Gerard Hendrik Joan Bendien
No.10IA Commando 2 'Dutch' troop. 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. That document can be seen here: https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/10IA/Dutch/dutch+trp+postings+1.jpg.html
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.
Photos courtesy of his son Johann Liddell Joan 'Ben' Bendien who 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
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Date: 24/01/2013
Size: 2 items
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