Date of birth:

March 7th, 1889 (Charlois-Rotterdam/Zid-Holland, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

March 8th, 1969 (Dordrecht/Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands)

Nationality:

Dutch

Willem den Boer was born on 7th March 1889 as son of Willem den Boer and Niesje Niemandsverdriet. He studied on the T.H. in Delft and became Shipping Engineer. He married Maaike Stijntje Vaandrager on 30th October 1913. The couple had 13 children.

On May 10th, 1940 he was "tijdelijk (reserve) majoor speciale dienst" (Special Services) and "Majoor der Artillerie" (Major of Artillery) as Head Region DMKL in Breda (supervised production of arms), but at that moment was in Dordrecht. Here he conducted field duty during the frist two days of war and on some occaisions lead the defence by the local forces. He did so on May 10th, near the Swimming Pool of Dordecht and on May 12th, in Parc Weizigt, near the railway. For his conduct here he later received his first Bronze Cross (1947). Willem den Boer was as Military commander of the resistance organisation "De Oranjewacht" forced to dissappear for he was being followed by the SD. On 18th June 1941 he left with Ben, Herman and Jaap Sajet (All Jewish, Ben father of both sons Herman and Jaap), Herman Corbiere, Kees de Graaf and Louis Gerards in a small boat to England. The crossing succeeded. For this he received his first Bronze Cross.

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• Photo 1: Pauline van Till
• - The Dutch Medals Page
  - Otto-den Boer, L. en M.N., 1886 - 1969, Familiekroniek van Willem den Boer en Maaike Stijntje Vaandrager en hun gezin
  - Overwater A.M., De Geuzen van 1940
  - Zoek in alles (NIMH / Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie) - Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie