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Bronzen Kruis (BK)

The Bronze Cross was instituted on June 11th 1940. It was to become a special award for military, who behaved courageous or meritious in facing the enemy, in service for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. When civilians or foreign military acted in special interest for the safety of the Netherlands, they could also be rewarded the Bronze Cross.

The decoration could be awarded more then once. The recipient received a gold coloured Arabian number to be worn on the ribbon, that indicated the number of Bronze Crosses the recipient had received ("2", "3", etc.).

The medal is formed in the shape of a four armed cross with a total width of 29 mm. On the obverse there is a crowned "W" inside a circle with Oak Leaves on the left and laurel on the right. On the reverse is shown the same circle, but within it the year "1940" and on the arms of the cross the words "TROUW AAN / KONINGIN / EN / VADERLAND". The medal is taken from the old "Metalen Kruis 1830-1831". The ribbon is orange with a small stripe of Nassau-bleu in the middle.

At first the medal was also awarded to anyone who had received the "Eervolle Vermelding" (Mentioned in Dispatches) if they hadn’t received a Bronze Cross before. To indicate this there was a "Kroon voor Eervol Vermelden" (Gold coloured crown) being place don the ribbon of the Bronze Cross. However in 1944 there was instituted a new decoration, the Bronze Lion and all Bronze Crosses that were decorated with the mentioned in dispatches crown were replaced with the Bronze Lion.

The Bronze Cross is received after a Royal Decree that is controlled by the Commissie Dapperheidonderscheidingen van het Ministerie van Defensie (Special Committee of the Ministry of Defence) which advises the Minister of Defence and the Dutch Queen.

Abraham, Carel* August 1st, 1909
† February 15th, 1943
Plot: E Grave: 155

Grid List
Gabaudan, André* December 5th, 1899

Garret, Leland L.* October 29th, 1923
† December 3rd, 1983

Gavaghan, Charles* 1911
† May 10th, 1945
Plot: 2 Row: A Grave: 2

Geen, van, Jhr. Paul Louis Marie* February 13th, 1912
† October 22nd, 1958

Geerings A.J.* September 12th, 1921
† December 28th, 2007

Genderen, van, Teddy* February 6th, 1917
† April 14th, 1988

Giesen, Mathias Nicolaas* December 11th, 1915
† May 12th, 1940
Row: 3 Grave: 49

Gijsbers, Jan Frederik* August 21st, 1912
† June 5th, 2003

Goethem, van, Jean Jacques Paul* February 7th, 1924
† April 23rd, 1945

Goossens, Hendrikus Abraham Waldemar* November 19th, 1909
† May 13th, 1973

more
Gout, Rudy* March 26th, 1917
† May 12th, 2001

Graaf, de, Adriaan Cornelis* April 28th, 1902
† April 17th, 1945
Plot: B Grave: 33

Gras, le, Robert Pierre Raymond* July 22nd, 1913
† April 9th, 1945
Plot: F Row: 3 Grave: 2

Graswinckel, Bernard Conrad* February 26th, 1904
† June 14th, 1942

Greidanus, Johannes* August 25th, 1916
† April 12th, 1945
Plot: KD Grave: 1198

Groenendaal, Gerardus Engelbertus Jacob* June 27th, 1909
† December 25th, 1941

Groenewoud, Robert* June 14th, 1918
† January 19th, 2008

Groot Wassink, Hendrik* July 27th, 1921

Groot, de, Johannes* June 2nd, 1911

Groot, de, Pieter* August 5th, 1904

Grossir, René Roger* March 17th, 1926
† July 28th, 2004

Guéguen, François* September 25th, 1925

Guichart Henriques de Castro, Hendrik Ferdinand* August 16th, 1910
† March 15th, 1942

Gunning, Johannes Gerardus Hermanus* May 19th, 1924
† January 4th, 1952
Plot: 29 Row: 4 Grave: 2453

Sources