Timor and the Tjerk Hiddes

Toon Kohlen was proud of his Cross for Distinguished Military Service with the bar ‘TIMOR 1942’. But he did not often speak of it. He felt he had simply done what he had to do.

The Second World War

Antonius Maria Kohlen (1918–1997) was 21 years old when German troops invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. He had set sail shortly before that. He was to spend the entire war outside Europe, for the most part in South-East Asia and Australia. It was only when the war had ended that he returned to the Netherlands.

Timor

By February 1942, Japanese troops had occupied the island of Timor. Most of the Allied forces surrendered, but several hundred Australian and Dutch soldiers managed to escape. Many civilians also joined them. From the jungle, they successfully waged a guerrilla war. In November 1942, it was decided to evacuate the soldiers and civilians, who were suffering from food shortages and had by then sustained many casualties.

Mr Tjerk Hiddes

On three occasions, Australian ships tried unsuccessfully to evacuate the guerrilla fighters. In early December, the corvette HMAS Armidale was dispatched, but the ship was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. As a result, 98 of the 152 people on board lost their lives.

It was then decided to send the Tjerk Hiddes, a fast and relatively heavily armed torpedo boat. On 9 December 1942, the Tjerk Hiddes set sail from Port Darwin in northern Australia. The evacuation was carried out in the middle of the night using rowing boats. If everyone lay flat on the floor, partly on top of one another, each rowing boat could carry 25 people. Even before the sun had risen, the Tjerk Hiddes was already on its way back to Port Darwin with the evacuees.

A second evacuation took place on 15 December, followed by a third three days later. In total, the Tjerk Hiddes and her crew rescued 1,017 Dutch, Australian and Portuguese military personnel and civilians.

A rare honour

By Royal Decree No. 7 of 29 October 1942, the evacuees were awarded the Cross for Distinguished Military Service with the bar ‘TIMOR 1942’. The presentation ceremony took place on 3 February 1943 in Melbourne. Over 200 KNIL soldiers were honoured.

It was not until five and a half years later that it was decided to award this honour to the crew of the Tjerk Hiddes as well. This second award ceremony took place on 7 September 1950 in The Hague.

Toon Kohlen was a first-class stoker on board the Tjerk Hiddes. The fact that the crew of the Tjerk Hiddes were able to help save lives, particularly at a time when so many were losing theirs, filled him with genuine pride. He wanted to ensure that his story and those of everyone else would not be lost. His medals are on display until 3 July 2026 in the ‘Welcome Home’ exhibition in the Atrium of The Hague Town Hall.

GEORGE SANDERS

With thanks to Erik Müller.

If you would like to read more about the fighting in Timor and the evacuation, please visit the ‘Verzet Timor 1942’ website.