WW2 DUTCH NETHERLANDS COMMEMORATIVE WAR CROSS SOUTH PACIFIC 1942-45 MEDAL

Offered is an original Dutch Commemorative War cross, with service clasp for the South Pacific during WW2.

40mm wide bronze cross pattée with concave ends to the arms, an oak wreath between the arms, with integral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a central oval medallion with the head of Queen Wilhelmina facing left encircled by a garter inscribed ‘VOOR KRIJGSVERRIGTINGEN’ (For War Actions), each arm of the cross with the initial ‘W’; the reverse plain with maker’s mark KON.-BEGEER VOORSCHOTEN; on original ribbon by Firma A. Tack of Breda with bronze ‘OOST – ASIË – ZUID – PACIFIC 1942-1945 (East Asia South Pacific 1942-1945) bar.

The Cross was instituted on 16 March 1944 for those who had served a minimum of 6 months after 10 May 1940 in the Dutch armed forces, merchant marine or civil air service and “had performed well and shown good conduct”. The bar on this example was awarded for service up to 3 September 1945. When Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) on 10 January 1942, the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Royal Dutch Indies Army or KNIL) numbered approximately 85,000 men. It was made up of numerous nationalities and only about 40% were Dutch. Faced with overwhelming odds and a population intent on independence, the force was soon defeated despite some stubborn resistance and many of its members imprisoned in horrific conditions until liberated in 1945.