Date of birth:

March 7th, 1889 (Charlois-Rotterdam/Zid-Holland, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

March 8th, 1969 (Dordrecht/Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands)

Nationality:

Dutch

Willem den Boer was born on 7th March 1889 as son of Willem den Boer and Niesje Niemandsverdriet. He studied on the T.H. in Delft and became Shipping Engineer. He married Maaike Stijntje Vaandrager on 30th October 1913. The couple had 13 children.

On May 10th, 1940 he was "tijdelijk (reserve) majoor speciale dienst" (Special Services) and "Majoor der Artillerie" (Major of Artillery) as Head Region DMKL in Breda (supervised production of arms), but at that moment was in Dordrecht. Here he conducted field duty during the frist two days of war and on some occaisions lead the defence by the local forces. He did so on May 10th, near the Swimming Pool of Dordecht and on May 12th, in Parc Weizigt, near the railway. For his conduct here he later received his first Bronze Cross (1947). Willem den Boer was as Military commander of the resistance organisation "De Oranjewacht" forced to dissappear for he was being followed by the SD. On 18th June 1941 he left with Ben, Herman and Jaap Sajet (All Jewish, Ben father of both sons Herman and Jaap), Herman Corbiere, Kees de Graaf and Louis Gerards in a small boat to England. The crossing succeeded. For this he received his first Bronze Cross.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Res. majoor voor speciale diensten der artillerie

Unit:

Landelijk Commandant, Oranjewacht, Nederlands Verzet

Awarded on:

November 6th, 1941

Awarded for escaping from occupied territory.

Royal Decree Nr 5 dated 6th November 1941.
266th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Res. majoor voor speciale diensten der artillerie

Unit:

Rayonhoofd, Directie Materieel Koninklijke Landmacht (DMKL), Koninklijke Landmacht

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1947

Citation:
"Distinguished himself through courageous conduct against the enemy on May 10, 1940, in Dordrecht, after enemy paratroopers had landed there early in the morning, making it impossible to follow his wartime destination. He immediately placed himself at the disposal of the Cantonment Commander in Dordrecht, in order to participate in the fighting. In doing so, he restrained the overwhelming and better-armed enemy, who had occupied the large road bridge over the Old Meuse River in Dordrecht, with a force he had hastily assembled. Under heavy enemy fire, when no one was willing to do so voluntarily, he personally, accompanied by a warrant officer, left a building providing shelter to bring in the paramedics. Furthermore, on May 11, 12, and 13, 1940, they continued to fight the enemy in a fearless and exemplary manner, without allowing themselves any peace, and to inform commanders of units deployed in Dordrecht about the enemy resistance centers, usually establishing their location under enemy fire."

Royal Decree Nr. 14, dated 17th March 1947.
1952nd Award.

• Photo 1: Pauline van Till
• - The Dutch Medals Page
  - Otto-den Boer, L. en M.N., 1886 - 1969, Familiekroniek van Willem den Boer en Maaike Stijntje Vaandrager en hun gezin
  - Overwater A.M., De Geuzen van 1940
  - Zoek in alles (NIMH / Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie) - Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie