Decorations of Willem Drees

[laurentius]

Dear fellow collectors,

whilst exploring the internet of things I came across this picture of Queen Juliana. Initially I was interested in the jewelery that the Queen was wearing, untill I noticed the nice moustachio'd man on the right. I believe this to be Willem drees, given his moustache, length and general appearance. His wikipediapage gives us only the American Medal of Freedom and the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau, however, in this picture he seems to have atleast a dozen decorations. Would any of the Dutch collectors be able to help me out with the medals?

Kind regards and thanks in advance, Laurentius

[OvBacon]

I believe he has these:

Medal of Freedom with Gold Palm, USA
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, UK
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Trinity,     Ethiopia
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, NL
Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold of Belgium
Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur
Commander Order of the Dannebrog
Grand Cross Order of the Oak Crown

Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Willem Drees and Dutch Foreign Minister Joseph Luns during Menzies' visit to the Netherlands in 1955

 

Edited April 28, 2020 by OvBacon

[OvBacon]

I found this image which stated that it was Drees's miniature bar

 

Orders from left to right: Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, 
Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold of Belgium, 
Grand Cross of Order of Dannebrog of Denmark, 
Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Trinity of Ethiopia, 
Grand Cross of the Order of the Légion d'Honneur of France, 
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George of Great Britain, 
Grand Cross of the Order of George I of Greece, 
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Africa of Liberia, 
Grand Cross of Order of Crown of Oak of Luxembourg, 
Grand Cross Order of Adolf of Nassau or Luxembourg, 
Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav of Norway, 
Grand Cross of the Order of Vasa of Sweden, 
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand.

[laurentius]

But no Medal of Freedom, peculair, you'd say he would put that on his miniature bar

[OvBacon]

The photo I posted was taken in 1955 and he received the Medal of Freedom with Gold Palm on April 7th 1953 so he must have had a reason to not wear in on his medal bar.

[OvBacon]

one correction: The thai order is a Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant

[Herr General]

Willem Drees received the Medal of Freedom for aiding allied pilots. His dossier can be requested here;

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/38975792