Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Verzet Noord-Holland

Awarded on:

March 31st, 1952

Citation:
"For having distinguished himself in courageous and tactful action against the enemy in the night of 26-27 September 1944, and having served the Kingdom as member of an illegal organization in Noord-Holland by removing boxes containing explosive charges in excess of 1.000 kilos planted by the Germans, in an exceptionally audacious manner from a column of the Hembrug on the North Sea Canal with an accomplice, an attempt by other members of the resistance having failed the previous night.
Initially, he had to swim for approximately 200 metres, then enter a manhole some 1.5 metres below the surface, push aside the electrical cables entering the column, surface inside the column and sink the boxes containing the explosives handed to him from above by his accomplice. The action lasted for some four hours and was executed a few metres distant from a German guard; moreover, his flashlight died after half an hour so they had to work in darkness. The return trip was made by swimming once again."

Royal Decree No.98, d.d. March 31st 1952

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)