WAR AND PEACE MEDALS

European commemorative medals 20th century

WW1 & Later

Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany etc.

The themes of the following historical medals are war and peace as propaganda, satire, heroism, tragedy and and the triumph of hope, generosity and resolve. They merit study so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

Updated April 2008 Please note that medals are offered subject to being unsold. Also the medals are not shown actual size - take note of the measurement.
Medals are made of bronze, struck, in extremely fine condition and of date contemporary with original design, unless described otherwise. Please see our terms and conditions of sale for buying notes.
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	France: Debout la France (Rise up, France!) Aviator with ruined cathedral to left and Notre Dame de Paris to right, a small bronze medallet to be worn on a chain or lapel 26mm. by Tairac: worn as a favour; £25
	Belgium Namur Brave les Obus Autrichiens 4-25 Aout 1914 Namur besieged by Austrian artillery. Sa Garnison debarque a Ostende 2 & 3 septembre 1914 Relief arrives in Ostend. 69mm struck bronze (another medal from the Soc Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille issue XVII) 1922 medal by P Theunis.nEF GBP 50
	Belgium *La Belgique repare les Desastres de la Guerre* reverse Phoenix rising (WW1 Reparations) 1926 Georges Petit Mauquoy (another medal from the Soc Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille EF GBP 50
	Belgium: *Les Amis de la medaille d'art au Baron Laermans, painte*r "Au Peintre des Humbles" 2 men in clogs, 1939 no. XXXIV by the Soc. Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille. by Auguste Bija 70mm. bronze original paper EF GBP 50
	Belgium: Sainte Gudule, patron saint of Brussels. Reverse: One of her visions of Satan vanquished by Angel. 1931 no. XXVI by the Soc. Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille. By Jourdain edited by Fibru Fisch. struck bronze, two-tone patina 70mm. original paper, card box, EF GBP 45
	Belgium Marriage of Leopold and Astrid reverse a classical allegory of marriage, 1927 no. XXII by P. Theunis for Soc. Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille.Struck bronze, gilt surface. EF GBP 45
	Belgium La Religion et L'Humanite: During life - children in the Hand of God. Reverse: After death - Sic Transit Gloria Mundi - Four horsemen of the Apocalypse 1932 XXVII by J Dupon Soc. Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille, original paper, struck bronze 70mm. EF GBP 60
	Marshal French, 1st Earl of Ypres, leader of the British Expeditionary Force in France August 1914. Medal to commemorate the arrival of the BEF by E Blin. 70mm. bronze EF GBP 60 In Belgium, he was an aggressive general with little regard for the safety of his men and the need for tactical withdrawal; he went on to suppress the Irish Uprising of 1916. From 1918-1921 he was Viceroy and Commander of the British Army in Ireland
	Belgium A l'aube de la Victoire - old man & girl sitting barefoot before the dawn Reverse Poem: Notre angoisse n'est plus qu'un reve (from Dutch/Belgian series of medals) by G Devreese for Mauquoy GBP 45
	Belgium General Leman, Le Defenseur de Liege. Lieutenant-General Leman was the commander of Belgian Army defending the Liege Forts in 1914. Bronze 68mm by Henri Nocq. Reverse lion versus eagle. EF GBP 50
	France Gloire au Soldat Inconnu; by Raoul Benard, 1921 the apotheosis of the unknown soldier. rev. "Ici Repose un soldat francais mort pour la patrie 1914 1918" the words on the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 68mm struck bronze EF GBP 75
France: Pierre Grandhomme, Entrainement Physique Preparation Militaire Prix du Ministre de la Guerre (Physical Training and Military Training - prize medal awarded by the Minister for War) 1911. A romanticised preparation for war, with the reverse showing the sports equipment, the new airplane (top) and fencing foils used.		Struck bronze version, 49mm ,VF GBP 30
Another example: France: Pierre Grandhomme, Entrainement Physique Preparation Militaire Prix du Ministre de la Guerre (Physical Training and Military Training - prize medal awarded by the Minister for War) - as above, different metal		Struck silver gilt version, 50mm. VF GBP 65
	Marie Depage & Edith Cavell: reverse: 1915 Remember! A commemorative medal by Bonnetain, 1919, for the nurses who were executed for their humanity. Bronze 60mm. VF edge knock at 4 o'clock, scarce and popular medal GBP 45
	Belgium Edith Cavell, with quotation "Je suis heureuse de mourir pour ma patrie" (I'm happy to die for my country); reverse a small cross, symbol of her nursing with the word Remember, and Bruxelles 12 Octobre 1915, the date of her execution; a small gilt medallet,26mm. facing portrait by E Dutemps (sic) EF GBP 15
	Belgium, La Fleur de l'Orphelin (the Orphan's flower) by G Devreese. Reverse "J'aide et je console" Help and consolation for war orphans. A benefactor's reward. 46mmx60mm. gilt bronze plaquette. extremely fine condition GBP 30
	Aux Braves by J Aumont, Victory pinning a medal on the chest of a brave infantryman, with a background of trench warfare; reverse palm and oak leaves, 57x67mm bronze plaquette, low relief, GBP 35
	Belgium Peace Medal Pax/Leo Aquilam Vicit (the Lion betters the Eagle - in this case Belgium versus Germany) by J Witterwulghe (WW1) struck silvered bronze, patina uneven on obverse, reverse very attractive and extremely fine. 60mm. rare GBP 50
	Belgium La Prusse garantit la Neutralite Belge/ 4 Aout 1914 Prussia guarantees Belgian Neutrality - that promise broken 4 August 1914 with the invasion of Belgium by Germany, medal by Alfons Mauquoy (Antwerp) 1920, (series Soc Royale Belge des Amis de la Medaille d'art) bronze, dark olive brown patina, EF 69mm. GBP 50
	France: Patrie WW1. The state comforts the wounded soldier, reverse, oak and laurel leaves by Hippolyte Lefebvre struck bronze, olive patina, 57mm. unusual GBP 35
	France: Honneur - Patrie; reverse the French cockerel with dates 1914 1916, by A Dujardin 50mm. struck bronze - olive patina (not reddish as photo!) slight rubbing on highest points as photos; GBP 24
	Zouave by Huguenin - a black African colonial infantryman, like those who fought on the Rhine ; reverse usual impedimenta of war - drums, banners but also an exploding cannon ball. 50mm struck bronze, rare GBP 65
	Belgium, Mauquoy, L'avenir (The Future) baby in the cradle with layette while Antwerp explodes in the background; the two hands symbol of the city; mother and child - il faut les vetir (we must clothe them). Die shows crack on reverse top left, otherwise no wear, just dirt spots; 51x71mm GBP 30
	Belgium La Province eprouvee by Alb. Carlens(The Provinces put to the test). Mother with child and baby in her arms against a wind-swept landscape; reverse text. light brown colour (lighter than photo) 60mm square, EF rare GBP 45
	Belgium: War Aid charity medal for Brabant by G Devreese. Souviens toi.. woman instructing a child as she writes in a ledger: reverse, within wreath Comite Provincial de Secours et d'Alimentation pour le Brabant 1914-1919 silvered bronze, edit. Fonson 70mm slightly spotty patina but otherwise EF GBP 30
		La France Reconnaissante 1914-1918 - Grateful France - a private medal with space for naming. A queue of the grateful French people, mainly children, widows and the old greeting the Republic, (silvered bronze) 70x53mm. gVF/EF GBP 32
	Alsace by G Prudhomme, 1919, a young woman in typical local dress: reverse a townscape with a pair of storks on their nest on top of one of the chimneys, bronze plaquette 50x68mm, GBP 40
		France, Lion de Belfort by Bartholdi Awarded on the reverse by the Escadron de Flandre (Flanders Squadron) to Lt. Raymond Lambelin of the reserve artillery for 10 years in the education service 1927-1937. bronze plaquette.75x98mm boxed. EF GBP 80
	Belgium Namur - Alimentation de l'Enfance (Food for Children) by Theunis. Children being greeted by Namur personified, 1918; reverse view of the river and bridge over. Silvered bronze, somewhat tarnished, very little surface wear. 51x72mm GBP 30
	Belgium: Yser, Enamelled shields of the places first invaded by Germany in WW1. Nieuport, Dixmude, Ypres, Furnes. reverse: Surpris dans son sommeil le Lion s'eveille (Caught napping, the lion awakes) 1914. struck silver (not marked) 50mm. GBP 60
	*British Red Cross Society medals* Left: *Red Cross First Aid badge, two bars 1951 1952,* enamel on base metal. numbered and named on back. 39mm condition overall EF, damage to enamel on one bar GBP 12 Right: Proficiency in *Red Cross First Aid badge* 39mm condition overall EF GBP 12
	Israel *David Ben-Gurion Centennial 1886-1986* rev. declaration of the State of Israel by Ben-Gurion 70mm struck bronze as issued GBP 12
	Israel *50 years of the State of Israel - A Jubilee for You (Leviticus 25:10)* 70mm struck bronze as issued GBP 12
	Israel Egypt Peace Treaty 1979 reverse quotation from Leviticus 70mm struck bronze as issued GBP 12
	*Israel Jordan Peace Agreement 26.10.1994* two flags and olive branch - doves of peace. 70mm struck bronze as issued GBP 12
	*Germany WW1* Left: Otto v. Bismarck by Mayer; rev. In Trinitate Robur with oakleaves and acorns. Bronze plaquette, 73x52mm. VF GBP 40
	*Austria, Franz Josef*, by Hartig, small silver medallet 24mm. GBP 20
	*WW1* Germany Right 1914-1915 To the Fallen of Limanova, Tarnow, Gorlice - medal by Mazura Bronze 61mm. gVF rare GBP 78 Left: Austrian Red Cross 1914-1915 charity medal portrait of Conrad Freiherr Hotzendorf by Alfred Hoffmann 1915 iron GBP 30
	Left *(Austro-Hungary) The Family affected by War* - a wounded returning soldier, the mother breast feeding her baby. Uniface plaquette by Szekel, charity purposes, zinc 32x46mm. GBP 35 Right: *(Austro-Hungary) Finta* Hydra killed 1918, in exergue 14 es Honved (homesick) 24 x 58mm zinc GBP 35