Infor requested on German / French /Belgian group

[Marc verstraete]

Hello ,

The photos I show below show some of the medals from my over great great-fader on mothers side. ( period 1850 to 1920’s)

I know the French and Belgian medals from the bottom row and of course the EKII in the middle of the top row.
I need information on the other two top row medals.

90% of the medals awarded to him by the French and Belgian government are medals from the Red Cross or for heroism by saving life’s from soldiers in the field or on sea.

I do have picture of him wearing most of these awards.
But haw did he manage to be awarded the German medals, the French ones and the Belgium ones for the same period ???
My family has over the centuries fought on all sides of Europe (and Canada) depending to how they considered as the enemy ( this almost turned out in a disaster during the last war ) but this one was in 3 army’s on the same time ?????????????

Any thoughts ???

Marc V. ( from the buckles group)

[Marc verstraete]

Back

[Stijn David]

explanation

Hello Marc,


There is a good explanation for this grouping => looking at the awards ( however one piece has some questions ? ) your family member must be a doctor or a in some kind of aiding position during the FRanco prussian war.

Me and a couple friends have discussed a similar grouping in the past from a Dr Desquin . ( later mayor from Antwerpen !!! ) who had a propably similar career.

The good dr Desquin . had also German, French, Belgian and even Japanese awards on his breast !!! , he received the prussian crown order with Genfer cross for supporting the germans as a Dr. in the field and earned later for this the commemorative medal 1870/71 non combatants , he was also awarded some frnech awards for aiding injured french troops etc ...

I believe we have a very similar case here , however a few things strike me as odd => he received a Iron cross 2 nd class ( ? =< possible but unlikely ! ) , why does he not have the war commemorative 1870/71 medal ( non combatant version ? ) , is it possible to show a picture from your ancestor ?

Cordial Greetings,

ps : i also did send you a PM regarding this grouping

[Marc verstraete]

Hello David,

Being the last person alive of my family (except a few great aunts and my son) I collected all the documents, medals, pictures, furniture (and the castle) from my ancestors.
Unfortunately I have almost no spoken explanations about lots of things. I have to do with the letters, pictures and documents. Because of numerous damages during the two last wars to our family properties lots of paperwork has vanished.
Also the modernity fever from the sixties did even more damages than both the wars together. I almost have no award papers in my possession. The medals from my family that I recuperated are not complete, lots are missing. The group that I pictured above is far from complete, I have at least 10 more medals belonging to him (named) but I also might have added some medals that where not belonging to him but are from the same period. He is the only one who was involved in this war but I don’t know in witch way. He was not a doctor, I know he was involved in the Belgian maritime society; he was even chief of the Antwerp central station!!
The only persons who ware active in my family around this time ware Military governor from the province of Antwerp and governor of the province of Katanga in the former Belgian Congo but I doubt very much they would have been awarded the EKII J.
(PS: All the high rank orders who ware awarded to members of my family during the past 100 years before the second world war, like neck orders and breast stars where stolen from my family by the American soldiers in 1944 when they occupied the castle.)

Marc V.

[Marc verstraete]

Hello David and all,
Here a picture from “The Man” wearing only a few of the awards he was given, obviously the German and the French ones are not worn. This picture is taken before the war 14/18 (I think)
Is there nobody who can identify the German medal on the top left of the first pictures I have send last week??? (The one with the Red Cross on top of the bleu-enamelled circle?)?
Marc V.

[Daniel Krause]

Hi,

top left is the Prussian Order of the Crown 4th class with the Red Cross. It was given in 1870/71 for deeds connected with Red Cross affairs.

Best regards

Daniel

[Marc verstraete]

Thank you Daniel
M.V.

[Marc verstraete]

Hello,
There seems not to be much interest in this post but for the few who are interested, here is a picture of one of the miniature bars of my ancestor where the Belgian, France and German medals can be seen worn together.
Marc v.

[Eric Stahlhut]

International orders

Very nice, Marc!

I always enjoy seeing these types of chains.

[Eric Stahlhut]

International order chains

Here's one for a lady of a certain social stature from the late 1880's. Contrary to popular belief, women were allowed a certain leeway in order to display the tokens of appreciation bestowed upon them by their peers.

[Eric Stahlhut]

sorry!

2nd attempt:

[Stijn David]

excellent mini chains

Hello ,


Thanks for sharing Eric, that is also a superbly chain and the mini's seem very wel crafted, etc ... any background on your person ? i would love to see a pic. from this lady wearing those metal & enamel juwels ....


Cordial Greetings,

[Daniel Krause]

OOOOHHHHHH!

Pretty nice and rare miniature chains! I´m jealous!!

Best regards

Daniel

[oli4vercammen]

nice group

Hello Marc,

The top right cross is the Belgian Red Cross volunteer cross for the 1870-1871 war 1st class. This is exremely rare!
In the 9 years that I collect Belgian medals now, I've never seen a first class! And only a few (max 3 or 4) 2nd classes.
I'm very pleased to see one, Congradulations

Olivier Vercammen