Medal of Belgian Gratitude


The Medal of Belgian Gratitude is a Belgian medal instituted to be awarded to civilians on 1 August 1945.

Insignia

The medal measures 34 mm in diameter and has an octagonal shape.
The obverse depicts a veiled woman facing to the right, with a rapier in her right hand, raised in salute.
The medal came in 3 versions: gold, silver and bronze.
The reverse bears the inscription “PATRIA GRATA 1940 1945” with a decorative pattern on either side of the inscription.
The medal is attached to the ribbon via a laurel wreath. The laurel wreath is open in the center. However, the wreath is filled with a red cross when it is awarded for meritorious service during the administration of aid to the sick or the wounded.
The ribbon is purple, with 3 central stripes of black, yellow and red, the colors of the Belgian national flag.
Medal of Belgian gratitude in gold, silver and bronze, with and without red enamel cross

Award conditions

The medal of Belgian gratitude was awarded for devotion to philanthropy in order to relieve people from the depravations of the war.

Notable recipients (partial list)