TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Mooij, Huibrecht (Huib)

Date of birth:
1920
Date of death:
1997
Nationality:
Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Biography


Mooij served aboard the HMS Kortenaer, which was sunk by the Japanese cruiser 'Haguro' during the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942. Of the 151 crew members, about 40 perished immediately. He survived, but was taken to a military hospital in Surabaya where our mother worked as a nurse. They got married in Jogjakarta on the island of Java.

After his recovery, Mooij served on board HMS Colombia, which in turn was sunk off the South African coast by the German submarine "U516" in February 1943. After his rescue, he was brought to East London in South Africa, where he had surgery and a piece of his intestine was removed (he ingested oil). After his recovery, Mooij left South Africa for England. He was stationed in Dover on the Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) 231, which was used for coastal surveillance, patrol services and small-scale surprise raids.

Mooij served in the Navy until his retirement (age 50). He then worked at Radio Holland.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Medaille in de Orde van Oranje Nassau in Zilver met zwaarden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With clasps:
"Ter Zee 1940-1945"
"Normandie 1944"
"Oost-Azie-Zuid-Pacific 1942-1945"
"Javazee 1941-1942"
Oorlogsherinneringskruis (OHK)
Period:
Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949)

With clasps "1947" and "1948"
Ereteken voor Orde en Vrede
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:
Motor Torpedo Boat 231, Royal Navy
Awarded on:
October 4th, 1994
For his services rendered between 1938 and 1945 in the Dover district. Mayor Borgman:"So I now know the facts, at least as they are on paper. You know the underlying realities. You have experienced and lived through it."

Awarded by the Dover District Council. Received from the hands of mayor Borgman of the municipality of Nijkerk.
Dover Front-Line Medal
Insigne Onderzeedienst

Sources

  • Photo 1: Tristan Mooij
  • - Awards and news clippings

Photo