Netherlands - Medal - KNIL ''Ereteken Orde & Vrede'' and silver loyal service medal (hallmark with silver) medal bar

Very nice and honest 'Ereteken Orde and Vrede' and 'Loyal Service in SILVER(!) medal as awarded to a KNIL NCO. The medals have a great patina and are nice old period examples, not a modern restrike, and are nicely maker marked on the back. A great set of medals. The loyal service medal is of the model 1928-1951 and is nicely hallmarked with a sword indicating silver production.

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History of the ''Ereteken Orde & Vrede'' medal
The Decoration of Honor for Order and Peace was established by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands on December 2, 1947, through a Royal Decree. The award was created while the first of the so-called police actions, the so-called 'Operation Product,' a failed attempt to bring the archipelago in the East back under Dutch control by military force, was still ongoing. The tens of thousands of Dutch soldiers had to be recognized for their efforts, and the lofty title reflects the Dutch aspiration to restore what they considered 'order and peace'; the Indonesians would refer to this as 'colonial oppression.'

The decoration was awarded to servicemen of the three armed forces and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army who served in the then Dutch East Indies, or Indonesia, and the surrounding sea areas, for at least three months between September 3, 1945, and June 4, 1951, while actively serving. According to the formal requirements of the Royal Decree, the award date was December 27, 1949 (the date of the transfer of sovereignty to the government of Sukarno). After forty years, this period was extended to cover from September 3, 1945, to June 4, 1951. Dutch troops remained stationed in Indonesia until 1951, assisting in transferring administrative, police, and military functions to Indonesian authorities, as well as evacuating thousands of Dutch nationals who chose to repatriate from the new Republic of Indonesia. The decoration could also be awarded to civilians who provided service to the armed forces in the then Dutch East Indies during the specified period. The decoration, possibly with a buckle or buckles, could be awarded posthumously. However, there is no mention of posthumous buckles in the Royal Decree.

The decoration is not awarded to soldiers of the armed forces who served after September 27, 1949, in what was then Dutch New Guinea and adjacent sea areas, or in Indonesia as part of the Dutch Military Mission, but the Ministry of Defense still assesses nominations and applications. People can also apply for the award for themselves.