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Lot

№ 2367

.

24 June 2009

Hammer Price:
£90

Netherlands, Military Legermédaille, 1935, a silver award medal, unsigned, facing head of helmeted soldier, rev. royal arms and emblems of military skills, named (J.J.G. Baron van Voorst tot Voorst, Commandant van het Veldleger), 60mm. Very fine and an interesting association item £80-100

Jan Joseph Godfried, Baron van Voorst tot Voorst (1880-1963), had a long military career and was the second highest officer in command of the Dutch armed forces during World War II. After the Battle of the Netherlands he refused to pledge an oath of loyalty to the Nazis and he and his brother were sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany for the five remaining years of the War. At the conclusion of hostilities he returned to the Netherlands, where he assumed various military and civil positions. In 1960, on his 80th birthday, he was awarded the titular rank of general