Rear-Admiral P. Koenraad

Rear-Admiral Pieter Koenraad

Born Dirksland June 6, 1890 - Died Las Palmas (Canary Islands) February 22, 1968

Koenraad in 1944 Rear-Admiral Koenraad was the flag officer in command of the important naval base at Soerabaja at the start of the Pacific War. Koenraad's biggest achievement as an officer was probably his foresight during February 1942.

He realized the invasion of Java was just a matter of time, and started to prepare the evacuation of naval personnel to Ceylon or Australia. When the time came, there was more or less a plan ready for execution. Koenraad and his staff embarked on the submarine K-XII, which made it to Australia safely.

In May 1943, Koenraad replaced Rear-Admiral (Acting) F.W. Coster as Flag Officer in charge of all Dutch naval forces in the area.








Ranks
Midshipman 1st class August 23, 1911
Lieutenant August 23, 1913
Lieutenant-Commander October 17, 1921
Commander May 14, 1934
Captain November 1, 1938
Rear-Admiral (acting) January 1, 1942
Rear-Admiral November 1, 1943
Vice-Admiral May 1, 1946
Retired May 1, 1946

Postings
Commanding Officer, Destroyer Division (NEI) January 16, 1935 - November 4, 1935
Commanding Officer, Soerabaja naval base June 13, 1939 - March 6, 1942
C-in-C Dutch Naval Forces Australia May 1, 1943 - October 1, 1945
C-in-C Dutch Naval Forces, NEI (acting) October 6, 1945 - January 21, 1946

Awards
Dutch Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion (NL)
Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau (ON.4)
War Remembrance Cross, with 1 bar (OHK.1)
Mobilization Cross 1914-1918 (Mk)
Service Cross for naval officers, for 30 years' of service (XXX)
Foreign Officer in the Order of Nichan-Iftikhar of Tunis (unknown nationality)

Sources
Klaassen/Van 't Haaff "Gedenkboek Adelborsten-opleiding te Willemsoord 1854-1954"
"Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland", volume 1 (entry by J.A. van der Kooij)

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