Dam, van, Leonardus Bartholomeus

Date of birth:: May 23rd, 1917 (Noordwijk, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: September 5th, 1983 (Noordwijk aan Zee, the Netherlands)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Leonardus van Dam was the Sectionleader Haarlem-the Hague for the Militairy Intelligence Resistance group Albrecht. Before the war he was subject to compulsory military service Wachtmeester (Sergeant) with the 3e Regiment Huzaren.

During and after the Battle of Arnhem he gathered intelligence behind enemy lines on enemy troops and positions and went out ahead of the Allies to gather intelligence and pass it on to the Allies. He continued this work until the liberation of the northeast of the Netherlands. He then moved with the Allies into Germany to Hamburg/Bremen. His participation in the war ended there.

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Bronzen Kruis (BK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1951
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

Citation:
"Distinguished himself through courageous action against the enemy by volunteering in May 1944 to gather intelligence on the enemy in occupied Netherlands for an important military intelligence group, undertaking this task at great personal risk.
In particular, by skilfully reconnoitring the most difficult parts of the North Sea coast.
Furthermore, by being one of the three volunteers who arrived in Arnhem in mid-September 1944 and witnessed the Allied airborne landing there, during which he skilfully gathered information about the advancing enemy troops.
Then, after the British troops had been forced to abandon the bridgehead at Arnhem, by managing to remain in the Gelderland Achterhoek region as an illegal worker under very difficult circumstances and continuing to provide very important information about German troop movements.
Finally, by continuing his reconnaissance work as the Allied troops advanced and ending his work only when Bremen was occupied.
Through these actions, he rendered important services to the Allied war effort and the Dutch cause."

Nr. 3267
Royal Decree No. 29
Presented March 3rd, 1952, Paleis op de Dam, Amsterdam.