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Date: |
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Description: | J.FONSON
obverse design : Britannia, sitting, facing right, helmeted, supporting a trident with her right hand, her left arm
extended over a memorial tablet inscribed "CONSTITUTION BELGE 1831". By her side an oval shield bearing the Union Flag device and facing
her a lion, its head resting on her lap
obverse text : "MAGNA BRITANIA PROTECTRIX"
reverse design : shield, bearing the arms of Belgium, crowned, encircled by a crown of thorns. Below the shield and at left and right edges
of piece text rendered on individual textured oval panels
reverse text : "A L'ANGLETERRE HOMMAGE ET RECONNAISSANCE DES BELGES" (in 7 lines) & "PROTECTION" (left edge) & "HOSPITALITE" (right
edge)
Post-war medal by Josuë Dupon (1864-1935) which commemorates Great Britain as a guarantor of Belgian independence, and
pays generous tribute to the British sacrifices incurred on Belgium's behalf during the First World War. The obverse text is translated as
'Great Britain protectress' and reverse text as 'To England, homage and gratitude from Belgium'. The reference to the Belgian constitution
of 1831 is a reminder of Belgium's status as neutral country, originally guaranteed by all the major European powers and formally
reaffirmed by the Treaty of London of 1839. German. The medal's design was completed by September 1915, but production did not commence
until February 1919. See also MED 790. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | British Defence of & 1914 = 1918 Western Front & Belgium commemorative | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Dupon, Josuë | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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