Kamphorst, Pieter Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Pieter |
| Surname | Kamphorst |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 39 |
| Decorations | Bronzen Kruis |
| Date of Death | 06-09-1944 |
| Next of Kin | The youngest of eight children of Elbert Kamphorst and Teunisje Kamphorst (née van de Kuilen). Husband of Hermina kamphorst (née van de Berg), whom he married in 1932 in Avereerst, Overijssel. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V |
| Serial Number | Z9428 |
| Markings | NF-F |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Austria |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Mauthausen Concentration Camp |
| Grave Reference | Memorial Plate |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | SP |
| Panel Number | 272 (not yet erected on site) |
Enlistment Information
| Service | Special Operations Executive |
| Group | 3 |
| Squadron | 138 (Special Duties) |
| Squadron Motto | For freedom |
| Trade | Agent |
| Country of Origin | Netherlands |
Other Memorials
| Location | "The Barn" Gibraltar Farm, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Plaque & Framed Scroll |
| Memorial Text | To commemorate the men and women of different nationalities who flew from RAF Tempsford to aid resistance forces in occupied Europe |
Miscellaneous Information
| Born 24 November 1894 in Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands. |
| In 1914 at the outbreak of war, Pieter was mobilized and joined the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee Brigade (Mounted Police). At the end of the war Pieter remained in service. When Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, Pieter was ordered to move to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen via Antwerp. After the Dutch capitulation on 15 May 1940, the military police brigades were ordered to flee to the UK via France to join the government-in-exile in London. On 10 June Pieter reached Brest where he boarded the “Princess Beatrix” and sailed for Plymouth together with eleven to twelve hundred Dutch soldiers. On arrival, Pieter volunteered for service with the SOE (Dutch) Section. |
| Following training at STS 6 West Court, Berkshire, STS 21 Arisaig, Inverness, Scotland, STS24 Knoydart, Mallaig, Scotland, STS 51 - Dunham House, Altrincham, Cheshire for parachute training (near RAF Ringway), STS 31 Beaulieu, Hampshire and STS 17 Brickendonbury Manor, Hertford, Hertfordshire in October 1942 Pieter was allocated his operation - “Tomato”, and moved to STS 61 Gaynes' Hall, St Neots where he awaited his drop date. Pieter’s op was in support of the “Plan for Holland”, and he was principally to be involved with the training of resistance groups in the handling of weapons and explosives and to assist leaders in reconnoitring targets and considering the best methods of attacking them. |
| Also known as: Pieter van Putten Training Name: Pieter Kerkhof Code Name: Eddie |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Andrews A V (Sgt) | Died |
| l'Hommedieu G M (F/S) | Died |
| Mellor R H O (P/O) | Died |
| Morgan R B (Sgt) | Died |
| Reid W C (F/S) | Died |
| Koolstra M (Sgt) | Died |
| Macare H M (Sgt) | Died |
| Steeksma H R (Sgt) | Died |
| Pals M (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 21-10-1942 |
| End Date | 22-10-1942 |
| Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
| Day/Night Raid | Night |
| Operation | Operation Pumpkin |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Successfully dropped at the drop zone at Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands, the Gestapo were waiting. Unbeknown to SOE, the Germans had infiltrated the Dutch Section and were operating a very successful counterintelligence operation, known as "Englandspiel". Immediately arrested, Pieter was interrogated by the SS and transferred to the SD prison Haaren in North Brabant. Following the escape of prisoners from Haaren on 29 November 1943 the remaining agents, including Pieter, were first transported to the prison in Assen, then in 1944 to Rawicz. Most agents were then transferred to the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Pieter was executed, along with 22 other SOE agents, on 6 September 1944. |