Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Majoor

Awarded on:

April 10th, 1953

Distinguished himself by performing particularly courageous and policy-full deeds in the fight against the enemy as commander of the so-called Biesbosch Group in the second half of 1944 when this group dedicated itself to defusing by force or capturing retreating German soldiers who either wanted to withdraw from the war or chose the route through the Biesbosch to reach Dordrecht. In total, some 75 of these enemies could be disarmed and temporarily stowed away in houseboats until they were handed over to the Allies as prisoners on the Brabant shore in early November. During these eventful months of constant threat that the Biesbosch would be combed out, De Werd led his group of about 40 men with policy and where necessary rigour, and himself set an example to his men so that the intended objective was fully achieved

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1979