Not much is known about Gerardus Albertus Smits. He was born on 19 January 1906 in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. During World War II he was in Engeland, in the Dutch Navy. He either was in the Dutch Navy when the war broke out and sailed to England, or he later made his way to England and joined the Navy there.

He was a schipper stationed at the minesweeper Hs. Ms. Marken (formerly HMS MMS 227). It was based in Harwich. In the month leading up to D-Day it was tasked to conduct minesweeping operations along the sea corridors that would be used for the invasion

Hr. Ms. Marken
 

On 20 May 1944, Hs Ms Marken, commanded by Lt at Sea J. J. Plugge sweeps the Thames mouth area when hits an acoestic mine near light ship "Sunk" and sinks. There is only one survivor.

Schipper Smits body washed up on the Dutch shore and was buried at Castricum Protestant Cemetery. Schipper Geradus Albertus Smits is buried in Castricum Protestant.

 

See also:
H. Smit (zmg)
Lt Jacobus Johannes Plugge (zmg)
Gerrit Glas (zmg)
Sgt J. de Best (zmg)
F.A.C. Bijsterveld (zmg)
J. Th. Doornik (zmg)
H.J.N. Franse (zmg)
F. J. Geiger (zmg)
A. Hoeven (zmg)
C. de Hoog (shotley)
W.J.F.S. Karsten (zmg)
J. H. Van Niekerk (shotley)
H. Oorebeek (zmg)
A. van der Plas (zmg)
J. van der Zwan (zmg)


Sources and Acknowledgements:
www.veteranenmeteenmissie.nl
Dutch War Grave Commission
Gedenkboek de Nederlandse Marine

Directions to Castricum Protestant Cemetery

Posted 21 December 2008

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This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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