Importance
The historical importance of the Battle of the Yser is twofold. First, Germany did not manage to defeat the Belgian army and knock Belgium out of the war. Second, the German failure to occupy the last corner of Belgium helped to conclude the Race to the Sea and contributed to the establishment of the Western front.
The struggle of the Belgian army to hold on to its territory during the remainder of the war, and especially the experiences of ordinary Flemish foot soldiers, led to an increased Flemish national consciousness in the then overwhelmingly Francophone-dominated Belgian society.
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Belgian Commemorative Medal (Front)
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Belgian Commemorative Medal (Obverse)
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Belgian Commemorative medal
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French Fusiliers marins being decorated
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