• Operation Infatuate

Date of birth:

June 20th, 1911 (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

September 1st, 2009 (Voorschoten, the Netherlands)

Nationality:

Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

When World War Two broke out, Henk van der Steen was employed by Shell in The Hague. Together with a few friends, he set sail for England in an old shrimpboat. Halfway there, they were picked by a British MTB. By way of the Prinses Irenebrigade, he ended up as volunteer in the commando training in Achnacarry in Scotland in 1942.The Troop left for British India in 1943. Only a few members of Number 2 were deployed in the fights against the Japanese. August 1944, the men returned to England to take part in the liberation of the continent of Europe. During Operation Market Garden, Henk van der Steen was posted to 101 Airborne Division. The glider carrying him made a rough landing in the vicinity of Son. With difficulty, he managed to extricate himself from the aircraft. In the days that followed, he acted as scout, interpreter and go-between for the Americans. After completion of the task, the men were gathered at Eindhoven. A month later, they all volunteered to participate in the liberation of the island of Walcheren. During Operation Infatuate, No. 2 Dutch Troop was divided among the units that were destined to land near the towns of Vlissingen and Westkapelle. Commanded by Lieutenant De Ruiter, Henk van der Steen and 11 others were posted to the unit that was first to land near Vlissingen. Early in the morning of November 2nd, the landing was executed under the most trying conditions. The Dutch commando’s exerted themselves well in the bitter fighting that lasted for days. In the night of November 1st /2nd he was a member of the patrol that penetrated the enemy-held shipyard of De Schelde. The 15 Germans who were taken prisoner supplied valuable information. As a result, mines could be defused, acts of sabotage could be prevented and the vessel "Willem Ruys" was saved. November 7th, the island of Walcheren was liberated. Henk van der Steen was demobilized in 1945.

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• - "Brons", Nr 65, 18e Jaargang, uitgave van de Vereniging Dragers Militaire Dapperheidsonderscheidingen 2009
  - "Brons", Nr 66, 19e Jaargang, uitgave van de Vereniging Dragers Militaire Dapperheidsonderscheidingen 2010
  - The Dutch Medals Page
  - Veteranen Online
  - Korps Commandotroepen