Stories and diaries

Table of contents:

That I shall never forget.

P.A. Paulusma

March 1944 / August 1945.

Charles Kroesen ("Willy")

Action Heerewaarden.

Lucky boy

Lucky Boy.

Lucky boy

Two episodes out of the life of a Stoottroeper

Episode I - 1946/1947
After arrival of the first Battalion Regiment Stoottroepen at Semarang, Mid-Java, on March 13, 1946 a part of the positions around the town was taken over from the British troops. It was our task to clear the town and its immediate surroundings of bands of rebels and to build up a proper defense-line for the protection of the population and for our own security. A few weeks after our arrival and after intensive patrolling and reconnaissance activities gradually large clearance actions were carried out with the object to move the defense-line more land inward and to put an end to the regular shelling of the town. With that not only the safety of the Semarang population was increased but at the same time the inhabitants of a large number of "dessa's" and "kampongs" in the pacified area were given an opportunity to bring their products to the town by which the food supply could be improved considerably.
Political negotiations led in February 1947 to a truce and the establishment of a demarcation-line: patrolling was the order of the day and violations of the truce led many months long to large-scale fighting actions. The expectation that the negotiations would come to a deadlock (which indeed happened in July1947) could by us, on a military level, be observed by the changes in the structure of the 4th company of our battalion. This company was, together with a squadron of armored cars and tanks of the Huzaren van Boreel (a cavalry regiment) transformed into a so-called assault-platoon. As from May 1947 intensive training took place in order to arrive at an efficient concerted relation. A large-scale action lay ahead. Mid July (I cannot recall anymore which day) it was announced that a large so-called "police action" would be executed and which part the former 4th company, now assault platoon, would have in it.

The plan was as follows:
On the 21st of July 1947 the attack in the south would be launched to destroy the enemy positions opposite to our outpost Gombel and to thrust forward to Oengaran. When this target was secured the armor-infantry-unit would thrust rapidly forward along the road to Salatiga for the purpose of capturing undamaged:
1 - the bridge over the Kali Toentang in the main road to Salatiga, Surakarta (Solo) and Yogyakarta.
2 - the railway station of Toentang.
3 - the electricity power station at the Toentang river and
4 - possibly the town of Salatiga.
The rest of the first battalion regiment Stoottroepen and other battalions of the brigade would follow.

The distance from Oengaran to the bridge over the Kali Toentang amounted to about 20 km's. It is true we had, during the more than 15 months of our stay at Semarang, acquired much fighting experience during mopping-up operations and combat patrols. But this forthcoming action was from a quite different nature. This meant a ride of 20 km's on a bad road surface, deep into enemy territory. It is true in armored cars but with all risks of the well known fighting means of the adversary such as mines, dug in airplane bombs, blown up water galleries under the road and ambushes.
The whole day of the 21st of July we have, with "nerves on the stomach" (much more than with other operations), sympathized with our comrades who were already in action since sunrise and listened to the messages about the course of the operation. It was a tense day.
I do not remember anymore whether or not I have slept that night of the 21st to the 22nd of July and at what time we have started our fast drive from the starting point (surprise was of great importance in this battle plan). I do not know how the environment looked like. Because the cab-shutters were closed we have hardly seen anything. The driver and I had only sight on the road straight ahead through the peep-slits in the front screen armor. In the back the men kept covered behind the rear- and side-armor plate. What I do know is that beyond the last turning of the road I caught sight of the bridge which was still intact. Arrived at the other side of the river we halted, jumped out of the car, took cover, grouped ourselves and marched on to the railway station and the electricity power station which both were captured undamaged.
During the rapid drive our nerves were already slightly appeased and with the bridge behind us, out of the car and at the dispersed advance in the side-field the strain came to further discharge. And still more, later, when the pioneers of the support-company showed us the nine airplane-bombs which had been dug in the road on the south-side of the bridge.
The enemy had not have time to explode them!
Such a day as this 22nd of July 1947 you will never forget!

Episode II - 1989
It is the 22nd of July 1989 when I, together with my wife, depart from Schiphol for a journey to Mid-Java. The arrival in Jakarta was on the 23rd of July at 17.00 hrs local time. The next day we flew to Semarang. The trip by coach from the Semarang airport to the town center and later the excursions in town and surroundings brought me back again to many well-known places of the past and also in contact with friendly, smiling people. A roundtrip through Mid-Java via Ungaran, Bawen direction Wonosobo, on the same route as in 1947, now however in an air-conditioned coach, gave the enjoyment of an enchanting landscape with alternately tobacco-, tea- and coffee plantations, sawa's and afforested slopes of volcanoes. This tour led us in a few days from Wonosobo via Cilacap (at Java's south coast, Indian Ocean) and Wates further to Yogyakarta. When I, during this description, look at the map I realize again how close we (1st Bat. Regt. Stoottroepen) at that time, starting from Kopeng, had drawn near to the capital of our then adversaries. For years we have looked at the north side of the volcanoes Merbabu and Merapi. And now I have seen Yogya. With great pleasure strolled in the main shopping-street, the Malioboro, visited the Kraton and, in the suburb Kota Gede, viewed silver forges. From Yogya we have, naturally, made trips to 2 Buddhist temples: the Candi Mendut and the world-famous Borobudur. Likewise from Yogya we paid a visit to Parang Tritis, a village due south of Yogya, at the Indian Ocean and known because of its "black sand dunes"; Black is a little bit overdone but the sand is indeed light- to dark-grayish in color owing to precipitation of volcanic ash.
On July the 31st we departed to Surakarta, very often called Solo. During this tour we also had a look at the Hindu temple Prambanan and visited a sugar factory Gondang Baru near Klaten. The factory was in full production. Funny detail: the steam-locomotive which brought the flat wagons with the sugar-cane from the plantations dated back from 1912! From our hotel room in Solo I saw that evening at sunset the three (from Semarang generally known) mountains outlined against the horizon: the Merapi, the Merbabu and the Ungaran. The traveling party would, on the 3rd of August, return directly from Solo via Salatiga to Semarang. However I wanted firmly pay a visit to the Tuntang-bridge and 11 men of a hospital-orderly-detachment, which in 1947 during almost 2 years had run a hospital in Salatiga, absolutely wished to visit Salatiga. Therefore a trip to Tuntang and to Salatiga was organized. First to Tuntang. With my camera in hand and the images from then in my head I looked for those positions which could realize a copy of the photos from then; the bridge from this side of the river and from the other side, at this and that angle and at different distances, the station, the kali, the railway. On my way to the station I saw, skirting a hardened foot-path, a warong with in it the owner and a customer. They said good day laughingly. I went to them and told them that I came from Holland and wanted to make pictures of the places where I had been 42 years ago. When I came back from the station and the kali there was a third man standing at the warong. From the manner they looked at me all three of them I felt that the tam-tam had already done its job. They had been talking about the fact that I was in the neighborhood and what I had told them. The third man asked me if I, 42 years ago, had been there as a military man. We did not speak in sentences; it went more or less like this:
I   : "Saya Tuan"
He: "I too"
I   : "Where?"
He: "Here" (pointing out the entire surroundings with wide arm swinging)
I   : "With the Diponegoro Division?"
He: "Saya Tuan; so we were enemies thén!"
I   : "Saya, at that time, but nów?"
He: "Nów not any more" whilst he comes closer to me and, with his both hands, takes a firm hold of my outstretched hand!
An experience which moved me deeply. That complete absence of rancor. On the contrary. That handshake and broad smile! Heartfelt utterances of solidarity in common lot of life.
Such an experience you will never forget!
Pieter A. Paulusma, 4-I RS

At the beginning of 1944 (March/April) under the authority of the committee of the National Commando Groups (Landelijke Knokploegen: LKP) a resistance group, after much preliminary work, was founded and stationed in 's-Hertogenbosch / Rosmalen with its activities in the eastern part of the province Noord-Brabant.

This resistance group, consisting of six men, was called "Margriet", after Princess Margriet born in the year before. Leader of this commando group was Willy Andriessen, an already in the resistance active, cadet-ensign of the K.N.I.L. (Royal Dutch Army in the East Indies), with the pen name "Emiel". The group is organized professional, shelter is arranged, just like ration-cards for food, clothing and smokers requisites, pocket money and also a reliable conveyance (a bicycle) is available. Everyone has a pistol or revolver. The members are continuously "stand-by", so that they are always within easy reach for an action meeting, to take actions, armor-exercise, etc. In the weekends they get regular a day-off. Mostly they work in teams of two men, but also with the whole group, for instance at a surprise on a ration-office. Perhaps the good relations between the BOSS and the village of Cuijk did already start in June 1944. In that month a successful surprise was executed on the ration-office of that village. On 14^th August two members of the "Margriet", Emiel and Chris, were captured by the Germans. Two others were able to escape.
On 19^th August, Emiel and Chris were shot at the village of Vught.

At the end of August reorganization took place. Stefke Feyen (he died on 14^th August 1973) was the new leader and new people were engaged to strengthen the commando group. The engagement of new KP'ers was much easier due to the many persons in hiding in the area. Then the front came nearer and much sabotage had to be done. After "Market-Garden", the group also was in charge to watch several vital objects as the power plant at Orthen. Piet van der Lee was killed at one of these actions.

On 24^th October a part of Rosmalen and 's-Hertogenbosch was liberated. It was there where most of the members were. Then the resistance group could start with public appearance and counted, according the figures of Stefke Feyen, round 70 men. They "participate" in the liberation of the remaining part of 's-Hertogenbosch, it took the allies a week to do so.

After assisting the civilians to overcome the problems connected with the liberation, the biggest part of the group strengthens the Regiment Brabant of the Stoottroepen in the middle of November.

It becomes the "Margriet"-company or the 8^th company Regiment Brabant. The company is laid in the Frederik Hendrik-barracks at Vught and so now and then, there is someone to bring the company on strength again. The biggest completion came from the vicinity of Breda, when a group RVV'ers, complete with leader, formed the 3^rd platoon. Early December everyone has a uniform or something that looks like it. Also it is known on which side of a stengun you may expect the bullets: "that side you must always keep away from you". Even the company has available a couple Lee-Enfield rifles.

Mid December, after the weapon arsenal of the company was extended, the company was found ready for combat. So there was no reason the men stayed any longer in the village of Vught. Trucks appeared, everything and everyone was loaded and the company left in the direction ............... of the province of Zeeland. For a dark reason they stopped in the village of Kruisland and quarters were prepared. Before everything was settled down, there was a message that everything has to be loaded again. Very soon, the new target is known, the "Margriet" is going to the Land of the rivers Maas and Waal to relieve the 1^st Company.

Shortly before Christmas 1944 the company arrives in the villages of Wamel, Beneden-Leeuwen and Boven-Leeuwen. There they have to garrison a two-men foxhole (brengun-post). The 1^st platoon lays in Wamel with the Canadians of the "Manitoba Dragoons", the 2^nd platoon in Beneden-Leeuwen en the 3^rd platoon in Boven-Leeuwen. The last two platoons lay in turns with the English (an English post, a Dutch post, an English post, etc.). The English are of the 49 Reconnaissance Regiment that belongs to the "Polar Bear Division".

When on a night a German patrol under a covering fire crosses the Waal, a house-to-house fight starts in Wamel by which two men of the 1^st platoon are taken as prisoners of war by the Germans.

End February the company is pulled back to Oss for a period of rest. In the Land of Maas and Waal the "Margriet" receives a poem from the civilians as thanksgiving and the Reconnaissance Regiment a commemoration table. In Oss, the period of rest is rather short because after three days the company leaves as the first one of the Regiment Brabant for Germany. To "Berlin" is written down on the trucks. Nevertheless, Nijmegen is the first stop. Everything must now be loaded in DUKW's (amphibious vehicles), because the area further on is inundated. The company stops in the Reichswald and digs itself in, in the neighborhood of Cleve.

In this period, on 20^th March 1945, Stefke Feyen is summoned in 's-Hertogenbosch, where he is allowed to hand over to Her Royal Highness Queen Wilhelmina five big silver Margriet-pins. Personally, Stefke pins up one at H.R.H.
Montgomery prepares in this area to cross the Rhine: "Operation Plunder". Patrol is a daily work. One night the company lies under heavy artillery fire, but due to the order by arrival to dig in oneself deep, the shelling fortunately no consequences.

At the beginning of April the "Margriet" crosses the Rhine and via Emmerich (Germany) they pass the Dutch boarder at 's-Heerenberg again. The company receives the order to guard a D.I.D. (Detail Issue Depot) in the vicinity of Didam and Zeddam. Nothing is so boring as guarding a big quantity boxes. That too is the meaning of the platoon commander of the 2^nd platoon. He takes a motorbike and goes on a one-man reconnaissance patrol in the neighborhood. Everything goes well until he approaches Doesburg, that town is still occupied by the Germans. The platoon commander is taken under fire and with leaving behind his motorbike; he has to find his way back to Zeddam.

Consternation everywhere at his return, motorbike lost due to 'Krauts', who also occupied a Dutch town! This is enough reason for the "Margriet" to liberate Doesburg. Two platoons are on the way to attack and are supported by a couple tanks of Canadian unit, who is already north of Doesburg. A new-formed platoon consist of cooks, quartermaster-sergeant and medics will continue guarding the D.I.D. in the meantime.
With such an operation, you will not let the grass grow under your feet and so the fighting unit advances already the next day to Doesburg. Everything goes well until about 2 km before the target. Suddenly an English colonel appears and commands to stop. The moment fits well so everybody stops. However, when the next command "about turn! - march!" sounds, nobody understands; Doesburg is ahead. So for the "Margriet" it is still: "stop". In this position, motives are advanced to continue in the original line of marching, total ignoring the fact that an English colonel accepts nothing from a lieutenant (at the moment the highest in rank the "Margriet" has to present) and then this lieutenant is a Dutchman too.
The Dutch side continues with advancing motives, so the blood pressure of the English colonel rises in such a way that the color of his face looks like his uniform. Nevertheless, he is able to make clear that the commander faces a "court-martial". Fortunately for the colonel, one of the Margrieters knows the Dutch sense of the word. Stefke is informed about the possible consequences, this results in obeying the commands of the colonel. Canadian tanks back to their unit, the "Margriet" back to the D.I.D., in a heavy huff, Doesburg still occupied and the company has e motorbike less. It is not clear of it has been this action, but very soon after the return to the boxes and crates, the company leaves for Rijssen. This appears also to be a temporary home. We a Light Infantry Company cannot keep up with the fast advancing Canadians. Soon we are put in trucks again and via Coevorden, we run Germany in again, direction Oldenburg. In an extensive territory between the villages Burger, Neu-Burger and Esterwegen the company put up his shelters.
The war comes to an end and on 3^rd May the "Margriet" packs up all theirs things and leaves the North German lowlands and goes to .............. 's-Hertogenbosch.
Here the enthusiastic celebration of the liberation on 5^th May takes place. The "Margriet" company is back in the town from where she left in December '44. Back on the home base, without casualties. The two men, captured by the Germans in Wamel, afterwards return home in good health.

After 5^th May the job is not completely finished. The company lies again near the Maas with the assignment to block the already longer liberated south for the just liberated people of the north. Deployed at Empel and Blauwe Sluis the company is a 'lost company' again, so they are without food. A get lost deer and a 'regular 'cow' in the foreland gives partial relief. Later on, the "Margriet" is transferred to Roosendaal and billeted in the Mission house. However, this shelter has an opposite effect on the men: they give e very private own sense of the word mission.
At that time, there is a pressure from all sites on the men to sign for "the Dutch East Indies". The "Margriet" proposes, after internal consult: we sign all together under the condition that we stay together. Guarantees are unfortunately not given and so it is: 'everyone for himself and .......'
The bulk resigns - it is August 1945.

It soon became obvious that this was not going to be just another day.
Two platoons of the 12^th company stood, lined up in full kit with loaded weapons, ordered to stand-by.
At 800 hrs, suddenly with a great din, the English artillery opened up.
The firing came from Alphen (above Oss). Their fire was aimed somewhere near Heerewaarden.
With the grenades whistling overhead, we were ordered to march on to the village as soon as the barrage stopped. Our target, the village, was situated in a sort peninsula where the river Waal looped around the village. This was where the two rivers Maas and Waal came close together. This peninsula was no-mansland, sometimes occupied by the Germans sometimes patrolled by the allies.
Luckily the artillery didn't last very long, in our opinion it probably would only lead to civilian victims.

We moved in single files through paddocks and orchards to the village.
The village was quiet and deserted as most inhabitants already had been evacuated.
Moving cautiously from house to house a group of troopers spotted two men, dressed only in uniform trousers and boots, no jackets, in their underwear. They were unarmed. Obviously they made no effort to hide, quiet prepared to surrender. The reason for discarding their jackets became clear when the boys discovered the tattooed number on their upper arm. To us it was clear they were SS'ers, something other allied troops may not have realized.
They had enough of the war.
Acting on information from some villagers we also arrested a number of Dutch Nazis, to be transported back to base.

Suddenly out of nowhere a woman on a pushbike appeared, agitated she pedaled furiously with flapping skirt toward us. It looked like she was on an urgent mission.
When she pulled up she gave us, in a loud voice, a verbal tongue-lashing about the artillery bombardment. "We were lucky there were no civilian casualties." As far as she knew.
Timidly we tried to explain, it was not our responsibility, it was the English Command.
The urgency of her mission, being a midwife, she happened to be on the way to an impending birth, brought an end to the verbal tussle.
It was ironic; this woman on the way to bring a new life in the world, whilst we were on the way to perhaps losing -or, out of necessity, taking a life.

The lieutenant ordered the Bren crew to the opposite side of the street to take up position near the hedge of a farmhouse. This was to be the place for civilians mainly women and children, to gather and led to safety. It was necessary as the Germans started increasingly to terrorize the civilians.
The Bren-crew directed the civilians, carrying bags and bundles in sheets tied with string, to hide behind the hedge, to hide them from view.

There appeared a farmer sitting on his horse-drawn-wagon. A white pillow-slip tied to a stick, fixed to the wagon. Unperturbed he went about his daily business. Obviously our presence didn't upset him as much as the midwife. He pulled up and asked would we like some apples. He went on his way and got out of sight. Meanwhile the women were anxious to get away to safety to liberated territory.
Then we could hear the farmer return. He pulled up and tossed a large bag with apples off the wagon. With the apples we also had a problem, how were we going to lug this huge bag all the way back to base. Jumbo, our bren-helper, a solid powerful character, had a solution. If someone else carries my gear then I'll carry the apples on my back.
It must have been a sight for sore eyes. Two troopers, one carrying a large bag of apples, the other both their weapons, followed by a column of women and children carrying their bundles covered by a couple of troopers, then two partly dressed SS'ers with a group of Dutch Nazis surrounded by troopers. Relieved and unharmed did we arrive in liberated territory under loud acclaim of the locals. We still had the shrill voice of the midwife ringing in our ears.

Looking right from Post-10 there was another post. One could tell by the surrounding sandbags. This post was on the outside of the embankment with the view over the holms direction of the town of Tiel, in between ran the river Waal. If one concentrated on the other side of the river, one could detect German activity.

We did have a problem! Our main concern was whether this post was occupied at nights. As we were sharing the line with other allied troops we had no way of knowing unless we consulted the Canadian liaison officer. Contacted by our English-speaking man an appointment was made to check out this Ghost-post that afternoon.
The cause of our concern was; Through the previous night we heard a terrifying noise from the Main street at a time when there was no enemy activity. We, on further reflection, suspected a large piece of masonry may have come crashing down from the heavily damaged tower of the church of Wamel.

14.00 hrs the Canadian lieutenant called to collect Bill to accompany him to Post-11(?).
Under cover of the houses in the main street they walked to the track that led to the post.
Followed by the Canadian the trooper approached the post, when suddenly the lieutenant shouted, "Watch out, booby trap!" Too late! The trooper already hit the tripwire with his boot.
Immediately a sharp hissing could be heard. The trooper immediately dropped to the ground covering his head with his arms, waiting. The Canadian just managed to reach the cover of a nearby house, waiting for the big bang.

During those anxious 3 seconds waiting, a whole lifetime goes through your mind; will I ever see my family again? Do I have to lose my life just when freedom is in sight?
When the hissing stopped, The trooper waited some more, would there be a delayed action?
Will there yet be an explosion? The Canadian also kept under cover. No this had been too long the trooper got to his feet and walked to the Canadian officer. He could only utter in amazement,

"YOU ARE A LUCKY BOY!"

To this very day, the Stoter asks himself, "Who had been his guardian angel?"
Ever after this episode, no-one asked for Bill anymore, but called him 'Lucky Boy'

8 December 2000, L.B.