Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Belgian Order of Leopold II posthumous group of four attributed to R. H. O. Hannecart, who served during the Second World War as an active and devoted member of the intelligence and action resistance unit Group G, and was executed at Bois-de-Lessines on 25 July 1944

Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, French motto, with ‘L’ silver palm emblem on riband, enamel damage to wreath around central medallion; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with ‘L.III’ bronze palm emblem on riband; War Medal 1940-45, bronze; Resistance Medal 1940-45, bronze, very fine and better (4) £200-£240

Renaud Henri Oscar Hannecart served with the Belgian forces during the Second World War, and was awarded the Order of Leopold II on 15 November 1944.

Renaud Hannecart was born at Lessines, Belgium, on 16 June 1923. Aged 16 when the Germans invaded his country during the Second World War, he voluntarily joined an ‘intelligence and action’ resistance group called ‘Group G’ and eventually rose to the function of Sector Commander, in charge of sector 3260. Originating from the University of Brussels Group G counted highly skilled technical experts among its members and leadership and is widely regarded as the most effective resistance organization in Belgium during the Second World War. It focused primarily on sabotage actions and did so under auspices and with co-operation of the Special Operations Executive. These were the men that put Churchill’s ‘Set Europe Ablaze’ order to the S.O.E. in practice, but at a high cost, with the deaths of almost 1,000 of its approximately 4,000 members.

On 27 July 1944 the Germans surrounded Hannecart’s parental home where he was living. Hannecart tried to flee through a back-window of his home while the Germans were in front of the place. An isolated German however was hiding behind a tree at the back and killed him with a single shot. He is buried in the Communal Cemetery at Bois-de-Lessines (Lessenbos), Hainaut Province, Belgium. On his parental home where he found his death a memorial plaque has been put in place. A monument to commemorate Group G has also been erected at Brussels University.

Post-war Renaud Hannecart was posthumously confirmed in the rank of Adjutant, and was awarded with the Knight’s grade of the Order of Leopold II with palm emblem; the Croix de Guerre with palm emblem; the War Medal; and the Resistance Medal. The citation for the awards states: ‘An active and devoted member of Group G. He was arrested for his patriotic activities, and was executed at Bois-de-Lessines on 25 July 1944.’

Sold with named bestowal documents for all four awards, as well a Bestowal Document for a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown, with swords, named to Yvon-Georges-Renard Hannecart, and dated 21 July 1949; and a photographic image of the recipient.