Awarded to all that shortly after the war received the so called "Fire Card", i.e. all who came under fire at the front. Holders of this card also received a plaque in either French or Flemish, according to their mother tongue.
The decoration is a bronze cross with short, broad arms and was instituted on 6 February 1934 it is worn immediately after the Yser Medal (or Cross) and could not be awarded posthumously.