Kruit, Klaas

Date of birth:: February 23rd, 1918 (Odoorn, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: September 18th, 1994 (Enschede, the Netherlands)
Service number:: 18.02.23.002.
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

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Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Sergeant-majoor-instructeur
Awarded on:: May 12th, 1951

Aanbeveling:
For having distinguished himself by especially courageous and tactful conduct in combat against the enemy; having reported voluntarily as early as 1942 to be posted to a British 'Commando' or other unit:
1) having been posted to the British 1st Airborne Division and having landed by glider near Groesbeeek on September 17, 1944, subsequently having rendered eminent services as an interpreter and courier until early October and having taken three enemy prisoners in the process,
2) In particular for having made frequent reconnaissance trips as a motorcycle courier; during one of the trips having persuaded inhabitants of a part of the Waaldijk near Nijmegen to evacuate; to that end having driven at high speed across an open dyke under direct enemy artillery fire; his motorcycle having been hit three times on his way back to Nijmegen,
3) In the early morning of November 1, 1944, aboard the leading vessel of 25 landing craft having taken part in the landing of the Dutch section of No. 4 Commando at Vlissingen until being injured by direct mortar fire after having put the crew of an enemy bunker near the landing site out of action.

Royal decree no. 29
Presented by Prince Bernhard at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on May 12, 1951.