Victory Medal 1914–1918

The Victory Medal is the Belgian variant of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 ("Médaille de la Victoire 1914–1918, "Zegemedaille 1914–1918") was a Belgian commemorative war medal established by royal decree on 15 July 1919 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces who served during the First World War. Later royal decrees enlarged the list of potential recipients to include service in African campaigns and under special circumstances, to members of the merchant navy and fishing fleet. In all, 350,000 were awarded. The Belgian sculptor Paul Du Bois was responsible for the design. It is worn immediately after the Yser Medal (or Yser Cross) in the Belgian order of precedence. The Belgian Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 was a 36 mm in diameter circular gilt bronze medal. Its obverse bore a winged victory standing on a globe, her arms and wings spread out, looking down at Earth. The reverse bore, superimposed over a laurel wreath, the coats of arms of the Allies, starting at center top and going clockwise, French Third Republic, United States, Empire of Japan, Kingdom of Greece, Brazil, Serbia, Portugal, Kingdom of Italy, United Kingdom, and at center, the Royal Coat of Arms of Belgium. Along the outer circumference, the relief bilingual inscription in French and Dutch "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION" (LA GRANDE GUERRE POUR LA CIVILISATION", "DE GROOTE OORLOG TOT DE BESCHAVING"). The medal was suspended by a ring through a suspension loop from a 38 mm wide silk moiré rainbow coloured ribbon common to the Inter-Allied Victory Medals 1914–1918 of all the First World War Allies.