Military William Order

Military William Order
Militaire Willems-Orde

Knight Military William Order 4th class medal (post 2000 model)
Awarded by King of the Netherlands
Type Chivalric order with four degrees
Established 30 April 1815
Country Netherlands
Motto Voor Moed, Beleid en Trouw (For Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty)
Awarded for Performing acts of excellent Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty in battle.
Status Currently constituted
Grand Master King Willem-Alexander
Chancellor Lieutenant General J.H. de Kleyn
Grades Knight Grand Cross
Commander
Knight 3rd class
Knight 4th class
Orange Lanyard (unit award)
Statistics
First induction William Frederick, Prince of Orange
Last induction Major Gijs Tuinman
Total inductees 5,876
Precedence
Next (higher) None (highest)
Next (lower) Cross for Courage and Fidelity

Ribbon bar of Knight Grand Cross

Ribbon bar of Commander

Ribbon bar of Knight 3rd class

Ribbon bar of Knight 4th class

The Military William Order, or often named Military Order of William (Dutch: Militaire Willems-Orde, abbreviation: MWO), is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Order's motto is Voor Moed, Beleid en Trouw (For Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty). The chivalric order was established on 30 April 1815 by King William I and was presented for feats of excellent bravery on the battlefield and as a meritorious decoration to senior military officers. Comparable with the French Légion d’Honneur but far less often awarded, the Military William Order is a chivalry order of merit open to everyone regardless of rank and nobility, and not only to Dutch military but also foreigners. To date membership of the Order is extremely rarely awarded and only for excellent bravery in battle.

In the spring of 1940 it was decided that civilians would receive the Military Order of William for heroic acts in the resistance. After the liberation of the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies, several men and one woman from the resistance were awarded the Military Order of William.

History

King William II as Sovereign of the Order

Most knighthoods of the Military Order of William were awarded in 1815 and shortly afterwards to military of the Allies that fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, in total over 1,000 knighthoods were awarded at this time. The Grand Cross was awarded to Prince William of Orange, the Duke of Wellington, Fürst Blücher von Wahlstatt, Graf von Bülow von Dennewitz and Graf von Gneisenau.

During the 19th century the Military William Order was awarded to military serving in the campaign against the Belgian Revolution and military serving in the Netherlands East Indies, mostly in the Aceh War. Until 1940, a total of 5,874 persons had been awarded the Military Order of William. In 1940, the Order was awarded to soldiers who had served with extreme valour in the defence of Netherlands from the 10 May attack by Nazi-Germany. In 1944 and 1945, with the liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation, the Military William Order was again awarded, this time to Netherlands citizens as well as members of the Allied Forces for deeds of gallantry. Of the 3,500 servicemen who served in the Netherlands United Nations Detachment in Korea, three servicemen – two posthumously – were admitted to the Order. Since 1940, 199 names have been added to the register of the Military Order of William. The latest conflict that has been cause for the honour to be awarded is the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

On May 29, 2009 a ceremony was held at which the knights met, at Queen Beatrix's bestowal of the knighthood (fourth class) of the Order on Marco Kroon, platoon commander with the Korps Commandotroepen, at the Binnenhof, in The Hague.[1] Kroon was honoured for conspicuous bravery, leadership, and devotion to duty during his service in Afghanistan from March to August, 2006. The most recent ceremony at which the knights met was held on December 4, 2014, at King Willem-Alexander's bestowal of the knighthood (fourth class) of the Order on Gijs Tuinman, commander with the Korps Commandotroepen, at the Binnenhof, in The Hague.

Ranks

By 1945, the following classes of the Military William Order were in existence.

The Grand Cross could also be awarded as an exceptional presentation to heads of state which had displayed feats of loyalty to the Netherlands during wartime. Only US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the British King George VI were conferred such an honour. In the 19th century, the Grand Cross was often conferred on foreign monarchs as a mere mark of respect.

The 4th Class could also be awarded as a unit presentation to military commands which had displayed feats of gallantry during wartime.

Knight Grand Cross
(badge with sash and accompanying star)		 Commander
(badge with necklet and breast cross)		 Knight 3rd Class
(badge with ribbon)		 Knight 4th Class
(badge with ribbon)

Insignia

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld Knight Commander of the Military William Order.

The badge of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese Cross, in silver for the 4th Class and in gilt for higher classes; a green enamelled Burgundy Cross appears between the arms of the Maltese Cross. The obverse bears a golden firesteel at the centre, and the motto Voor Moed – Beleid – Trouw (For Bravery – Leadership – Loyalty) on the arms of the Maltese Cross. Both the Burgundy Cross and the firesteel were symbols of the House of Valois-Burgundy during their lordship of the Netherlands and probably are meant to recall its crucial unifying role in the history of the Netherlands. The reverse central disc bears a crowned monogram "W" (for King William I) surrounded by a laurel wreath. The badge hangs from a royal crown.

The star of the Grand Cross is a silver, 8-pointed star with straight rays; the obverse of the badge of the Order, minus the crown, appears at its centre.

The breast cross of the Commander is completely identical to the obverse of the badge of the Order.

The ribbon of the Order is orange (Royal House of Orange) with blue (Nassau-blue) stripes near the border.

Knighthood oath

The oath to be taken by the accolade to the Military Order of William states: "I swear that I shall conduct myself as a faithful and valiant Knight, to stand ever ready to defend King and Country with my Life, and with all my Powers to always strive to be worthy of this Distinction, which the King has bestowed upon me. So help me God almighty."

Unit award

Military William Order awarded to the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, 31 May 2006

To be awarded the Military William Order a military unit must distinguish itself in battle to such a degree as would warrant the personal presentation of the Military William Order. The unit's Regimental Colour are decorated with the badge of the 4th Class itself, which hangs from the finial of the pike. The version of the Military William Order for unit members is known as the Orange Lanyard. Only those who served in a military unit at the particular time of action are entitled to wear the Orange Lanyard.

The Orange Lanyard is worn as a cord around the right shoulder and can be worn simultaneously with the French or Belgian Fourragère of the Croix de guerre. The Orange Lanyard is considered a permanent decoration and is worn for the duration of a military member's career.

The military units or formations that were awarded the Military William Order or continue their traditions are:

Most military units or formations of the Netherlands and foreign armed forces were decorated as a consequence of their actions during the Second World War. In 2016 the Korps Commandotroepen were awarded the Military William Order for their actions in Afghanistan.

Current living members

Six knights of the Military William Order at the Binnenhof (The Hague, Netherlands) on 29 May 2009.

As of 2016, there are only four living knights of the Military William Order; two are more than 90 years old. Below a list of the names of the living knights, in order of the order being awarded. Between brackets the date when they were inducted into the Order:

Privileges

Members of the Military William Order are awarded certain privileges:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Niet gevonden". defensie.nl. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  2. ↑ Korps Commandotroepen krijgt Militaire Willems-Orde voor inzet Afghanistan - NOS.nl
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