The Liège Medal (French: Médaille de Liège, Dutch: Medaille van Luik) was an unofficial World War I campaign medal issued by the Belgian city of Liège to its 1914 defenders against the German invaders. It was first issued in April 1920 during a large ceremony presided by the Duke of Brabant (the future King Leopold III) and Lieutenant General the Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman, military commander of the defence of Liège during the battle which raged from the 5th to the 16th of August 1914. The stubborn defence of the city forced the Germans to bring in specialised extra heavy artillery to take on the city fortifications.
The Liège Medal was awarded to the military defenders of the city of Liège who took part in the Battle of Liège. It was also later awarded to residents of the city of Liège who were condemned to imprisonment by a German tribunal following the battle and received the Political Prisoners' Medal.
Although unofficial in nature being bestowed by the city of Liège and not the state, such was the national pride and prestige surrounding the valiant 1914 defence of the city that the medal was allowed for wear on the military uniform.
Award descriptionedit
The Liège Medal was a 35mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze with a 2mm wide raised edge on both sides. Being unofficial, some recipients had theirs gilded or silvered. The raised edge bore laurel leaves on both sides along its entire circumference. The obverse bore the relief image of the Liège Perron superimposed over a decoration akin the French Legion of Honour and bisecting the year "19" "14". Along the circumference, the relief inscription "LA VILLE DE LIÈGE A SES VAILLANTS DEFENSEVRS" translating into "THE CITY OF LIÈGE TO ITS VALIANT DEFENDERS". The reverse bore the relief image of a battle scene including soldiers fighting on near a partly destroyed bunker on the bank of the Meuse river.
The medal was suspended by two interlocking rings, the lower one passing through a suspension loop atop the medal, to a 38mm wide silk moiré half red and half yellow ribbon, the colours of the city of Liège.
ARS MORIENDI Notables from Belgian history (In French and Dutch)
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May 02, 2024
liège, medal, french, médaille, liège, dutch, medaille, luik, unofficial, world, campaign, medal, issued, belgian, city, liège, 1914, defenders, against, german, invaders, first, issued, april, 1920, during, large, ceremony, presided, duke, brabant, future, ki. The Liege Medal French Medaille de Liege Dutch Medaille van Luik was an unofficial World War I campaign medal issued by the Belgian city of Liege to its 1914 defenders against the German invaders It was first issued in April 1920 during a large ceremony presided by the Duke of Brabant the future King Leopold III and Lieutenant General the Count Gerard Mathieu Leman military commander of the defence of Liege during the battle which raged from the 5th to the 16th of August 1914 The stubborn defence of the city forced the Germans to bring in specialised extra heavy artillery to take on the city fortifications Liege MedalLiege Medal obverse TypeUnofficial campaign medalAwarded for1914 defence of the city of LiegeCountry BelgiumEligibilityBelgian military personnelCampaign s World War IStatusNo longer awardedEstablishedApril 1920First awardedApril 1920Liege Medal reverse Lieutenant General Gerard Leman heroic commander of the defence of Liege Contents 1 Statute 2 Award description 3 Notable recipients partial list 4 References 5 External linksStatute editThe Liege Medal was awarded to the military defenders of the city of Liege who took part in the Battle of Liege It was also later awarded to residents of the city of Liege who were condemned to imprisonment by a German tribunal following the battle and received the Political Prisoners Medal Although unofficial in nature being bestowed by the city of Liege and not the state such was the national pride and prestige surrounding the valiant 1914 defence of the city that the medal was allowed for wear on the military uniform Award description editThe Liege Medal was a 35mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze with a 2mm wide raised edge on both sides Being unofficial some recipients had theirs gilded or silvered The raised edge bore laurel leaves on both sides along its entire circumference The obverse bore the relief image of the Liege Perron superimposed over a decoration akin the French Legion of Honour and bisecting the year 19 14 Along the circumference the relief inscription LA VILLE DE LIEGE A SES VAILLANTS DEFENSEVRS translating into THE CITY OF LIEGE TO ITS VALIANT DEFENDERS The reverse bore the relief image of a battle scene including soldiers fighting on near a partly destroyed bunker on the bank of the Meuse river The medal was suspended by two interlocking rings the lower one passing through a suspension loop atop the medal to a 38mm wide silk moire half red and half yellow ribbon the colours of the city of Liege Notable recipients partial list editLieutenant General the Count Gerard Mathieu LemanReferences editQuinot H 1950 Recueil illustre des decorations belges et congolaises 4e Edition Hasselt Cornet R 1982 Recueil des dispositions legales et reglementaires regissant les ordres nationaux belges 2e Ed N pl Brussels Borne A C 1985 Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique 1830 1985 Brussels External links edit nbsp Belgium portal The Battle of Liege 1914 Siege of Liege 5 15 August 1914 The Fortresses of Liege Les Ordres Nationaux Belges In French Bibliotheque royale de Belgique In French ARS MORIENDI Notables from Belgian history In French and Dutch nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liege Medal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liege Medal amp oldid 1206372625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
