Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

January 31st, 1946

Citation:
"This officer, a qualified saboteur instructor and parachutist, joined the newly formed Air Operations Section at M.O.1. (S.P.) H.Q., in September, 1941.
As one of a very small staff he carried full responsability for the successful delivery by air of men and supplies to the field, from the initial planning of a project until the completion of air crew inerrogation after successful delivery. This work involved continuous and cloesly integrated liaison with the Air Ministry, the Operational Squadron, the agents themselves of all European nationalities and the various internal departments concerned.
At this experimental stage, many unforeseen circumstances called for a high degree of organising power, initiative, tact, and sudden improvistauin; the slightest error in pinpointin, equipment or timing could have had disastrous results on both lives and future planning.
Lt. Colonel VAN MAURIK carried out these responsable duties with notable success and unfailing reliability, working for long stretched up to 20 hours a day at H.Q., and on the airfield in all weather conditions. He did not hesitate to accompany agents on the pioneer flights to the dropping point, and whereas, in case of a forced landing, the agents would expect to melt into the local population and the air crew would be prisoners-of-war, the accompanying military officer was provided with the means to take his life.
In the autumn of 1941, he was appointed military officer in charge of a special flight of Whitley aircraft urgently needed for clandestine operations from MALTA. After casualtied to several aircraft and enemy attack en route, he arrived and directed successful operations to JUGASLAVIA under frequent and heavy enemy bombing both in his H.Q. and on the MALTA airfield.
In 1942/43, he became a member of the Staff of S.F.H.Q. responsible for preparations for OVERLORD, and in November, 1943, he was selected for an important Mission in connection with D-Day action in Europe and was parachuted into France near the Swiss frontier. Here he made contact with several of the newly-formed Maquis groups and took part in a successful encounter with the enemy. His concise expert reports by secret wireless on these groups at this ealry stage were of very great value to H.Q. at a critical time. He tehn successfully penetrated both frontier posts and (having climbed along the outside of an enemy-patrolled bridge) arrived in Switzerland where, after a period of internment, he successfully completed his Mission. He is now in command of an important unit in Germany.
Lt-Colonel VAN MAURIK has been consistently successful in combining administrative with operational roles both in himself and others. His valuable "back room" work in the pioneer period had a very considerable bearing upon the vast increase in clandestine U.K. air sorties to Resisters in Europe from forty-one in 1941 to approximately 6,000 in 1944.
For these achievements,for his unassuming dependability and co-operation at all times, and for his personal gallantry, it is recommendd that Lieut. Colonel VAN MAURIK be appointed an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1948

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

The Wiltshire Regiment

Awarded on:

March 25th, 1949