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Arkema, Johannes

Date of birth:
January 7th, 1901 (the Hague/Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands)
Date of death:
October 17th, 1966 (Leerdam/Utrecht, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
General Cemetery Leerdam
Grave: 26513.
Nationality:
Dutch
Rang/eenheid:
Res. kapitein in 3e Compagnie, IIe Bataljon, 32e Regiment Infanterie, Groep Lek, Oostfront van de Vesting Holland

Biography

Promotions:
February 20th, 1920: Aspirant Vaandrig;
December 11th, 1920: Reserve-Korporaal;
March 24th, 1921: Reserve-Sergeant;
June 15th, 1921: Vaandrig;
February 24th, 1923: Reserve-Tweede Luitenant;
February 11th, 1927: Reserve-Eerste Luitenant (as from February 24th, 1927);
March 28th, 1938: Reserve-Kapitein (as from March 26th, 1938).

Career:
February 20th, 1920: Regiment Grenadiers;
June 15th, 1921: 8e Regiment Infanterie;
August 24th, 1939: Commanding Officer, 3e Compagnie, IIe bataljon, 32ste Regiment Infanterie;
October 1st, 1945: 2e Militaire Afdeling;
May 27th, 1949: 4e Regiment Infanterie;
July 1st, 1950: Garderegiment "Prinses Irene".

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Rank:
Reserve Kapitein
Awarded on:
December 6th, 1938
Ereteken voor Langdurige Dienst als Officier XV
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Reserve Kapitein
Unit:
Commandant, 3e Compagnie, IIe bataljon, 32ste Regiment Infanterie, Koninklijke Landmacht
Awarded on:
October 23rd, 1946
Awarded with clasp "MEI 1940".
Oorlogsherinneringskruis (OHK)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Reserve Kapitein
Unit:
Commandant, 3e Compagnie, IIe bataljon, 32ste Regiment Infanterie, Koninklijke Landmacht
Awarded on:
August 16th, 1950
Recommendation:
He has distinguished himself by having performed extremely courageous and tactful deeds in the fight against the enemy in the period between May 12th ? 14th , 1940 in Rotterdam as commander of a company infantry to which were added two sections of heavy machine guns, which company was given the task on May 12th , to defend the area on the River Meuse between the Haringvliet and the Schiedamse Dijk and to release three companies which had previously occupied this section.
In particular:
1) by moving from the Haringvliet in the afternoon of May 13th, 1940 - accompanied by some volunteers of whom only one accompanied him on the whole trip - and crossing the Vier Leeuwenbrug, when a Dutch clergyman and a civilian parlementary with a white flag were nearing the Willemsbrug from the direction of the Noordereiland, the part of the city laying under fire from various directions and which had previously been the scene of vicious fighting. Subsequently having led these parlementaries to the Beursstation.
2) by moving forward to the Boompjes in the morning of May 14th , 1940, in order to improve the deployment in the frontline by a section of heavy machine guns, with among others the lieutenant-sectioncommander.
Subsequently by moving to another heavy machine gun after the lieutenant had been seriously injured and having taken measures to evacuate him, discovering an enemy column being deployed on the Noordereiland and aiming the weapon himself so the gun commander could open fire.
Finally by having kept his company together as much as possible after the massive bombardment on Rotterdam although almost all dispositions of his unit had been rendered unusable and only leaving his post after having learned Rotterdam had capitulated.

Royal Decree No.15
1045th Award.
Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Sources

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