Belgium, Kingdom. Two Awards & Decorations

Order of Leopold II, V Class Knight, Type II (1908-on) (Dutch: Orde van Leopold II, French: Ordre de Léopold II). Instituted in 1900 (in silver with blue and black enamels, measuring 39.2 mm (w) x 64.2 mm (h) inclusive of its crown and laterally-pierced ball suspension, chipping evident in the black enamels on the obverse centrepiece, silver crossed swords clasp on its original ribbon); and War Cross (Croix de Guerre). Instituted in 1915 (in bronze, measuring 39 mm (w) x 63 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, spotting, bronze palm and bronze lion on its original ribbon). Very fine and near extremely fine, respectively.

Footnote: The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honour of King Léopold II. The decoration was established on August 24, 1900 by Leopold II as king of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system. The order is awarded for meritorious service to the sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwill. It can be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners, and is seen as diplomatic gift of merit. The order has become a long service order for people in the civil service and is awarded alternatively with the Order of the Crown, as the Order of Leopold is awarded under rarer circumstances. The order currently stands third after the Order of Leopold (1st) and the Order of the Crown (2nd) in the Belgian honors hierarchy. The Order of Leopold II is awarded by royal decree, in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight, along with three medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze). The War Cross (Croix de Guerre) was instituted on October 25, 1915, to reward acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, and could also being awarded for long service at the front. Bronze, silver and silver-gilt palms and lion ribbon emblems were awarded for various categories of Mention in Despatches: five bronze being replaced by a silver emblem etc. in a similar fashion to the French Croix de Guerre. Various later decrees modified (expanded) the award criteria to include those who died of wounds, were escaped prisoners, along with certain volunteers.