Honorable Mention
Encyclopedia
The Honorable Mention was an important Military awards and decorations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
for those who distinguished themselves by acts of high bravery, but weren't eligible yet for the highest accolade
of the Military William Order. The Honorable Mention was in fact not a medal but a mention in the proclamation
of the Dutch army, to honor the soldier.
Since the mention was important in the process to be made an actual knight of the Military William Order, the Honorable Mentions were registered in the chapter of the Military William Order.
In the first instance no decoration was associated with this Honorable Mention, although unofficially soldiers used a small decorative metal wreath worn above their other decorations and medals. These decorative wreaths are primarily known to be used during the Ten days campaign
(August 2 – August 12, 1831) and the Java War
(1825-1830).
In 1877 King William III decided by royal decree that soldiers with an Honorable Mention were allowed to wear a silver crown on the ribbon or ribbon bar of the Dutch "Decoration for Important Military Acts" as decoration, together with a Roman numeral in case of multiple mentions. Hundreds of soldiers in the former Netherlands East Indies were awarded with these Honorable Mentions.
Shortly before the start of the Second World War the law regarding the Military William Order was reorganized, and as result that the Honorable Mention was abolished. Although the mention didn't have an official status anymore since then, on the ribbon or ribbon bars of the Bronze Cross
or the Airman's Cross
still a decorative crown for Honorable Mention was worn, however now in gold.
With the royal decree on 30 March 1944 Queen Wilhemina created the Bronze Lion
as high bravery award and finally replaced the Honorable Mention.
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
for those who distinguished themselves by acts of high bravery, but weren't eligible yet for the highest accolade
Accolade
In the Middle Ages, the accolade was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood.-Ceremony:...
of the Military William Order. The Honorable Mention was in fact not a medal but a mention in the proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
of the Dutch army, to honor the soldier.
Since the mention was important in the process to be made an actual knight of the Military William Order, the Honorable Mentions were registered in the chapter of the Military William Order.
In the first instance no decoration was associated with this Honorable Mention, although unofficially soldiers used a small decorative metal wreath worn above their other decorations and medals. These decorative wreaths are primarily known to be used during the Ten days campaign
Ten days campaign
The Ten Days' Campaign was a failed attempt to suppress the Belgian revolution by the Dutch king William I.- Prelude :...
(August 2 – August 12, 1831) and the Java War
Java War
The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. It started as a rebellion led by Prince Diponegoro. The proximate cause was the Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his property that contained his parents' tomb...
(1825-1830).
In 1877 King William III decided by royal decree that soldiers with an Honorable Mention were allowed to wear a silver crown on the ribbon or ribbon bar of the Dutch "Decoration for Important Military Acts" as decoration, together with a Roman numeral in case of multiple mentions. Hundreds of soldiers in the former Netherlands East Indies were awarded with these Honorable Mentions.
Shortly before the start of the Second World War the law regarding the Military William Order was reorganized, and as result that the Honorable Mention was abolished. Although the mention didn't have an official status anymore since then, on the ribbon or ribbon bars of the Bronze Cross
Bronze Cross (Netherlands)
The Bronze Cross of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was instituted on 11 June 1940 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands while she was residing in London during the German occupation of the Netherlands...
or the Airman's Cross
Airman's Cross
The Airman's Cross is an important military decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands created in 1941. The cross is meant for those Dutch military, who displayed during one of more flights in an aircraft, initiative, courage and perseverance against the enemy or during hostile actions...
still a decorative crown for Honorable Mention was worn, however now in gold.
With the royal decree on 30 March 1944 Queen Wilhemina created the Bronze Lion
Bronze Lion
The Bronze Lion is a high Royal Dutch award, intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring The Netherlands; in some special cases it can however be awarded to Dutch or foreign civilians. It was first created in 1944 and has since been issued 1210 times...
as high bravery award and finally replaced the Honorable Mention.