Herman

Good evening, I enclose a picture of the uniform of Dutch Field Marshall Prince Frederick of the Netherlands. As a very young man he was an officer in the Prussian Army. In 1813 he became a Dutch Colonel. Later he was promoted to General and ultimately in 1840 to Field Marshall. He appreciated the medals he was awarded in the war of 1813-1815 and wore them when he was in uniform. In later life he was pictured on a painting in his Field Marshall uniform with his early medals. The Iron Cross 1813 2nd class is obvious. The third medal is the Dutch Metal Cross 1830-31, the fourth medal is the Dutch Silver Cross 1813-15. The rest is unknown to me sofar. The colours of the ribbons are hopefully correct and will help a bit. The medals are all painted without details which is unfortunate. All help is welcome. Herman

He had enough to open his own medal store. ?

It is the Oranje Nassau medal in bronze. In old Black and white pictures the ribbon shades are reversed. It has something to do with the development of the picture I read somewhere. Please check the left person (Major General de Veer) in the below picture taken in 1913. His first award is a Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion. The colors are reversed. What should be dark is light and vice versa. Regards Herman

Simius Rex, I, and many other forumites, read your writing and learn from it. Thanks for your input my friend. Cheers Herman

Another Dutch medal set with a Vasa order. Unfortunately I forgot to write down his name.

I found some newspaper articles about a J.W. Buitendijk. In the sixties he was a police officer and a judge. No connection with Africa unfortunately. The clippings are in Dutch. ☺

Laurentius, the cross will probably be marked with a silver mark (a sword) and a makers mark. In the seventies Koninklijke Begeer is a likely candidate. Regards Herman

Sadly no information about mr. Buitendijk. This set belongs to an Infantry officer who fought in May 1940 with 8th Infantry Regiment at the Grebbeberg, was a prisoner in Germany in WW2, and received an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau with the swords a few months prior to his retirement.

I found this one with a Swedish Vasa order. This one is identified to Johan Willem Buitendijk.

Yes, seems to be the one. Thanks Herman

Again with a Royal connection? Unfortunately not identified.

The new owner of the Colonel Jan Sar medal bar nicely restored it to it's original state.

Thanks for the explanation. Regards Herman

Is the uniform in the picture that of a Navy Konteradmiral? Looks more like an Army Generalmajor. Regards Herman

?? Thanks. Bovomed is a good adress for your medals. Also the set of General Hoeffer was refreshed by them. Therefore my question. Cheers Herman

In the Dutch Army officers list of 1936 he is listed as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Police (Koninklijke Marechaussee) with the following decorations: Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau, officers cross 30, Member in the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and the Decoration 2nd class of tge Austrian Red Cross. The Mobilisation cross WW1 is not mentioned in these lists as it was awarded by a private committee. The Knight in the Order of the Nederlandse Leeuw and the Mobilisation cross WW2 were awarded later. The MOK from 1949 to 1952. So Laurentius this medalbar is fully legitimate as Sampo also stated. Question: Your dad is General Hoeffer?

Hello, It isa wild guess, but probably a Nijmegen four days marches ribbon and a NOC medal ribbon. Both are sport/physical awards. NOC means Netherlands Olympic Comité. Regards Herman

Actually this set belonged to Officer of Health (Officier van Gezondheid) Tiddo Reddingius.

The medal set of Colonel Jan Hendrik Sar. One of the 17 Dutch who helped the Albanian forces in 1914. The empty place at the front of the bar was probably occupied by a Knight or Officer grade cross of the Order of Orange Nassau with the swords. He became Knight in this order in 1923 and Officer in 1946 after his retirement. Regards Herman

Another one. He served in WW2 and in the Netherlands Indies right after WW2.

I think it was awarded for a Norwegian state visit to the Netherlands in the early sixties.

A set of a Dutch Infantry Lieutenant Colonel who served in the Netherlands East Indies following WW2.

+1 your oak crown is a 100 % original first pattern. Great find. Regards Herman

Indeed that is the case. I presume you deciphered the Dutch text, but to be complete: Lieutenant General 2nd May 1930 Retired 1st May 1934. Promoted in 1934 to Grandofficer in the Order of Orange-Nassau with the swords (Military Division) Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion Numeral XL to the Officers Cross Promoted to Grand Officer in the Legion Of Honor of France. Best regards Herman