Belgium, Order of Leopold I, unilingual, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, Order of the Crown, 3rd Class neck badge, gilt base metal and enamel, lacking neck loop; Escapers’ Cross 1939-45, bronze, very fine and better (3) £60-80

André Marie de Staercke was born in Ghent on 10 November 1913. He studied at the College of Sainte Barbe in Ghent and at the Universities of Ghent, Louvain and Paris, becoming a Doctor of Laws. Employed as a Counsellor of Administration in 1939, he escaped the German invasion and in 1943 became Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister. During 1945-50 he acted as Secretary to the Prince Regent. Appointed Belgian representative to the Council of N.A.T.O. in 1951, he gained the position of Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to N.A.T.O. in 1952, a position he was to hold for 25 years.