1940–1945 African War Medal
The 1940–1945 African War Medal (Médaille de la Guerre Africaine 1940-1945, Afrikaanse Oorlogsmedaille 1940-1945) was a Belgian war service medal established by royal decree of the Regent on 30 January 1947 and awarded to officers and soldiers for at least one year's service in the Force Publique between 10 May 1940 and 7 May 1945. This service was not limited to the Belgian colonies of the Congo and Ruanda-Urundi but also included the Middle East, Nigeria, Madagascar and Burma, for which clasps were awarded for six months service in those areas. Persons eligible for award of both the 1940–1945 Colonial War Effort Medal and the 1940–1945 African War Medal could only receive one of the two, usually the one earned for the longest period of service.
1940–1945 African War Medal
- Name
- 1940-1945 African War Medal
- Period
- 1947
- Region
- Belgium
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Documentary summary
The 1940–1945 African War Medal (Médaille de la Guerre Africaine 1940-1945, Afrikaanse Oorlogsmedaille 1940-1945) was a Belgian war service medal established by royal decree of the Regent on 30 January 1947 and awarded to officers and soldiers for at least one year's service in the Force Publique between 10 May 1940 and 7 May 1945. This service was not limited to the Belgian colonies of the Congo and Ruanda-Urundi but also included the Middle East, Nigeria, Madagascar and Burma, for which clasps were awarded for six months service in those areas. Persons eligible for award of both the 1940–1945 Colonial War Effort Medal and the 1940–1945 African War Medal could only receive one of the two, usually the one earned for the longest period of service.
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wikidata · Q63657 · wikipedia · 1940–1945 African War Medal
In this article
Overview
Overview
The 1940-1941 Belgian Ethiopian Campaign has his own medal: the Abyssinian Campaign Medal.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 1940-1945 African War Medal • Presenter — Kingdom of Belgium • Type — War service medal • Eligibility — Belgian citizens • Awarded For — Service in the Force Publique during World War II • Status — No longer awarded • Established — 30 January 1947
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 1 entries
1947
1940–1945 African War Medal first recorded.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Belgium
Award description
The 1940–1945 African War Medal was a 52mm high (including suspension) by 33mm wide rectangular medal struck from bronze with sloped upper shoulders and rounded lower corners. Its obverse bore the relief images of the left profiles of a native African soldier wearing a fez and of a pith-helmeted Belgian soldier, both within a recessed central area. Under the recess, the embossed years "1940 - 1945". The reverse was plain. Four clasps were issued for wear on the ribbon inscribed in French: • NIGERIE (must be read as NIGÉRIE) for six months service in Nigeria • MOYEN-ORIENT for six months service in the Middle East • MADAGASCAR for six months service in Madagascar • BIRMANIE for six months service in Burma Air force personnel who served in theatre whether on an operational combat or transport unit received the medal with a miniature set of bronze wings on the ribbon. The 1940–1945 African War Medal was suspended by a ring passing laterally though a suspension loop at the top of the medal, from a 37mm wide light blue silk moiré ribbon with a 5mm wide central yellow stripe and 3mm wide yellow stripes situated 5mm from the ribbon edges.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Other sources
Other sources
• Quinot H., 1950, Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition. (Hasselt) • 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)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Belgian Government. Royal Decree of the Regent of 30 January 1947 creating the 1940-1945 African War Medal. 1947-01-30.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Medals
1,069 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- 1914–15 StarTerminology
- 1914–1917 African Campaigns Commemorative MedalTerminology
- 1914–1918 Commemorative War MedalTerminology
- 1939–45 StarTerminology
- 1943–1944 Italian campaign medalTerminology
- 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance MedalTerminology
- Abyssinian War MedalTerminology
- Accumulated Campaign Service MedalTerminology
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