1950 Semarang IndonesiaHenricus Wilhelmus Bernardus Beekwilder
Introduction
This document contains some historic details of my grand father
Henricus Wilhelmus Bernardus (HWB) Beekwilder born on 12 nov 1914 te 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (died on 27 January 1981 in Benidorm Spain). HWB started a career in the Dutch army and finally end up in Indonesia where he joined the KNIL.There he met my grand mother
Elisabeth Lies Beverloo which he married and had four children with (oldest three born in Indonesia). After the war they moved back to the Netherlands, his home town 's-Hertogenbosch (also Den Bosch).
1950 Semarang Indonesia
Prisoner of war during World War II
At some time during his stay in Indonesia, he was made a POW by
the Imperial Japanese Army. He was deported to Thailand and Birma to work on the
railroad. Several times he went ill (malaria) and – on his and his doctors
request – asked for a transfer.
He was finally deported to Japan to work in coal mines near Nagasaki. He worked
here for approximately a year and also witnessed the bomb drop on Nagasaki. It
appears that HWB was deported to Japan. How he made it back Indonesia to his
wife and children is not known (yet) by me.
Camp B (8) 4244
Below correspondence he has granted to send to his wife (Njonja
Beekwilder, E.). At that time his rank was sergeant.
Camp 1 Thailand, 28 December 1943
Message from P.O.W. Camp 1 Thailand, 28 December 1943 He sent
his regards to my father (Henkie),
my aunt (Lieske), his mother in law (Mammie = mother) and his wife.
Camp 6 Thailand
Message 1 from P.O.W. Camp 6 Thailand
Message 2 from P.O.W. Camp 6 Thailand
Protestant Church
Document below shows HWB’s entrance to the Protestant Church
during his imprisonment. He appeared in front of the Church council (imprisoned
as well) on December 11, 1944 and was finally accepted in the community on
December 16, 1944.
Pedigree details
A member of the Beekwilder family has put considerable efforts
over the last 25 years to document the family tree.
Details from pedigree tree:
