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Schoonveld, Pieter

Date of birth:
December 22nd, 1924 (Ten Boer, The Netherlands)
Date of death:
December 31st, 1948 (Patjet, NOI)
Buried on:
Dutch War Cemetery Kembang Kuning
Plot: B. Grave: 176.
Nationality:
Dutch

Biography

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Period:
Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949)
Rank:
Soldaat-oorlogsvrijwilliger
Unit:
1e Compagnie, 2e Bataljon, 10e Regiment Infanterie, Wapen der Infanterie
Awarded on:
August 24th, 1950
Recommendation:
He has distinguished himself in combat against the enemy by exceptionally courageous and tactful action on December 31, 1948 when the military post Patjet on eastern Java had been surrounded by overwhelming guerilla gangs.
In particular when numerous attacks on this post had been repelled since early morning and the commander had decided, as help was still not forthcoming and the situation was becoming untenable due to a shortage of ammunition, to have two soldiers break out by jeep in order to fetch the urgently needed reinforcements from Modjosari, he and another soldier volunteered for this assignment, maintaining his offer after the precariousness and the great risk involved had been explained.
Subsequently he and the other soldier crossed the enemy line in their jeep at the greatest speed possible, towards midnight however, when the commander and the relief troops arrived on the post entirely on their own, it transpired that on the road between Modjosari and Patjet an abandoned jeep was found while next day, his remains and as well as those of his companion, mutilated with klewangs, were found near the Kampong of Kambangsuri-Lor.

Royal decree no. 6 (posthumously awarded)
Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Sources

Photo