Civic Guard Merit Medal

Medal of Merit of the Civil Guard
Medal of Merit of the Civil Guard
Type	Military decoration
Awarded for	Distinguished service
Presented by	Kingdom of Belgium
Eligibility	Members of the Belgian Civic guard
Clasps	None
Status	Abolished
Established	19 November 1830
First awarded	1830
Last awarded	1830
Total	5
Total awarded posthumously	0
Total recipients	5

The Medal of Merit of the Civil Guard (Dutch: medaille van verdienste van de burgerwacht, French: Médaille du mérite de la garde civique) is a decoration of Belgium. It was established on 18 November 1830 and was awarded to members of the Belgian Civil Guard for distinguished service.^[1]

Insignia

The medal is circular and gold-plated. the obverse bears a climbing lion holding up a lance surmounted by a phrenic cap, symbolizing liberty and freedom. Below the lion, the name of the creator of the medal is written (Braemt F.). The reverse of the medal shows a wreath similar to the one surrounding the Maltese cross of the Order of Leopold, being a wreath of laurel (left) and oak leaves (right). Within, the French text "recompense civique" (civil reward) is written.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 35 mm wide and consists of the following stripes:

5,6 mm Red;
1,6 mm Dark green;
5,6 mm White;
1,6 mm Dark green;
11,3 mm Red;
1,6 mm Dark green;
5,6 mm White;
1,6 mm Dark green;
5,6 mm Red;

Award conditions

The medal was awarded by the Belgian provisional government to members of the Belgian Civil Guard for distinguished service. Only five medals were ever awarded.^[2]

Order of precedence

The order of precedence of the medal was never formally established.

Recipients

Baron Emmanuel van der Linden d'Hooghvorst
Colonel Knight Van Coeckelberghe de Dudzele
Major François Michiels
An unknown sergeant
An unknown member of the guard

References

^ Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)
^ Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Brussels)

[1] Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)

[2] Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Brussels)

[1]

[2]

v t e Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium
National orders	Order of Leopold Order of the African Star Royal Order of the Lion Order of the Crown Order of Leopold II
Pre–1914	Civic Guard Merit Medal 1830 Star of Honour Iron Cross 1830 Volunteers' Commemorative Cross 1870–71 Commemorative Medal Service Star
World War I	War Cross 1914–18 Fire Cross 1914–1918 Yser Cross and Medal Volunteer Combatant's Medal 1914–1918 Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1918 War Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1917 African Campaigns Liège Medal Maritime Decoration 1914–1918 Political Prisoner's Medal 1914–1918 Deportees' Cross 1914–1918 1914–1918 Medal for National Restoration King Albert Medal Queen Elisabeth Medal Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 Civic Decoration 1914–1918 Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food
World War II & Korean War	War Cross 1940–45 Maritime Medal 1940–1945 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal Volunteer's Medal 1940–1945 1940–1945 African War Medal 1940–1945 Colonial War Effort Medal Abyssinian Campaigns Commemorative Medal Resistance Medal 1940–1945 Civilian Resistance Medal Civilian Disobedience Medal Political Prisoner's Cross 1940–1945 Prisoner of War Medal 1940–1945 Escapees' Cross 1940–1945 Medal for Resistance against Nazism in the Annexed Territories Medal of the Recruiting Centers 1940 Medal of Belgian Gratitude 1940–1945 Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War Foreign Operational Theatres Commemorative Medal
Current military awards	Military Decoration for exceptional service, bravery or exceptional devotion Military Cross Military Decoration for faithful service Cross of Honour for Military Service Abroad Commemorative Medal for Armed Humanitarian Operations Commemorative Medal for Foreign Operations or Missions Commemorative medal for missions or operations regarding the operational defense of the territory Meritorious Service Medal
Current civilian awards	Civil decoration for acts of bravery, selfsacrifice and philanthropy Civil decoration for faithful service Labour Decoration Laureate of labour
Commemorative medals	Commemorative Decoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Railroads Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II Commemorative Medal for the 75th Anniversary of the Belgian Postal Service Centenary of National Independence Commemorative Medal Commemorative Medal for the Centenary of the Telegraphic Service Commemorative Medal for the 100th Anniversary of the Belgian Postal Service Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Albert I Commemorative Medal for the "European March of Memory and Friendship" "Four Days of the Yser" Commemorative Medal
Belgian Red Cross	Order of the Belgian Red Cross Blood Donour's Medal 1940–1945 Cross of Honour of the Belgian Red Cross 1940–1945 Belgian Red Cross Decoration
Belgium portal