Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Belgian Great War group of seven awarded to Major U. Guffens, 8th Belgian Infantry Regiment, who was mortally wounded at Tervaete on the Yser Front on 21 October 1914, and died of his wounds on 20 November 1914

Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, French motto, with rosette and silver palm emblem on riband; Military Cross, Second Class, A.I.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, with bronze palm emblem on riband; King Leopold II Commemorative Medal 1865-1905, bronze-gilt; Yser Medal 1914, bronze and enamel; Commemorative Medal for the Great War 1914-1918, bronze; Allied Victory Medal, bronze; together with the recipient’s Chevalier’s badge for the Order of Leopold, Military Division, silver and enamel, French motto, good very fine and better (8) £300-£400

Ulysse Guffens was born in Namur on 18 February 1870 and was admitted to the Army Orphans’ School on 26 September 1881. Enrolling into the Belgian Army on his fourteenth birthday, he was promoted Corporal on 7 August 1886, and after a short period of service was selected for admission to the Royal Military College, arriving there on 4 January 1888. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 4 January 1900, he was posted initially to the 11th Infantry Regiment, before transferring to the 14th Infantry Regiment.

Promoted Lieutenant on 25 March 1896, Guffens attended the Staff College, and upon graduating was posted to the 2nd Guides Cavalry Regiment on 24 November 1898. After further Staff postings he was promoted Captain on 26 June 1904, and Captain-Commandant on 27 December 1908. He served with the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front, fighting with his unit all the way from Namar, to Antwerp, to the Yser Front. Holding the line at Tervaerte, waiting for British and French reinforcements to arrive, he was wounded on 21 October 1914 whilst repelling a massive German attack that had followed three days of bombardment. Evacuated to London, he died of his wounds on 2 November 1914.

In 1920, Guffens was posthumously promoted Major, backdated to 19 November 1914. The 8th Infantry Regiment was awarded ‘Tervaete’ as a Battle Honour.

Sold together with an extensive archive, including the Award Document for the Order of Leopold, Officer, with palm, and the Croix de Guerre, both retroactively awarded on 15 February 1915; Award Document for the Order of Leopold, Chevalier, dated 26 November 1910; Award Document for the Military Cross, Second Class, dated 8 May 1911; Award Document for the King Leopold II Commemorative Medal, dated 17 March 1906; Award Document for the Yser Medal, dated 1 June 1920; Award Document for the Great War Commemorative Medal, dated 15 May 1922; and the Award Document for the Allied Victory Medal, dated 15 May 1922; together with various commission and service record documents; a photographic image of the recipient; and copied research.