History

The Volunteer Combatant Medal (1914-1918) was awarded to Belgian citizens and foreigners who had voluntarily enlisted and served in the Belgian Armed Forces in the First World War.

There was a number of awarding criteria for the Medal. Volunteers under the age of 40 were required to have served for a minimum of 6 months, volunteers over the age of 40 were required to have served for 3 months, volunteers over the age of 50 were required to have served for a minimum of 1 month, and medical volunteers in Belgium were required to have served for 2 years. It was also awarded without limitations to volunteers who died in combat, those who were wounded in combat, and those who were taken prisoner by the enemy.

The reverse inscription translates to "Volunteer, the Country Remembers." The official model is inscribed “VOLONTARIIS,” but other versions exist with the inscription “VOLUNTARIIS.”