Medals Database > By Country > Netherlands

The Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815

Average Price:

$700 to $2000

(The cost varies based on the medal’s historical significance, the recipient’s background, and the condition of the medal)

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Institution: 10 May 1865
Country: Netherlands

The Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815 was a Dutch campaign medal created by King William III of the Netherlands in 1865 to honour veterans who had served in the wars that restored Dutch independence at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. It specifically commemorated service during the campaigns of 1813–1815, including the 1814 operations against French forces and the Hundred Days that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo.

The award was only given to surviving veterans, meaning it was both a retrospective recognition and a symbol of national gratitude. At the time it was issued, only a fraction of the original troops were still alive, making it a relatively rare and highly valued decoration.

The Silver Memorial Cross is historically significant because it not only commemorates military service but also represents one of the earliest examples of a state issuing a campaign medal retrospectively to surviving soldiers, decades after the conflict. It is often mentioned alongside other European post-Napoleonic commemoratives, like the Waterloo Medal.

The Silver Memorial Cross Medal Design

The cross is made of silver with five arms, featuring a central medallion engraved with the years 1813 and 1815. It was worn on a ribbon of orange with white stripes, reflecting the national colours of the Netherlands.

The medal was intended for everyday wear on military dress and ceremonial occasions, serving as a tangible link between the veterans and the country they helped free.

The Different Waterloo Medals

The Waterloo medal was issued by the British Government to all soldiers present during action. Seven nations of the Seventh Coalition struck differently designed medals for soldiers who took part in the campaign. These are: