I wonder can anyone help me. I have just got a British Army paybook to a member of the Dutch Army by the name of Bertus Van Kootem service number 148. he was born on 3rd March 1919 in the town of Wageninggem ?. He is shown as joining the Regular Army on21st September 1940. There is an oval stamp in his apybook across the front of his photograph which is patially obscured but seems to say Detachment Nederlands on the top and the word Commandau after this the letters are impossible to read or guess at. With it is a certificate for a medal with the clasps to him for Kriijg te land 1940 to 1945 Nederland Mei 1940 and Normandie 1944. The certificate id dated November 1951 and has a piece of ribbon with the three claspa attached to it. Does any one know how I can go about resaerching this soldier and what the stamps might mean. Any advice gratefully received. Cheers Arnhem
Maybe this will help, you Pictures from the Netherlands Military Historical Database, when i have more time will look for more... Looks that he was active in Limburg, Netherlands.
Hi I wondered if anyone can help or point me in the direction of how to research a member of the Royal Dutch Army in WW2. I have a paybook to Bartus Van Kooten service number 148 who served during WW2. He enlisted in September 1940 and is entitled to the Dutch War medal with the bars Krij Te Land 1940 to 1945, Nederland Mei 1940 and Normandie 1944. The certificate was awarded in November 1951 and has a section of madal ribbon attached to it with the thrre bars sewn on. I would like to research hsi service as it is possible he was either a member of the Commandos or possible the SAS. If anyone has any clues as to how I can do it please let me know. Any help gratefully received. Cheers Arnhem
Hi, I'm not sure if the person in the photographs on the Netherlands Military database is the Van Kooten in the paybook I have. The paybook I have is not to an officer and has inoculation dates in it up until just before D Day in 1944. I do know that officers and other ranks paybooks were completely different in the British army during WW2 and as the paybook I have to Bartus Van Kooten is a British one I would have thought the same would have applied to the members of the Free Dutch army serving with the British Army. I am not familiar with the shortening of first names in Holland but unless the name on the photo is a shortening of Bartus they could be entirely different men.
Some information to ponder here for you, should your chap prove to have been a Dutch Commando. Separate links from within the same website as "active" links within the pages are not always apparent (to an old duffer like me anyway!) Names within said pages that you may have come across (and recognise) before. Kind regards, always, Jim. 10 Commando | ͏ Dutch | ͏ 2 troop (Dutch) | ͏
May be worth contacting these good folks in Netherlands too. Commandovereniging Gelderland - Neem contact op Good luck with all. Kind regards, always, Jim.
Hard to find any information about Bep, Bertus van Kooten , maybe he was rugby player this is the same man i mentiones before here NIMH Beeldbank Same medal for these campaigns. Intresting that he was in all of them. Normandie 1944, so i supose he served in the Prinses Irene Brigade. "Krijg ter Land 1940 -1944" "Normandie 1944" "Nederland 1940"
Hi Bedee, Thanks for the info. I have attached copies of Bertus Van Kootens paybook and award documenr for the medal clasps. I'm not sure if he is the same man as you have mentioned. It would be nice if it was. If anyone has any ideas on the comparison please let me know. Cheers Arnhem