Herinneringsmedaille Fort Honswijk 1914-1915

The Fort Honswijk Commemorative Medal 1914–1915 (Herinneringsmedaille Fort Honswijk 1914-1915) is a private decoration. Most such private decorations may not officially be worn on military uniforms. These regulations do not apply to veterans who are civilians and wish to wear their decorations. During the First World War, mobilized troops and professional soldiers were stationed at Fort Honswijk. They guarded the Dutch Water Line, which was intended to defend Holland and the major cities against an attack by land.

It is notable that a medal was struck for the approximately three hundred soldiers; this was not done elsewhere, and the Netherlands was extremely cautious and sparing in decorating its soldiers. The Mobilization Cross, instituted after the war, had to be ordered and paid for by the recipients themselves.

The round bronze medal has a diameter of almost three millimetres. It was struck to commemorate one year of mobilization and awarded to the members of the garrison of Fort Honswijk. The garrison of this fortress in the Dutch Water Line was very close-knit, as a Fort Honswijk Reunion Cross 1914–1934 was awarded to 326 veterans in 1934.