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Hoevenaar, Jacobus, Cornelis

    Date of birth:
    September 28th, 1898
    Date of death:
    November 22nd, 1973 (Lage Zwaluwe, the Netherlands)
    Nationality:
    Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Jacobus Cornelis Hoevenaar "Koos" from Lage Zwaluwe worked as a wicker worker in the Biesbosch and as an auxiliary surveyor in the service of the Department of Public Works. Through this work he knew the area of the Biesbosch through and through.

    And in March 1945 he was asked by Jos van Wijlen ("André" and leader of the resistance and espionage group of the same name) if he was willing to row people and messages through the Biesbosch to occupied Holland. At 46, he thus became the oldest crosser.

    Although Koos was married, father of thirteen children, and living in already liberated territory, he made eight crossings. During one of those crossings he contracted pneumonia, so he was cared for for ten days in occupied territory at home with his crossmaster Bertus van Gool.

    To personally remember Koos, a street was named after him in Lage Zwaluwe with the inscription "J.C. Hoevenaarstraat Linecrosser 2nd World War."

    Koos, residence Lage Zwaluwe, was awarded with:
    The Bronze Lion

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Burger (Civilian)
    Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

    Sources