Belgium. Collection of Belgian and French medals awarded to ...

Hammer

£400

Belgium. Collection of Belgian and French medals awarded to Colonel Armand Hopas, medals include Belgian Order of Leopold knight's breast badge with crown and palme, Croix de Guerre (detached at suspender) with palme, Yser Medal with palme, Fire Cross, WW1 War Medal, Victory Medal, 1914 Battle of Nieuport Medal, French Legion d'Honneur officer's breast badge, 1914-18 Croix de Guerre with 3 palmes, WW1 and WW2 Combatant's Cross, Verdun Medal, Wound Medal, WW1 War Medal (2, 1 with Engage Volontaire clasp), WW2 War Medal (Liberation clasp), Cross of Lorraine with 3 palmes and Medaille Militaire, in mixed condition all mounted within home made backing board (removed from a frame).
With a large certificate (slightly cut down on left side) and medal from La Federation Colombophile Internationale awarding the Medal of Honour, certificate named to Monsieur le Colonel Baron A. Hopas dated Feb 1963, medal engraved Olympiade Ostende 1963.
With 5 copied 1950s/60s newspaper articles relating to Col Hopas who was a renowned expert in pigeon racing. Paper extracts include "He trained many pigeons to fly behind enemy lines for British Intelligence in WW2. He died aged 69 and had a distinguished career in both world wars. In WW1 he was in the Belgian Army and was awarded the Legion of Honour, the Order of Leopold for bravery in capturing a machine gun post in France. In the late war, he was a member of the French underground movement. He made several parachute jumps behind enemy lines and in one of these, badly injured his back. He was decorated with the Croix de Lorraine and Croix de St Bridget." Another report stated "In WW1 he served with outstanding gallantry with the Belgian Iron Division, and later with the Commandos of the French Foreign Legion." (B)