Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Bombardier

Unit:

Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

January 4th, 1946

Citation:
"Bdr. WIDEMAN was parachuted into Holland in September 1943, to instruct various Dutch underground organisations in sending military information to this country.
Bdr. Wideman skilfully built up his own groups and when these were properly organised he spared no efforts to contact other groups and help them, doing so at very great personal risk.
When his work was completed Bdr. Wideman decided to brave the dangers involved in a return to this country through a great part of enemy-occupied Europe, in order to report on his activities and put his experiences one more at the disposal of our own Service.
Unfortunately, shortly before he left, the house where he happened to be staying at the time was raided by the Gestapo. Bdr. Wideman made a gallant attempt to escape, knocking down two of his opponents. On the point of succeeding German reinforcements arrived and Bdr. Wideman, severely wounded in the neck by revolver bullits, was captured.
In spite of his extremely weak phusical condition, he was subjected to a lengthy interrogation. Although worn down by pain and loss of blood, Bdr. Wideman steadfastly refused to divulge any information concerning his friends and accomplices, and never during the whole of his imprisonment, did he give one single name. As a result of his exemplary attiture the groups which he had instructed continued to pass valuable military information ricght up to the liberation.
Bdr. Wideman was the first and only British subject to be dropped in Holland throughout the entire occupation. His task called for great diplomacy and tact as awell as high qualitied of courage and perseverance. He deserves our greatest admiration for the fine spirit and unwavering loyalty which enabled him, despite the many and cruel hardships he had to endure for over a year, to safeguard the lives and tasks of his fellow workers."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Bombardier

Unit:

Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1952

Recommendation:
For having distinguished himself by especially courageous and tactful actions in combat against the enemy. He was dropped in the night of September 19 to 20 1943 over occupied Holland with orders to contact an important intelligence group, carrying out this task in very trying and perilous circumstances and in early December 1943, he succeeded in making the first contact with London.
Furthermore by working very well for another resistance organisation in the Netherlands until after he had received orders to return to England he was captured by the enemy, he defended himself with his fire arm and was injured in the process. He was transferred to a prison in Germany where he remained in custody until the liberation. By this conduct, at the risk of his life, he rendered very valuable services to the Dutch Government