Herman

Interesting read. I think it is odd to not recognize operational military service because of an arbitrary cut-off date. Even after numerous reclamations and because making a new award or whidening the criteria is too expensive. While on the other hand the royal commemoration medals are handed out in very large numbers every ten or less years. Some of the reclamations are made in the Netherlands aswell nowadays. When you served for 1 day in Kosovo in 1999 you got a medal, while serving for 10 to 15 years in Germany during the cold war, including being shot at, got you nothing. regards Herman

Another Nice bar from the former Netherlands Indië’s. Unfortunately not named. regards Herman

922F, herewith a picture of another modern medalset belonging a guy I personally know very well. In fact I wear this set occasionally on my uniform. 😊 In 2021 I changed the figure XXX for XXXV on the Officerscross and hopefully will change it in 2026 for XL. Enjoy. regards Herman

The Officers Longe Service award was instituted in 1844 as a brooch (broach). From december 1866 it was changed to a cross with a removable center. From that year it was technically possible to change the center. If this was actually done from then I don’t know. I knew Peter Mulder also. (He died a few years back). He had a lot of knowledge about Dutch ODM, so it is possible that around 1910 this changing became a habit. Below 3 pictures. The first is the brooch used from 1844 to 1865, the second is the type used from 1866 and the third as it is awarded nowadays each year on December 6. This so called Prussian style of the ribbon started from 1913. regards Herman

Hi 922F, his officerscross in the set is that of 15 (XV) years. He never changed the (removable) number. This happened quite a lot. regards Herman

Hello 922F, from 1958 to 1964 the Dutch Army did its large Division scale exercises in France. Those exercises lasted several weeks. During the exercises several civic projects for the French population were done. This resulted in some awards of the Ordre du Merite Civil de l’Interieur to Dutch officers. I only found three officers sofar. General Edward van Hootegem received Royal approval to wear this order on his uniform on November 18th,1965, however I have an earlier picture from 1964 in which the ribbon is present in his ribbonset. As the Order was abolished in 1963, I guess he got it in 1962 of 1963 when he was Division commander. Furthermore he was made honorary citizen of the village La Courtine in september 1964. In December 1966 he received the 35 years long service award for his Officerscross. He retired January 1st, 1968. regards Herman

This is the medalbar of Lieutenant-General Edward van Hootegem. This bar is in my collection. The general earned a Dutch Bronze Cross (bravery award, second from left in the bar) for his escape as a Lieutenant and German Prisoner of War during a train movement between two prison Camps in January 1944. Several Dutch prisoners escaped during this journey. Some were caught and shot, Some were caught and returned to the new camp. Nine officers reached freedom after a long and tiring journey through central Europe. Via Odessa in the USSR they reached the UK in May 1945. After WW2 he served from 1951 to 1952 as a bataillon commander, as Lieutenant-colonel and Colonel he was Director of the Dutch War College (HKS) from 1952 to 1955. From 1962 to 1964 as a Major-general he was commander of the 1st Division ‘7 december’. His last position was commander of the Dutch 1st Army Corps from 1964 to 1967. Edward was born on March 13, 1907 and passed away on June 7th, 1996 The second picture is from 1965 as Corps commander. The third picture is his mugshot from May 1942 when he became a German POW. regards Herman

Here is a modern set of a Navy/Marine Corps NCO with a US Joint Service Achievement Medal. regards Herman

Wrong country, wrong period, but the ribbon of this Belgian Medal came immediatelely to my mind. The Medal of the Armed Resistance 1940-1945. Not a match offcourse 😉 regards Herman

Good detective work gentlemen 👍 regards Herman

The Dutch Draaginsigne Gewonden (Wound Badge). Regards Herman

A clasp 👍

Thanks for the quick answer Pieter

Forumites, i’m stumped. Can the experts shed some light on this? I have never seen this before. regards Herman

No digital award card is found at the Chancerry of Dutch Orders. regards Herman