https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/
We have a document naming him and showing that on the 6th September 1944 he was attached to 2 troop, rank of Private. This document shows him and 7 others leaving on a mission [more....].
12 weeks later on the 1st December 1944 he was given the temporary rank of Sergeant Major and attached to the Staff of the Dutch Interior Forces.
His son Johann Liddell Joan 'Ben' Bendien adds "My father was born on the 12th June 1916 and was educated at Charterhouse School. Within a few days of my mother arriving in London on the kinderstransporten, she met my father. They married within a few months. My father later went to Achnacarry for Commando training. My mother never talked about her family - all 89 perished leaving her as the sole survivor of her line. My father died within 5 years. He was an only child and I know only a little about his life and absolutely nothing about mother's life or family before she left Berlin. My father was one of the "Original" 25, a Dutchman of 10 Inter Allied Commando 2 troop. He died in uniform in Holland in 1945. On his gravestone in Zeist is recorded action in France, Burma, Belgium and Holland. When he died he was buried with full military honours and gun salute and attended by government officials."

More can be found on this forum message: https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/15/3792.page

In Memory of Gerard Hendrik Joan Bendien
No.10 (IA) Commando 2 troop and Dutch Interior Forces
who died in Holland on the 25th November 1945 aged 29
Remembered with honour at Zeist (Woudenbergseweg) Cemetery.]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:16:50 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/30572-6/Bendien.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/RAIDS+by+GH+Joan+Bendien.pdf.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/RAIDS+by+GH+Joan+Bendien.pdf.html
[Courtesy of his son Johann Liddell Joan 'Ben' Bendien].

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In album Gerard Hendrik Joan Bendien, No.10 (IA) Cdo., 2 'Dutch' troop died 25/11/45 Holland.]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:49:34 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/Bendien+copy.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/Bendien/Bendien+copy.jpg.html
[Photo courtesy of his son Johann Liddell Joan 'Ben' Bendien].

On the 1st December 1944 he was promoted to the rank of temporary Sergeant Major during the period he was attached to the Staff of the Dutch Interior Forces. The date on the photo is 5 May 1945. This was the day on which the Germans officially surrendered in Holland and that day later became Liberation Day.

Photo courtesy of his son Johann Liddell Joan 'Ben' Bendien who adds " My father talking into a microphone - my mother told us he was on the Dutch National Radio telling people that the first convoy of food had arrived with the help of the Commandos." [Posted by Pete R.]

In Memory of Gerard Hendrik Joan Bendien
No.10 (IA) Commando 2 troop and Dutch Interior Forces
who died in Holland on the 25th November 1945 aged 29
Remembered with honour at Zeist (Woudenbergseweg) Cemetery.
In album Gerard Hendrik Joan Bendien, No.10 (IA) Cdo., 2 'Dutch' troop died 25/11/45 Holland.]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:46:38 +0100