Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Ambtenaar

Unit:

Ministerie van Waterstaat, Nederlandse Regering in Ballingschap

Awarded on:

February 17th, 1951

Recommendation:
He has distinguished himself in connection with enemy action by courageous and tactful conduct and so having served the interests of the Kingdom in 1940, as engineer of Rijkswaterstaat (department for maintenance of roads and waterways), location Goes by clearing the roads for French and Dutch troops following the enemey invasion of Zeeland and having left on one of the last transports to Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen in order to continue his duties from there.
Furthermore, as the enemy moved up from Belgium, by sailing from Dunkirque to England and reporting to the Dutch government in London. Despite his failing health, he made a very exhausting and hazardous trip to Sweden by airplane with the purpose of ordering for the Dutch railway company 50 engines which have been very useful for re-establishing the Dutch railway traffic after the liberation. Furthermore, after having been appointed chief engineer, in September 1944, he was asked by the Allied military authorities to visit Zeeuwsch-Vlaaanderen in order to gather information in connection with an imminent Allied operation as good intelligence might well save thousands of lives; despite his steadily worsening health, he consented to go voluntarily. He frequently traveled from Brussels to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen by jeep gathering valuable information to the great satisfaction of the Canadian High Command.

KB no 9