Military Cross (Belgium)

Military Cross

Military Cross First Class
Awarded by Kingdom of Belgium
Type Military decoration,
with degrees 1st Class and 2nd Class
Eligibility Commissioned Officers of the Belgian Armed Forces
Awarded for Loyal and uninterrupted service.
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 11 February 1885
Precedence
Next (higher) Military Decoration for exceptional action or for acts of bravery or devotion
Next (lower) Military Decoration for Meritorious Service

Ribbon bar of the Military Cross First Class

Ribbon bar of the Military Cross Second Class
Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Léon de Witte de Haelen, a recipient of the Military Cross 1st class
Lieutenant General Baron Jules Jacques de Dixmude, a recipient of the Military Cross 1st class
Lieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu Leman, a recipient of the Military Cross 1st class
Hubert, count Pierlot, a recipient of the Military Cross 2nd class

The Military Cross (Dutch: Militaire Kruis, French: Croix Militaire) is a military long service decoration of Belgium. It was established by Royal Decree on 11 February 1885 and is awarded to commissioned officers in the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service. Approximately 300 Military Crosses are awarded annually.[1]

Award statute

The Military Cross is awarded in two classes to commissioned officers of the Belgian armed forces on the basis of their length of service:[1]

Officers of the military reserve can also be awarded this decoration, on the condition that they participated in the yearly training period every year.[1]

Award description

The Military Cross is a black enamelled Maltese cross with a 1mm gilt edge, the cross arms end in eight 2mm in diameter gilt spheres. Gilt crossed swords pointing up are positioned between the arms of the cross. The obverse central medallion bears the Belgian "lion rampant", pre 1952, the reverse medallion bore the royal cypher of the reigning monarch, post 1952, the reverse is identical to the obverse.[1]

Suspension is by means of a ribbon through a suspension ring passing through the orb of a pivot mounted crown. The green silk moiré ribbon has two 5 mm wide red stripes set 1 mm from the ribbon's edges. The Military Cross First Class differs only from the second class award in the form of a rosette on the ribbon in the same colours as the ribbon.[1]

Notable recipients (partial list)

The individuals listed below were awarded the Military Cross 1st class:[2]

The individuals listed below were awarded the Military Cross 2nd class:[3]

Other recipients include:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Royal Decree of 11 February 1885 creating the Military Cross". Belgian Defence Ministry. 1885-02-11.
  2. ↑ "Recipients of the Military Cross 1st class compiled from the ARS MORIENDI web site" (in French). ARS MORIENDI. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  3. ↑ "Recipients of the Military Cross 2nd class compiled from the ARS MORIENDI web site" (in French). ARS MORIENDI. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-09-13.

Other sources

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