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Christiaans, Antonius Gerardus

    Date of birth:
    November 10th, 1902 (Nijmegen, the Netherlands)
    Date of death:
    December 23rd, 1971 (Nijmegen, the Netherlands)
    Nationality:
    Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Antonius Gerardus Christiaans joined the Royal Dutch navy in March 1921. Early 1932 he was stationed on board the Hr.Ms. van Galen with which he visited Shanghai. Was a member of the landing detachement of the van Galen in Shanghai from 23rd August until 17th November 1937. In June or July 1940 he was fired from the Royal Dutch Navy in relation to the invasion of the Netherlands by the German Forces.
    In 1943 he was captured by the German Forces and brought to prisoner-of-war camp Stalag VA, Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart.
    In May 1945 he was liberated by the Free French Army, and returned home.
    He joined the Royal Dutch Navy again and was placed with the British Royal Navy, stationed in Skegness at the H.M.S. Royal Arthur.
    He stayed with the Royal Dutch Navy until December 1960.

    Promotions:
    30th March 1921: Enlisted as Lichtmatroos;
    30th June 1921: Matroos 3e klasse;
    28th february 1923: Matroos 2e klasse;
    31st March 1925: Matroos 1e klasse;
    30th April 1926: Korporaal Konstabel;
    12th June 1933: Placed back to Matroos Konstabel;
    1st July 1935: Korporaal Konstabel;
    29th September 1950: Korporaal Geschutskonstabel.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Korporaal Geschutskonstabel
    Unit:
    Geschutskonstabel
    Awarded on:
    August 13th, 2008

    Awarded posthumously.
    Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis (MOK)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Korporaal-Konstabel
    Awarded on:
    July 17th, 1946
    Langdurige, eerlijke en trouwe dienst bij de Zeemacht, 24 jaar

    Sources

    • Photo 1: Koen Hermsen
    • - Ministry of Defence and private collection Koen Hermsen

    Photo