VJ Day

To remember my leaving to the Dutch Indies

As you know I have done research in my ancestry and I have found out so much over the years. Mostly ordinary stuff: birth-marriage-death, but on occasion I have found some more remarkable things. I won't brag too much about being from royal descent, after all, half of Europe can probably trace their lineage back to the great Charlie!

There was however one story which seemed to be different and at first I didn't in fact believe it. Especially as none in the family knew anything about it! After all, emigrating to Canada or the USA is one thing, dying in Indonesia is something completely different. Research was needed.

And what I found was extraordinary. A young man (1916) had to do his national service in the thirties. He did his basic training and was then allowed to go on grand leave (ie not having to return unless circumstances changed). But perhaps jobs were not to be had or he had enjoyed his time in the army, he decided to enlist properly. Enlist for the KNIL (Royal Dutch Indies Army). He was then sent out to what is now Indonesia to be a soldier there.

He had arrived before there was even a war in Europe, so probably felt quite safe in the far Dutch Indies. But in 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and soon after they invaded several countries in the Pacific area, one being the Dutch Indies. By early 1942 it was all over: the Dutch had surrendered and all military personnel had been captured and put in camps.

First Jan (that was his name) was put with his mates in a camp in the Dutch Indies, but was soon moved to Thailand by ship, which was a danger in itself. He survived the crossing however and was then put in a camp on the infamous railroad to Burma. Every so often the whole camp moved to keep up with the railroad.

Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery

Lack of food, lack of medical attention, humidity, heat, hard labour and most likely abuse by the Japanese caused Jan to contract Beriberi. A disease which even at that time was preventable as they knew the cause and the cure. But no cure was coming for Jan and on December 31, 1943 Jan passed away on the Thai/Burmese border.