Searching for your lost relatives?
Dutch East Indies, December 1941 - March 1942 |
Many Dutch, British, American, Australian and Japanese soldiers, seamen and airmen fought in the Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942. A lot of them never returned home due various reasons. Some of them were killed in action, some were reported missing and never to be found again, while others escaped or survived and continue with the fightings against the Japanese or the Allieds all until August 1945. However, the majority of Allied soldiers became POWs and spent next three and a half years in Japanese POW camps all over Asia starting from Japan to Sumatra Island, where they were exposed to a harsh treatment and bullying of their prison guards. They were often used as a cheap labour force for railway (Burma Railroad), airfield or road constructions, while others worked in coalmines and shipyards. Many died from various diseases, accidents or mistreatment.
On the other hand, the Japanese soldiers, the veterans of the Dutch East Indies Campaign, were soon shipped to Burma, Timor, New Guinea and Philippines, where the country urgently needed them as the Allied forces already started to threaten to their "Rising Sun" Empire. A lot of them didn't survive the war. Their units were massively decimated in the bloody battles which followed the Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942.
Since September 1999, when the Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 website first appeared on-line, I received many e-mails asking me information about their lost relatives. I couldn't help them as I don't posses such information and I felt very bad about this, being helpless. Therefore I decided to make a new section (board), where you can post your "Search Message" and hope that some day someone would come to this website, saw your message and knew to tell some information about your lost relative. Hopefully I will also put here some adresses of goverment bureaus and organizations, where you can obtain military records of your relatives (POWs) and other information about them.
What do I need to do to put my message on this board ?
You need to write a small message containing basic information of the relative you are searching for and if possible also any other minor details you might know about him like for example; which unit or vessel did he serve in/on etc ... However, it is very important that you write your full name (first- and surname)
and also your e-mail address or in case if you don't have an internet connection your post-mail address.
I will not post your messages on this board that do not contain your full name and address !
How can I put my message on this board ?
There are three ways for the time being of how adding your message to this search board.
· Contact the webmaster (Klemen L.) of this website at: imperia555@hotmail.com
· Leave your message in the guestbook. I quite regulary check them and read your kind inputs.
· Leave your message via our message board " Pacific War 1941-1945"
Each message will be removed after approximately seven months or less.
Do you also put "Search Message" for relatives who didn't fight in the Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 ?
I am afraid not. Your message must strickly be connected with a relative (Dutch, American, Australian, Japanese, British or any other nationality) who participated in any way in the Dutch East Indies 1941-1942.
|
|
Mijn vrouw B. Jacobs haar vader Maximiliaan Jacobs ook zijn broer, haar oom Richard Jacobs was in het leger
in Indonesia. Haar vader Max is gestorven Rond 1944. Mijn vrouw was toen negen en woonde in de oorlogstijd
bij verschillende families op Java. Om haar in het leven te houden. Mevr B. Bahlmann-Jacobs.
Hank Bahlmann, January 2nd, 2002
E-mail adress is: bahlmann@idirect.com
|
|
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter from Indonesia and I am looking for any information of my grandfather as my
grandmother said that her husband served in KNIL. His name is Gerson KEMUR and he was from North
Celebes (Manado). During the Japanese occupation, he was captured and taken into prison.
Thank you for your kind attention and looking forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards.
Samuel Kowaas
Jalan Teluk Ratai II/42
Perum. TNI AL Kelapa Gading
Kelapa Gading Barat
Jakarta 14240, Indonesia
phone (+62-21) 453 53 59
Samuel Kowaas, January 2nd, 2002
E-mail adress is: sam_kowaas@hotmail.com
|
|
Dear Sir,
I was looking through your site on the soldiers who fought during the war with Japan. My uncle was there
during that time, was captured after being wounded and put in a pow camp. Later he too was sent to work
on the Burma road. Later after the capitulation he fought against the rebels but was killed
in action. What I was hoping for is to get in contact with any one who knew him during that
time. His name is Teun Okkerse born in Bruinisse Holland on 14/08/22. His family lived in Indonesia
since they were very young, my father was born there, his name is Johannes Okkerse. Uncle Teun served
as a Sergeant with the KNIL Special Forces (Depo Speciale Troepen DST) against the rebels led by Sukarno.
He was Killed in Action in Talolo near Pare Pare, South Celebus. He was listed under two registration numbers:
4422 and 174422. He is burried in the honory burial place "Menteng Pulo". I dont know if you can help but any
information would be great. Thank you for you time. Yours Sincerely, Ted Okkerse
Ted Okkerse, January 2nd, 2002
E-mail adress is: tokkerse@sprint.ca
|
|
I am looking for a A.C.VERHOEFF, who went missing in action during
the war on Sumatra. He was a Lieutenant in the Dutch East Indies Army in Sumatra...
In 1967 I was in Honolulu and found a A.C.Verhoeff in the phone book, but
was to shy to call and ask if it was the same person who was in Sumatra in
1941 and 1942 in the Dutch army, fighting the invasion of the Japanese
there.
Dorrit Webb, July 27th, 2001
E-mail adress is: garwebb@home.com
|
|
I want to find out some information on my Grandfather who served in the KNIL during
1936-1946 or there abouts. As he has recently passed away I cannot ask him anymore.
All I want to know is wether his service records may be still around, And if so, where can I access them?
Please if anyone can help me dont hesitate to write me an email back.
My Opa's name was Simon Degeling. He was a radio operator.
I have a lot of photos of his from Indonesia, plus his service medal.
He was a prisoner of the Japenese for 3 years. Thanks.
Joseph Degeling, February 15th, 2001
E-mail adress is: dedgie@hotmail.com
|
|
My father served with 13 Squadron RAAF and was posted to Ambon. He was assigned to the medical unit of the squadron under the command of an Australian Doctor named Jenkins.
i can recall him telling me about what happened to both Lt. Broers and Sgt. Blans (he
actually witnessed it), of how the Japanese fighter pilots continued to shoot at both of
these men even though they had parachuted from their planes. Could you tell me if these men are still alive as my father nursed both of them.
Rod Sercombe, February 15th, 2001
E-mail adress is: serco@mrbean.net.au
|
|
I am looking for information about Steven or Steef Klinge who was in the War in the Dutch Indies. Who can help me?
Anita Klinge, February 15th, 2001
E-mail adress is: gkrukkert@ncrvnet.nl
|
|
Can anyone tell me more about Karel Doorman's residence in then Dutch Indonesie? I am researching the family and was wondering if anyone here can help.
Thank you very much! Karel Doorman was my great great uncle (over overoom).
My father's mother was Thera Doorman, a niece of Karel.
Fin Bonset, February 15th, 2001
E-mail adress is: fbonset@birkhillman.com
|
|