This medal was instituted on October 18, 1918, and was awarded to Belgian and Allied soldiers who, between October 17 and 31, 1914, served in the army that fought on the Yser River, halting the German advance. The medal is made of bronze. The medallion is enameled green. On the obverse, the word "Yser" appears, and on the reverse, the monogram "A," taken from King Albert. The obverse of the medal depicts a man with a lance, symbolizing the halting of the German army. The reverse shows the battlefield with a wounded lion, and the word "Yser" appears again. It is red with black borders, symbolizing blood and death. It was a bloody battle in which 60,000 men were killed and wounded, more than a third of the total strength of the Belgian army at the time! In used condition.