Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting Belgian Second War B.E.M. group of fifteen awarded to Adjutant A. F. H. A. Buekens, Belgian Ministry of National Defence, who served in the 1940 Campaign and participated in the Resistance Movement

Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamel; Order of Leopold II, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamel; Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with Belgian lion bronze emblem on riband signifying Mention in Despatches at Divisional level; Medal of the Resistance 1940-45, bronze; War Medal 1940-45, bronze, with crossed swords emblem on riband; Medal for Combat Volunteers, 1 clasp, Pugnator, bronze; Medal for Prisoners of War 1940-45, bronze, with bronze riband bar; Military Decoration, Second Class, for Long Service, silver; Albert I Silver Jubilee Medal 1934, bronze; France, Cross of Resistance of Réseau Sylvestre, reverse dated 1942-45, bronze; Great Britain, British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Adjudant Albert F H A Buekens), silver; United States of America, Medal of Freedom, bronze; France, Republic, Croix du Guerre, reverse dated 1939, bronze, with bronze star emblem on riband; War Medal 1939-45, 1 clasp, France, gilt; Medal of Liberated France 1944, bronze, mounted on three separate bars, generally good very fine or better and a scarce combination (15) (15) £600-£800

B.E.M. 140.22381 Adjudant Albert Ferdinand Hector Adrien Buekens, Chef du Service des Decorations Adjoint, Belgian Ministry of National Defence.

The original Recommendation, dated 3 April 1946, and signed by Montgomery of Alamein, states: ‘Went through 1940 campaign. Participated in Resistance Movement. As NCO attached to 2nd Bureau showed ability and devotion to duty in manifold missions including particularly questions of awards to representatives of Liberation Armies.’