

Regards

Jim

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2258/berberssb1.jpg

This one may be a little better.

Jim

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1244/ysergs1.jpg

Jim,

The certificate is not the one for the Yser Medal but a certificate of "the nation's gratitude" as given to most Belgian soldiers of WWI. It lists the then known decorations received. Your artillery soldier, Mr. Berbers, seems to have qualified for the Victory Medal and the Commemorative War Medal ...

Cheers,
Hendrik

Hendrik,

Thanks for the information

Jim

Hi everybody !

My contribution :


]

Best regards
Christophe

Hello everybody ,
I have found this curious Yser medal, without green enamel in the medallion :

Do you know it ? Is it an unofficial manufacture ?
Thanks in advance for your informations.
Best regards.
CONTOUTOS

Contoutos,

Never seen one like that before ! The metal the medal is made of doesn't look bronze ... is it ? It also appears never to have been actually worn by someone.

Cheers,
Hendrik

Hi Hendrik ,
It's seems to be really in bronze, but with a curious grey patina. Its weight is 36,4 grams (a normal medal about 33,3 gr ?). Also thickness is more than others medals...
Best regards.
CONTOUTOS

Contoutos,

Maybe one that wasn't finished properly in production ? I can only guess at this one !

Cheers,
Hendrik