HRH Prince Bernhard and Niek J. de Koning
HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands with No.2 Dutch troop 10IA Commando at Eastbourne Sept. 1944. Photos courtesy of the Dutch Commando Museum and Jack Bakker who adds the following information " The photo was taken on the 4th or 6th of September 1944 in Eastborne by H.C. Deal from Eastborne. This was written on the back of the original I saw this morning. No 2 Dutch Troop had returned from India about a fortnight before. In India the Troop was not deployed as a whole. Only 5 men were elected to join 44 Commando Royal Marines and/or No 5 Army Commando. N.J. de Koning (he is the man receiving the medal), Ubels and Blatt went to No 5 Commando and Lt Knottenbelt and Sgt Van de Veer went to 44 Commando. They saw action during the fighting around Maungdaw. N.J. (Niek) de Koning received the Bronze Cross for his actions during the fighting and for saving the life of the severely wounded Blatt behind the Japanese lines. In October 1944 he was parachuted into the North of Holland, namely the province called Friesland, to organize the resistance over there and take action with them. he stayed in the Army after the war and went to the Dutch East Indies where he organized and commanded the parachute training school. Later on in his Army career he became the CO of the Dutch Commando Regiment. Besides being decorated with the Bronze Cross, De Koning was also decorated with the Bronze Lion which comes directly after the Militaire Willemsorde (same as the VC).
Behind De Koning is capt J. Linzel, Co of No 2 at that time. During operation Market Garden he was attached to the 52nd Lowland Division. During operation Infatuate he was, together with 13 other Dutch Commandos, attached to 47 Commando Royal Marines. He stayed in The Army and fought in the Korean war where he lost a leg. He retired as a Brigadier. He died last year.
The man in the background with the fanion is Sgt Martien van Barneveld. He saw action during operation Market Garden in and around Arnhem/Oosterbeek. There he amputated the severely wounded leg of a British Airborne soldier with his pocket knife. Decorated with the Bronze Cross. Later in the war (November 1944) he served as an instructor at Achnacarry for the Dutch trainees who were recruited in the liberated south of Holland. On the fanion the names of the places were No 2 saw action were embroiled: Arnhem, Nijmegen, Eindhoven, Vlissingen, Westkapelle, Arakan."
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Date: 19/01/2011
Size: 2 items
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