Almost Home - Het levensverhaal van Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud

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Lid geworden op: 16 sep 2017, 13:29

Almost Home - Het levensverhaal van Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud

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‘Almost Home’
The life story of Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud

How a skinny young man from a working-class family became a war hero

This book is about Jacobus (Jacob) (Jaap) Groenewoud, a skinny, frail young man with bad eyesight and thick glasses, born into a working-class family in Amsterdam. An intelligent and adventurous young man, who at the age of 21 years decides to go to South Africa hoping to find fame and fortune. Even though Jacob Groenewoud is discharged from Military Services and exempt from Military Duties indefinitely, he volunteers for military duties a few times. Although initially rejected, he becomes part of the ‘Springbokken’ Brigade and becomes a ‘special soldier’, part of the SOE. He becomes one of the four Dutch Officers that are selected for project ‘Jedburgh’. Leading Jedburgh Team ‘Claude’, consisting of Capt. Jacobus Groenewoud, Lt. Harvey Allan Todd and Sgt. Carl Alden Scott, he participates in the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden. During the Battle of Arnhem both Jacob and Lt. Harvey Allan Todd are constantly in the leading forces. And with the assistance of a small patrol Jacob manages to capture the Head Quarters of the local German Area Commander. During this raid, he discovers German plans for the destruction of both the Rotterdam and the Amsterdam harbor. By discovering these plans, the Dutch authorities are able to prevent the destruction of these harbors. When some of the Armed Forces are disconnected from the Main Force and Division HQ, Jacob volunteers to re-establish contact. During this attempt, Jacob Groenewoud is killed by a German sniper. Jacob is buried at the Airborne War Cemetery in Oosterbeek. For his bravery, he is posthumous awarded with the ‘Militaire Willemsorde’.
The book tells the story how a frail, skinny, young man, who looked like an accountant, part of the SOE, leader of Jedburgh Team ‘Claude’, becomes war hero. A war hero, whose name marks the spot called the ‘Jacob Groenewoud Plantsoen’ (Jacob Groenewoud Park) close to the John Frost Bridge in the city of Arhem. A spot where some of the most severe fighting took place during the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden. This book is about an unknown ordinary family living in the Netherlands and about an unknown young man that became a ‘somebody’. Somebody who died fighting for the freedom of his country, the Netherlands. A young man whose legacy and memory should be preserved.


About the Book
This book is based upon 350+ original document, original letter and original unique photos all in possession of the Groenewoud family. Most of the original photos haven never been published before. Information from the Special Operation Executives files and information from the personal memoires of Lt. Harvey Allan Todd, and stories and anecdotes from the Groenewoud family complete this life story. Many books have been written about the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, and you might find the name Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud in many of these books, however, no books have been written that tell the complete life story of Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud and as such this is a unique book, with unique letters, documents and photos.

The book is available via BoekScout.NL; https://www.boekscout.nl/shop2/boek.php?bid=7852

This book is available via Bol.com;
https://www.bol.com/nl/p/almost-home-th ... _product_2_

About the Author
The author Martin Groenewoud, born in Amsterdam on December 22nd, 1954, is a first cousin of Jacob (Jacobus) Groenewoud. After high School he studies Mathematics and Economics at the ‘Vrije Universiteit’ in Amsterdam, with the objective to become a Mathematics teachers. However, in 1978 he decides to start a career in the ICT business and joins one of the larger Dutch Banks. In 1989, he joins IBM where he holds several international project management and management functions over more than 26 years. After his early retirement in 2015 he spends his time writing, drawing & painting, woodcarving, reading & studying and playing golf. Martin lives in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel in the Netherlands with his wife Jeannette, son Dennis and daughter Ronesca. Most of the summer he and his family spend time in their second home in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.
Martin Groenewoud
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