A Very Rare NETHERLANDS “SILVER MEMORIAL” CROSS (1815). Instituted by King William III of the Netherlands, 10th May 1865. Awarded to surviving Dutch veterans who fought 1813-15 to restore Dutch independence. This included participating in the 1814 campaign to end the occupation of the Netherlands by Napoleon’s French forces, and in the final Hundred Days campaign of 1815, including the battles of Quatre Bas & Waterloo. The first Silver Memorial Crosses were presented on 27th June 1865 on 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Military Order of William. Of the approximately 30,000 men who took part in the relevant campaigns, about 5,000 veterans survived to receive the cross. The decoration is a five armed silver cross, 35 mm at its widest point. In the centre of the cross is a medallion inscribed with the year 1813 on the obverse And 1815 on the reverse. It was worn on the left breast from a 27.5 mm wide silk ribbon of orange with a white stripe towards each edge. This is a very rarely seen medal and only about the third example we’ve seen since 1977 ! So, if you are a keen collector of Waterloo awards you need to add this to your collection. “About As Struck” with superb original colour SOLD….EXPORT TO AUSTRALIA