Netherlands Marine Uniforms
Oorlogsvrijwilliger 4503238
A very important part of United States Marine Corps History and a part that is all but forgotten.
This uniform has been a pretty big project of mine and I have hit road blocks after road blocks when it comes to identifying this Marine. This US Marine uniform was actually issued and worn by a Netherlands Marine or Korps Marininer. He was a Volunteer Enlisted man or Oorlogsvrijwilliger, he can only be identified by his service number of 4503238. The first two numbers indicate his year of enlistment, 1945; and the low service number indicates that he enlisted in the Spring of 1945.
After the Liberation of the Netherlands, the 1st Mariniersbrigade was formed in late 1944 with Mariniers being shipped to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina starting in December 1944. These men were to dress like, train like, and be exactly like the United States Marines in every way possible. The goal of the United States Marines were to train these men to function independently in preparation for the Invasion of the East Indies against the Imperial Japanese Forces.
These men would be treated very poorly by their US Marine counterparts at Camp Lejeune and the Korps Mariniers commander would move them to Montford Point. There they would be treated as brothers by the Montford Point Marines who were also being treated poorly for their "race."
Ultimately, the Second World War would end before any of these Marininers would see combat against the Japanese. They would be moved to Camp Davis and shipped to the East Indies to fight in the Indonesian War of Independence against the Revolutionaries. These Marines would be wearing and using the equipment of the United States Marines Corps. In 1948, all of the Oorlogsvrijwilliger would be rotated home and Discharged due to the influx of conscripts which was sufficient enough to relieve the Mariniers and significantly reduce the size of the 1st Mariniersbrigade.
This uniform displays a shoulder title which reads "NETHERLANDS MARINES" and is of the same color scheme as many US Marine Corps patches and uniform designs.
The visor badge depicts a fouled anchor topped by the Dutch Royal Crown. The buttons on this uniform are of the same design.
The collar depicts a stary wreath topped by the Dutch Royal Crown and holding the blazon of a lions. The lion is holding a sword in his dexter paw and seven arrows in his sinister paw which stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht. The encircle encryption on the crest reads "JE MAINTIENDRAI" which is French for "I Shall Maintain."
The ribbon on the uniform is for the Medal of "Order and Peace" given to Korps Mariniers between 1945 and 1950 for the Indonesian War of Independence.
This uniform has been a pretty big project of mine and I have hit road blocks after road blocks when it comes to identifying this Marine. This US Marine uniform was actually issued and worn by a Netherlands Marine or Korps Marininer. He was a Volunteer Enlisted man or Oorlogsvrijwilliger, he can only be identified by his service number of 4503238. The first two numbers indicate his year of enlistment, 1945; and the low service number indicates that he enlisted in the Spring of 1945.
After the Liberation of the Netherlands, the 1st Mariniersbrigade was formed in late 1944 with Mariniers being shipped to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina starting in December 1944. These men were to dress like, train like, and be exactly like the United States Marines in every way possible. The goal of the United States Marines were to train these men to function independently in preparation for the Invasion of the East Indies against the Imperial Japanese Forces.
These men would be treated very poorly by their US Marine counterparts at Camp Lejeune and the Korps Mariniers commander would move them to Montford Point. There they would be treated as brothers by the Montford Point Marines who were also being treated poorly for their "race."
Ultimately, the Second World War would end before any of these Marininers would see combat against the Japanese. They would be moved to Camp Davis and shipped to the East Indies to fight in the Indonesian War of Independence against the Revolutionaries. These Marines would be wearing and using the equipment of the United States Marines Corps. In 1948, all of the Oorlogsvrijwilliger would be rotated home and Discharged due to the influx of conscripts which was sufficient enough to relieve the Mariniers and significantly reduce the size of the 1st Mariniersbrigade.
This uniform displays a shoulder title which reads "NETHERLANDS MARINES" and is of the same color scheme as many US Marine Corps patches and uniform designs.
The visor badge depicts a fouled anchor topped by the Dutch Royal Crown. The buttons on this uniform are of the same design.
The collar depicts a stary wreath topped by the Dutch Royal Crown and holding the blazon of a lions. The lion is holding a sword in his dexter paw and seven arrows in his sinister paw which stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht. The encircle encryption on the crest reads "JE MAINTIENDRAI" which is French for "I Shall Maintain."
The ribbon on the uniform is for the Medal of "Order and Peace" given to Korps Mariniers between 1945 and 1950 for the Indonesian War of Independence.