Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Cadet-vaandrig

Awarded on:

February 17th, 1951

Recommendation:
He has distinguished himself by displaying exceptionally courageous and tactful conduct in combat against the enemy by having made three vain attempts to escape from a German PoW camp between 1940 and 1944. in January 1944 he and another cadet managed to escape from the German PoW camp in Stanislau in Poland, subsequently moving eastwards in order to join the armed forces of the ally Russia to be able to continue fighting the enemy.
Subsequently, after having reported to the Russians, who treated him like a Pow and even had him perform forced labor, by escaping once more and in November 1946, being arrested again by he Russians near the Hungarian - Romenian border and sentenced to three years imprisonment for this escape; he was transferred to a PoW camp near Odessa where he fell seriously ill, resulting in his death in a hospital on October 13, 1948.
During his imprisonment in Russia, he diplayed a high morale and distinguished conduct as a Dutch soldier, for instance refusing to beat up German PoWs, as he was ordered to by the Russians, to prove they were his enemies and in doing so he might gain release for himself.

Royal decree no. 9 (posthumously awarded)