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Woluwe, Jean Lambert "Lavinia"

Date of birth:
May 14th, 1913 (Herstal, Belgium)
Date of death:
April 26th, 1945 (Auffanglager Sandbostel)
Buried on:
Camp Cemetery Sandbostel
Nationality:
Belgian (1830-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Häftlingsnummer: 49944. Murdered.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
T Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
July 7th, 1944
Citation:
"After receiving special training in England, Sergeant Frenay together with Sergeant Woluwe, also of the Belgian Army, was dropped into Belgium on the night of 16th April, 1943, with instructions to attack a specific target in Ghent.

They reported that this particular target was too heavily guarded and requested alternative orders and stores.

These were sent to them and they were responsible for twenty-three acts of sabotage, including eleven operations against railway targets, ten against canals and barges, one factory and one depot of flax and colza. In twenty of the above they were personally involved and confirmation of the successes of a number of these operations and news of counter-measures has been received.

Although working under disadvantages of supply and communication, Sergeant Frenay and his companion achieved, by their ingenuity and determination a remarkable amount of damage, and I strongly recommend him for the award of the Military Medal."
Military Medal (MM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
T Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Adjutant WOLUWE returned to ENGLAND on 22nd February 1944 after completion of a successful mission in BELGIUM for which he was awarded the M.M. He immediately volunteered for a second operation and on 30th March was parachuted into BELGIUM with a mission whose object was the destruction of lock gates on the Belgian waterways still open to enemy traffic.
He skillfully organised the attack on the lock gate of the canal at MENIN which was his first objective. His party encountered German opposition but, although Adjutant WOLUWE was wounded, he succeeded in placing his charges and blowing up the lock gates. He escaped, but was arrested shortly afterwards on 28th April 1944. He passed through a number of prisons where he suffered severe hardship and torture. He was condemned to death and deported to Germany and was shot on 28th April 1945

Posthumously awarded
King's/Queen's Commendation for brave conduct

Sources