Bossche, van den, Ludovicus Johannes "Louis"

Date of birth:: September 28th, 1920
Date of death:: October 15th, 2009
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Louis van der Bossche grew up in Borgvliet near Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.

During the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940 (10-14 May), Van der Bossche served as a Marine in the defence of the Bridges over the Meuse river in Rotterdam. After the capitulation of the Dutch forces he worked with the Dutch Railway Company. After ha had a conflict with a German Non-commissioned Officer, Louis van der Bossche was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. After his release he fled the country on March 17th, 1942 and travelled by train to Paris and then to the Swiss border. After it seemed impossible to cross the border, he travelled over the Pyrenees to Spain and was caught at Figueiras. After two months in jail, he went to London by Madrid and Lissabon. He arrived in London on May 9th, 1943. He was trained as a Commando in Scotland and the United States, but eventuall was placed with the Prinse Irene Brigade. With this unit he took part in the liberation of the Netherlands.

After the Second World War he served in Indonesia, New Guinea and at Aruba. He retired in 1970.
For his part in the battles in the Dutch East-indies/Indonesia and in New Guinea, he also received the Ereteken voor Oorlog en Vrede and the Herinneringskruis Nieuw Guinea with the clasp "1962".

Promotions:
1st January 1967: Luitenant-ter-Zee vk.2jc;
1st January 1970: Luitenant-ter-Zee vk.2oc.

Career:
17th December 1970: pensioen.

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Kruis van Verdienste (KV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Marinier der Tweede Klasse
Awarded on:: October 28th, 1943

Citation:
"For with tact preparing and executing a plan to escape the occupied country of the Netherlands, and, after having encountered many difficulties, reaching England."

Royal Decree No. 12, dated October 28th, 1943.