IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF DECORATIONS BELONGING TO LOUISE-ALBE - Lot 55

IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF DECORATIONS BELONGING TO LOUISE-ALBERTINE VERMEIREN (1873–1938), A NURSE DURING WORLD WAR I AND SENIOR MEDICAL AID WORKER IN THE BELGIAN CONGO. Nine decorations mounted on a pink damask silk background, set in a flat-profile wenge frame with mitered joints, likely made in the Congo. Composition of the set ROYAL RED CROSS, Second Class (Associate), Great Britain. Silver cross, obverse enamelled in red with wide silver borders, central medallion bearing the effigy of the sovereign, reverse bearing the crowned cipher of George V, arms inscribed with FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, and 1883. Dark blue ribbon with crimson edging, worn in a bow; women’s style. Decoration reserved for registered nurses from an officially recognized nursing service; second class established in November 1915. QUEEN ELIZABETH MEDAL, gilded bronze, red enameled cross with a loop, inscribed PRO PATRIA HONORE ET CARITATE. SECOND-CLASS CIVIC CROSS 1914–1918. White-enameled Maltese cross, two crossed swords, monogram of Albert I in the central medallion, saffron ribbon with black, yellow, and red bands along the edges, bar with the years. INTERALLIED VICTORY MEDAL, Belgian version designed by Paul Dubois, bronze, rainbow ribbon. 1914–1918 WAR COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL, bronze, profile of a soldier wearing a helmet. SILVER MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF THE CROWN. Obverse: the royal crown surrounded by the motto “WORK AND PROGRESS”; reverse: the double-L monogram of Leopold II, crowned and set within a wreath of palm leaves; loop in the shape of a royal crown. CONGO SERVICE STAR, silver, 30 mm, gold star in the center of the obverse; reverse bearing the motto “WORK AND PROGRESS,” with a blue ribbon featuring three silver bars corresponding to three periods of service completed. CROSS OF THE PILGRIMS OF THE HOLY LAND. Openwork Jerusalem Cross, inscriptions CRUCIFIXI CHRISTI AMOR TRAXIT NOS and central medallion LEO XIII P.M. CREAVIT AN. MCM, five medallions depicting the Holy Places, red, white, and yellow ribbon. NOMINATIVE MEDAL, silver plated metal, reverse engraved “To Miss VERMEIRE.” The recipient, Louise-Albertine Vermeiren, born in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode on February 17, 1873, died in Leopoldville on November 1, 1938. Senior Medical Assistant. From 1916 to 1919, she served at the Palais Royal ambulance station, specializing in the care of victims of mustard gas. In 1920, she left for the colony and spent six years at the Léopoldville Hospital for Blacks, a facility with more than 300 beds. During her third tour of duty, she was in charge of the medical service at the Léopoldville military camp, worked as a laboratory assistant, and taught at the Nursing School. There, she established prenatal and postnatal clinics, funded in part by her own personal resources. Known as Mama Lokala, she returned to the Congo for the sixth time at the age of sixty-four and died while on duty the following year. Bibliography: *Biographie Coloniale Belge*, Royal Belgian Colonial Institute, Volume IV, 1955, columns 918–920, entry by M.-L. Comeliau. Sources cited: *Tribune congolaise*, November 15 and December 15, 1938, and *Bulletin de l’Union des femmes coloniales*, December 1938. Dimensions Frame: 37.5 x 29 cm Condition: General wear and oxidation. Enamel of the Royal Red Cross in good condition. Some ribbons are worn, replaced, or non-compliant, notably that of the commemorative medal. Later mounting; silk backing has faded.