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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 653

An interesting group awarded to Monsieur Leon Collette, Editorial Secretary of La Libre Belgique

Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, with Palme; Commemorative Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-18; National Federation of War Invalids Medal; Volunteer Combatant's Medal 1914-1918; Reconnaissance Medal; Vatican, Holy See, Order of St Gregory, breast Badge; Order of Saint Sylvester, breast Badge, in case of issue; Lateran Cross, in case of issue; Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, in case of issue; Italy, Star of Italy and Prince of Piedmont; France, Mutualite Agricole Cross; Portugal, Red Cross Decoration, in its case of issue; Spain, Real and Benemérita Institution of the Spanish Knights Hospitallers of San Juan Bautista; Academic Merit Award (2); United Kingdom, West Ham Catholic Award, a most unusual combination, very fine (Lot)

Leon Collette was born at Dison on 29 May 1894 and commenced his career as a journalist in 1912. His Great War Volunteer Medal indicates he volunteered for service with the Belgian Army during the Great War - the bars on his War Medal indicate some four and a half years of service. His bravery was recognised by the award of the Belgian Croix de Guerre and the Palme notes he was mentioned in despatches at Brigade level. His National Federation of War Invalids Medal indicates that he served the Federation in support of its aims. His death was reported in Le Soir:

'We learn about the death in Brussels at the age of 75 of Monsieur Leon Collette, Editorial Secretary of La Libre Belgique. He joined La Libre Belgique a few days after the Armistice in November 1918. He took care for many years of the minutes of parliamentary debates. We present our condolences to our brothers at La Libre Belgique.'

He was also mentioned on numerous occasions in the history of the newspaper:

'Leon Collette, who governs the editorial secretariat is found by some admirable and by others hateful. He's been there since 1932. He reveres the elders and forces the young to subordinate work. It does not attract anyone. He embodies a professional conscience and a dedication that are unique to this newspaper. He is tireless and present everywhere. He can fall on your back at any time - and woe to him who seems to be twiddling his thumbs. 'Do you have leisure? Here are some little jobs.' This is the formula for adjusting lazy people and designating the texts to be reduced, the communications to be summarized in four lines, the radio programs to be arranged, the local news to rewrite." - "He always arrives at the newspaper first. Every morning, from 8 am, his motorbike in the courtyard. He takes off on his helmet, puts on his dust jacket, lights his pipe again and sets out to campaign. The intermediary between the boss and the editing, intendant of servile tasks, nothing escapes him, due less what is at his level.'

Furthermore:

'The behaviour of Leon Collette is, in short, in accordance with the philosophy that permeates the universe where La Libre Belgique and its audience are located. Every year, subscription lists for Catholic schools are published there; whole columns are devoted to the lists of the readers who want to contribute their share to the pontifical gifts. It was the time when it happened that, in church, the priest during his sermon asked his faithful to avoid reading Le Soir and to read La Libre Belgium - great publicity.'

Sold together with five related table Medals, these engraved, besides named forwarding slip for a Vatican award, besides copied biographical research.


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Sold for
£280

Starting price
£240