Date of birth:

March 20th, 1922 (Weltevreden/Java, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

April 18th, 1989 (Amsterdam/Noord-Holland, the Netherlands)

Nationality:

Dutch

Christiaan Vincent Gradwell (Chris) van Oosterzee (Weltevreden, Batavia, 20 March 1922 - Amsterdam, 18 April 1989) was a Dutch Englandvaarder and soldier.

Van Oosterzee was born in the Dutch East Indies and moved to the Netherlands with his family in 1935. During World War II, he became involved in the resistance. He was briefly imprisoned in the Oranjehotel, then went into hiding and decided to flee to England in 1943 to join the Allies.

After an unsuccessful attempt to flee to England via the North Sea, he chose the southern route through Belgium, France and the Pyrenees. During a dangerous crossing through the snow-covered mountains in February 1944, his group was surprised by a Nazi patrol. Most of the refugees were arrested and deported to concentration camps, where none of them survived. Van Oosterzee narrowly managed to escape and resumed his journey. He eventually reached England via Spain and North Africa.

In England, Van Oosterzee joined the Princess Irene Brigade and underwent military training. After the war, he served as a volunteer in the Dutch East Indies during the Bersiap period, where he was involved in colonial administration and conflicts surrounding the Indonesian independence struggle. He returned to the Netherlands in 1948.

After the war, Van Oosterzee worked in banking and held positions at home and abroad. He died in 1989 at the age of 67. His life is marked by exceptional courage, but also by the tragedy of lost comrades during his dangerous England voyage.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Dienstplichtig Soldaat

Awarded on:

September 14th, 1945

Awarded for planning and executing a plan to escape from occupied territory of the Netherlands and reaching England after many difficulties.

Royal Decree No. 17
1106th Award

• Photo 1: Publiek Domein (onbekend)
• - HEUVEL, C.C. VAN DEN e.a., Verzetsherdenkingskruis, Samsom Uitgeverij, 1985.
  - Zoek in alles (NIMH / Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie) - Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie