Belgium, Kingdom. Three Awards to Fernand-Joseph Gillain Hallaux

1.An Order of Leopold II, Knight’s Cross with Silver Palm. A Maltese cross, each of the arms finished with two ball finials, superimposed on a laurel wreath, blue enameled center shows a crowned lion ringed by the motto “L’union fait la force”, reverse center shows the monogram of Leopold II, inclusive of crown suspension 64.5 mm (h) x 39 mm (w), on original ribbon with silver palm, very fine condition. 

Footnote: The Order of Leopold I was established 11th of July 1832 by King Leopold I. It is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is awarded for military, maritime and civil service.

2. A Commemorative Medal of the 1940-1945 War with Crossed Lightning Flashes. A bronze medal, the obverse bears a large V with a lion, flanked by the dates 1940 1945, the reverse bears the relief inscription along the upper contour of the medal reads MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE, the lower contour reads HERINNERINGSMEDAILLE, center inscriber with the dates 1940-1945 between the words DE LA GUERRE and VAN DEN OORLOG, on original ribbon with crossed lightning flashes denoting service in intelligence, 36.6 mm, very fine condition. 

3. A Croix de Guerre with Silver Palm. A bronze Maltese cross, each of the arms finished with two ball finials, crossed by two swords, the obverse centerpiece shows a crowned lion, the reverse center shows the monogram of Leopold II, inclusive of crown suspension 63.1 mm (h) x 38.5 mm (w), very fine condition. 

Footnote: The World War II Croix de guerre was established on 20 July 1940 by the Belgian government in exile, it differed from the World War I version in its statute and slight changes to the reverse of the central medallion and the ribbon. 

Footnote: The Croix de Guerre was instituted on 16 February 1945 to recognise Belgian servicemen and women who served during World War II. 

Footnote: Fernand-Joseph Gillain Hallaux was posthumously presented these awards on 22 July 1946. He was recognized as a strong patriot who placed himself in service in intelligence and action, successfully fulfilling his missions. He was caught by enemies during a mission and killed at Grand Manil on 5 September 1944.