Herman

I received the AGO card through Red Bird research today. Great job of Lori Miller. Willie Royce was in K coy, 120th Infantry, 30th Division. He fought in France and was wounded on September 29, 1918. That day they breached the German Hindenburg line near Bellicourt. He received his PH on July 6th, 1940. Mystery solved.

GM1, if what you say is true, that means that a lot of them are out there. I own several Belgian VMs and after checking them all not one of them has a open line in the ball. I go with the sawed open option i''m afraid. Quite a puzzle eeh?! Regards Herman

Hi Brett, It has something to do with double decorating for the same period. Direct after WW2 dutch miltary personell were not allowed to wear two or more campaign medals for the same period. The Netherlands instituted the Oorlogherinneringskruis (OHK) with in total 11 clasps and that was it. If one was entitled to a France and Germany star, one should wear the equivalent clasp to the Dutch war cross and not the star. There were rules indicating which medal entitled one to which clasp to the OHK. With hindsight a somewhat shortsighted reason. It has also something to do with the general mindset of the Dutch Forces/ MoD then. Most of them, at least the officers, were POW's in WW2. They were not fond of the 'new breed' war veterans who fought at the Allied site and had the medals to show it. Perhaps this had something to do with it aswell. Nowadays double decotaring is quite common. If a Dutch soldier goes on a mission under UN, NATO or EU flag he will receive both medals. Now, for Marks initial question. I checked my photo archive and found a few of Dutch personell at one point serving with 320 or 321 squadron. Some of them received a DFC which is proudly worn in the group. But no stars and medals in those groups. I found a few groups with the British stars and medals, but they are for Dutch who flew in other RAF squadrons. Lets see if i can upload some pics. The first pic is the medalgroup of an officer who flew with 320. He rose to Rear Admiral. His name is Hans van der Kop. The second pic is of a ribbon bar to Willem de Wolff who flew in the RAF but not with 320 and 321. The third pic is a medalgroup of a unknown Dutch Airforce officer who flew in WW2 in the east The last pic is of Heye Schaper's medalgroup, who flew with 320 sq, in WW2, and was awarded a MWO4 and a DFC for the same action. Was a POW and after WW2 he rose eventually to 4 star General. Herman

Mark, your assumption of the medal entitlement is correct. The fact that the british stars and medals are absent in later medalgroups is because the Dutch MoD did not allow the wearing of them. After retirement some veterans put them in their group. Regards Herman

Bogus bars for sure. Herman

Correct, same article. They were awarded by the US Military Mission in Moscow during WW2.

Japan X, I read it in an old OMSA article. 3 PH's were awarded 'by mistake??' to soviet army personell.

Hello, great info and a great string.... I read somewhere that a few Red Army members were awarded a US Purple Heart. 3 i think. Any pictures or names to attach to those medals?

Here is the newest one, the inauguration medal of our new king, Koning Willem Alexander which took place April 30th, 2013. Herman

Odulf is correct. It is a late set of medals belonging to Prince Hendrik who died in 1934. @ Paul Wood. Prins Hendrik received his Royal Humane Society Medal for his behaviour in 1907 when the Harwich ferry/boat "Berlin" stranded near Hoek van Holland. The ship broke in two and due to the Prince's coördination a lot of people could be rescued from the ship. regards Herman

Chris, is the heart numbered and so which number. Thx Herman

Here is another bar which belongs to a famous Dutch Prince. The one who knows his name can add to this string ! regards Herman

Any news?

Ulsterman, The PH is numbered 59099.

Thoughy i give this another push.

Off topic, sorry.... Does anybody (especially you Dave) have any info on a WW1 Pvt Willie L. Royse, drafted in june 1917 and discharged in 1919. I cant find anything on units etc. All i know he served in France and was wounded there. Thanks Herman

Owain,, the more i read this topic it becomes more clear where the non ethiopian awards were given for. I think the wearer of this group was working for Haile Selassie and went abroad with him when visiting Europe. The former emperor was befriended with my country Royal Family and they visited each other frequently passing awards to each others entourage. Herman

Sivart, do you still own the certificate? regards Herman

Just bought this. Seems to be the same guy. Herman

Paul, perhaps some nice pictures of both his medals would be fine. Herman

So, instead of my first posts opinion, the 5th grade is a knights cross of the order. Herman

Owain, In both divisions the reverse is the same. The obverse is different. The military division has crossed swords. The civllian division has oakleaves between the arms of the cross. FYI: ON1 = Grandcross ON2 Grand Officer ON3 Commander ON4 Officer ON5 Knight ON6 Gold medal ON7 Silver medal ON8 Bronze medal Regards Herman

Gents, the Orange Nassau 5th grade is a Gold Medal (not an enamelled cross) of this Order. If it was awarded to your Ethiopian recepient, in the civil division it can be easily obtained. If it was the military version, which i doubt, it will be a bit more difficult (and expensive). Regards Herman

George, your PH is obviously privately engraved. Lets hope it was done by the recipient. What one sees in private engraved medals is added ranks, dates and numbers. Most times the sequence also differs and does not look like the official engravings. The worst thing that happens is that some croock engraved your medal last year for some financial benefit. Good luck, nice group anyway. Herman

Hi Jeff, Great story and journey so far. Great reading. Keep your info coming. I'm very interested. Herman