Legion of Merit

[Medal Researcher]

Hello all and thank you for the add, I am trying to figure out if what I am looking at is a early BB&B pierced arrow reversed enamel LOM, the clasp has been removed when framing so no number mark, the Military order of William both are early WW2 examples from what I have gathered so far, possible early recipient of Market Garden to have received both, still looking through paper work, thank you.

[KurtA]

Wow - a really rare version of the LOM ! 
Great medal.   

[Brian Dentino]

Can only echo what Kurt said, that is a GREAT LoM medal.  Very hard to find one that has pierced arrows.  Would like to see a pic of the bar/clasp/broach on the back of this beauty.

[KurtA]

6 hours ago, Brian Dentino said:

Can only echo what Kurt said, that is a GREAT LoM medal.  Very hard to find one that has pierced arrows.  Would like to see a pic of the bar/clasp/broach on the back of this beauty.

Brian-

He mentioned the clasp was removed . 
 

Being an Officer Grade LOM, there’s a very high probability this was awarded to a foreign officer.  However, some of the early Officer Grade LOM’s were incorrectly awarded to American officers.  (American’s are supposed to only be eligible for the Legionnaire Grade of the LOM). 
I wonder if this medal was removed from a medal bar, as typically worn by foreign officers?

Any background on origin of this medal or what else came with it? 
 

 

[bulldog06]

It looks like a BB&B piece to me.

[Medal Researcher]

Thank you for the replies. That is a good point KurtA it is very possible that this was on a ribbon bar, it makes since lacking the pin, since there's no reason for it to have been removed to be framed, however the needle on the William order is not present as well, but also could have been on a bar. I am still looking for papers on the medals,  also looking for recipients foreign and domestic to see who might have been awarded both the LOM and Military order of William. I have two miniatures of the order of William in the same grouping and have seen pictures of dignitaries with the miniatures but not to many with the larger order, also not sure why there would be two of them, 

[Medal Researcher]

Reverse of the ribbon and full display 

[Dave]

Lots of officer grade Legions of Merit to The Netherlands, unfortunately. I think this makes it very difficult to pin down. 

[Hermanus]

Three officers in the list(s) also received a Military Order of William. The example shown in the picture is a fourth class.  Two officers got this class:

A.D. Bestebreurtje and J.K. Meijer.

Meijer received his LOM in 1943. After WW2 he emigrated to the US. He is a serious candidate for both medals. I wonder what else was in the group.

 

regards

Herman

[Hermanus]

Johannes Kroese Meijer, then Colonel, received his MWO in the Netherlands Indies in June 1948. It was awarded by Royal Decree No 43 of June 11, 1948.

On October 29, 1942 he was awarded an Officer degree of the Legion of Merit (USA) (Dutch permission by Royal Decree No 1 on March 4, 1943.

 

The picture is taken on the day of the award ceremony. And his award looks very similar to the one in the pictures above.

He emigrated to the US and passed away on November 25, 1972 in Connecticut.

 

In my opinion a good candidate for both awards.

 

[Medal Researcher]

I think you might have hit the nail on the head Hermanus! outstanding, found out in 1942, President Roosevelt made him one of the first to be appointed to the new Legion of Merit, so this would align with the early BB&B, great work! hopefully i find some documents supporting this soon. Thank you!