The Yser Medal (, ) was a Belgian campaign medal of World War I, established on 18 October 1918 to denote distinguished service during the 1914 Battle of the Yser in which the Belgian Army stopped the German advance of the German invasion of Belgium. Statute The Yser Medal was awarded to the members of the Belgian Armed Forces who were part of the army fighting along the Yser river between 17 and 31 October 1914 that proved themselves worthy of the distinction. The medal could also be awarded to foreign nationals, members of allied military forces who took part in the Battle of the Yser. The medal could be awarded posthumously. The Yser Medal was worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other awards of Belgium, was placed directly after the Croix de Guerre (War Cross). Medal description The Yser medal was a 35 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze and surmounted by a smaller diameter green enameled medallion. The obverse bore a nude, helmeted man holding a lance (indicating the halting of the advance of the German forces), to his right, the relief inscription on three lines "17-31 OCT 1914". In the enameled medallion, the relief inscription "YSER". The reverse bore the relief image of the left side of a roaring wounded lion lying on the bank of the Yser river, an arrow in his left shoulder, below the lion, the relief inscription "YSER", in the medallion, the Belgian royal crown over the relief letter "A", the monogram of King Albert. The medal was suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a red silk moiré ribbon with wide black edge stripes. The red denoting the spilled blood, the black denoting the mourning. Notable recipients (partial list) The individuals listed below were awarded the Yser medal: King Albert I of Belgium. Aviator Lieutenant Colonel Baron Willy Coppens Lieutenant General Alphonse Ferdinand Tromme Lieutenant General Jules Joseph Pire Cavalry Lieutenant General Sir Maximilien de Neve de Roden Cavalry Lieutenant General Baron Victor Van Strijdonck de Burkel Lieutenant General Georges Deffontaine Lieutenant General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-Walcourt Lieutenant General Joseph Leroy Lieutenant General Robert Oor Lieutenant General Libert Elie Thomas Lieutenant General Léon Bievez Cavalry Major General Baron Beaudoin de Maere d’Aertrycke Major General Jean Buysse Major General Paul Jacques Police Lieutenant General Louis Joseph Leroy Police Lieutenant