Belgian WW1 Medals : The Fire Cross

Hello All,

The Fire Cross 1914-1918

Awarded to all that shortly after the war received the so called "Fire Card", i.e. all who came under fire at the front. Holders of this card also received a plaque in either French or Flemish, according to their mother tongue.

The decoration is a bronze cross with short, broad arms was instituted on 6 February 1934 and is worn immediately after the Yser Medal (or Cross). It could not be awarded posthumously.
The obverse depicts in the large rectangular panel, flanked by a vertical laurel twig on either side, an abandoned battlefield : a helmet on top of a bajonet in front, a hill with a 75mm field gun at the back, with the sun shining through some clouds. The reverse has in the panel a royal crown with seven rays emanating from it, a large oak leaf branch with a latin text across : "SALUS PATRIAE / SUPREMA LEX" and the years "1914 / 1918" in the lower right corner. In the lower left corner is the designer's name : A. Rombaut. The ribbon is red with light blue edges and a light blue centre stripe.
Various types exist (3 or 5 or even more, according to the sources used).

Cheers,
Hendrik