Netherlands Officers' 20 Year Long Service Cross

Netherlands Officers' 20 Year Long Service Cross. Unnamed. A silver gilt cross pattee. Obverse: The edges of the arms are raised and invected on the radial sides. An oval laurel wreath with crossed swords at the base and 'XX' in the centre. Reverse: 'VAN WILLIK' and 'DER HAAG' with manufacturers marks in the centre. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 37 mm ribbon in three equal stripes of orange, white and blue.

Instituted in 1866, this medal was awarded to officers of the Netherlands Army for long service after 15 years. The Roman numerals in the centre could be changed, at the recipient's expense, every five years. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.