Theo Aben, a professional soldier and driver from Deurne, died at the age of 21 in a tanker accident in Biak, New Guinea. He had been deployed as part of Dutch efforts to restore order in the former Dutch East Indies after World War II.
Son of Jacobus Aben and Geertruda van Deursen, Theo had previously lost his brother Marius in an accident in 1945. After his death, he was first buried in Biak and later reburied with military honors in Deurne on October 9, 1962. Fellow marines carried his flag-draped coffin; gun salutes and spiritual guidance marked the ceremony. The Minister of Defense also paid his respects with a floral tribute.
Photos of both funerals have been preserved.
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