| The procedure and location of
the conferral of the Military William Order are described in detail in
the Rules of Procedure of the MWO. The following is the relevant
section of the Rules of Procedure, in contemporary language.
Article 30
Conferral of the medal to servicemen takes place in the presence of the troops or crew, in the following manner:
- the authority responsible for the conferral mentions the excellenct act (or acts) for which the honour is being conferred;
- the ban is opened* and the Royal decree of the appointment is read out;
- the appointed knight - if he is a Dutch citizen - takes an oath (promise);
- the medal is pinned onto the chest or hung around the neck of the appointed (or promoted) knight;
- the appointed knight receives the accolade from the knights;
- the ban is closed*;
- the authority carrying out the conferral addresses the knight and then the troops (or crew) present;
- the troops march past the appointed (or promoted) knight. On board of a ship, the crew marches in so far as space allows.
During the acts mentioned at d. and e., the Dutch national anthem is played.
* 'opening the ban' and 'closing the ban': parts of a
predefined ceremonial act whereby the text of a Royal decree is read
aloud.
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Queen Julia gives princess Wilhelmina the accolade following the
conferral of the Grand Cross of the Military Willam Order, 7 October
1948
(photo collection Royal Family Archive, The Hague) |
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