transcription


23-05-1941

GROENEWOUT, Rudolphe Henri Alfred.

Belgian, born Antwerp 25-11-1902.
Address: 118 Avenue d'Italie.
Parents-in-law: Greenshields (British)
                      18 West Albert Road
                      Liverpool.

NCO in Belgian Army.

On the invasion of the low countries, GROENEWOUT was at a Military School at Brasseliaet in a reserved occupation, as he was a draughtsman by profession. He left Belgium with the Military School on 16-05-1940 and arrived at Bourges on 23-05-1940. Later he went to Limoux near Carcassonne.

As his family was in UK, he refused to go back to Belgium after demobilisation. He stayed in Limoux with his wife and 7 children. During this time, he lived on his own money and money, which he received for his wife and children from various welfare committees.

He left Limoux on 15-03-1931 and was smuggled into Spain by a guide and a Belgian Lieutenant SCHUL. Then he went to Barcelona and thence to Madrid, hiding in the train to escape capture. he went to the Consulate, then obtained a ticket to Ser Badajoz. he crossed secretly to Portugal and got to Lisbon with the help of Reynolds and reported at the Belgian consulate. He was billeted with a  Mr. Peterman and later by Mr. Dargent.

He left Lisbon on s.s. "AGUILA" on 03-05-1941 and arrived in Glasgow on 21-05-1941.


                                                                                                                           1082.

26-05-1941
/EJ




transcription


TH                                                                    BELGIAN                                                            13K10

NAME: GROENEWOUT, Rudolph Henri Alfred.
P.T.C. 18-05-1942.
N.R.A. 22-05-1942
BORN: 22-11-1902, Antwerp.
PVTE ADDRESS: Avenue d'Itlaie 118, Antwerp.
PRE EMPLY: Professional soldier.
FATHER: Groenewout, Jean H.
Mother: (Butin), Anne-Marie Rosalie.
WIFE: (Greenshields), Anna C.
REMARKS ?4-05-1942

ALIAS: BUTIN, Sergt. Maj.

TH to D/CE3  22-05-1942.
We should be grateful if you could arrange for Sgt. Maj. Groenewout, a new recruit from the Belgiam 2eme Section, who will take the alias of Sgt. maj. Butin, could join the party (Livio & Vogel who go to STS-31  02-06-1942). Groenewout is a Belgian parachutist who has done his jumping successfully. We therefore see no need for him to go through Para-military training.

Report from L/Cpl. Ashley STS-22  22-03-1942.
This man from Antwerp, is 39 years old. He speaks Flemish, French (Antwerp accent) and English. he is the most cheerful member of the party. According to 13.K.3, who lived in Antwerp many years 13.K.10 is a typical Ansersois, both in speech and appearance. he has plenty of self-assurance, and possesses a steady enthusiasm for this work. He is very keen on the training but unfortunately his security-mindedness is insufficient. he is extremely talkative. He spoke of different towns in Spain and 13.K.2 having travelled himself in Spain said that he could reconstruct how 13.K.10 had reached this country. He does not forgive the attitude of the Belgian Consul in Spain who refused to help him to reach this country. Talking to the other students, he inadvertently revealed his real name and although I had warned him, he spoke of Lumbago in front of a waiter. He has been in the Belgian Army many years, but dislikes the way it is run in this country. he seemed very interested in the security talk and there is a slight improvement already.

L/Cpl. Ashley STS-22  10-06-1942.
This man is conscientious and is very keen on the training. Although he still talks a bit too freely his intentions are very good; he realises now the importance of security and there is definitely a big improvement. Being in the Belgian Army since the age ...teen, he knows what is discipline, and apart from this tendency to be too expansive, he is in my opinion very reliable/ he spoke of the terrible experiences he went through when he accompanied smugglers across the French-Spanish frontier. Ten years ago at Braschaet (near Antwerp) he was accidently gassed and suffered from this many years after. He also broke his leg, about five years ago in a motor-cycle accident, but feels no effect of it now.

STS-22  18-06-1942.
This man is very fond of this country and he is hoping to live here after the war. He is very straight forward; the last time he went to Eaton Square he told the Belgian officers there, that much to his regret, he would only work for the British Army and that he did not want to have anything to do with the Belgian Authorities. 13.K.8 and 13.K.9 overheard this conversation at Eaton Square and confirm this authenticity. he says that he has four children but in spite of this he is willing to risk his life, but will refuse to go into action if he finds that the Belgian Authorities know when he is leaving this country. He is very keen on training and is extremely agile for a man of his age. His wife is British.

STS-51A  25-6-1942.
This man's personal enthusiasm causes him to be more communicative than is necessary. Admitted to hospital for one day (21-06-1942) for Scabies. Signed Declaration  21-06-1942.




GROENEWOUT, Rudolph.
App. for Dispensing with Stud Services.
Military Status: Adjudant, Belgian Army.
Scholls Attended: Para-Military
Op. Knowledge: None.
Reason disposal: Has completely lost his nerve since arrival of his wife in this country.
Rec. Disposal: Return to Unit.



STS-22 20-06-1942.
GRADE: E or D.1
PHYS. TRAINING: Above average for his age.
CLOSE COMBAT: Quick and strong; most enthusiastic, best in the party.
ROPE WORK: Above average; splendid all round climber.
FIELDCRAFR: Satisfactory progress; enthusiastic.
WEAPON TRAINING: Pistol fairly good, tries hard and is keen. Sub Machine guns - good, but rather lacks control.
EXPLOSIVES and DEMOLITION: Has worked hard, is keen and enthusiastic. As satisfactory in both theory and practice
                                          as can be expected.
SIGNALS and COMMUNICATIONS: No ability.
REPORTS: Painstaking, good.
MAP READING: Weak, requires more training.
SCHEMES, ETC: He has a natural ability for commanding men, but is inclined to muddle his orders.
BOATWORK: Keen and has become quite capable, shows initiative.
NAVIGATION: Very interested, but made moderate progress.
SPEC. TRAINING: Tumbling - outstanding. Can compete with men years younger than himself.

INSTRUCTOR REMARKS. A good student who has worked hard and made good progress. Better at administrative work rather than practical, but can command men. He is of a thorough and confident nature and is determined in all his work.

COMMANDER REPORT. A good man to have on any mission. Enthusiastic, determined and for his age compared most favourably with the younger students. Is in difficult active work. Has made most satisfactory progress since he has been here and he has good stability.


STS-31  26-07-1942.

Particulars REPORT: Full general course. Not very intelligent and quite lacking in personality. Appears to work hard and
                           conscientiously and quite keen to learn. He does not, however, seem at all suited to this sort of
                           work.



On 8 October 1944, Groenewout, along with three Dutch NCOs, was dropped above Friesland. The task of the weapons instructor was to teach the local resistance how to use their armament. Groenewout was dropped from too low a height and crashed heavily into the trees, sustaining various injuries. The warrant officer stayed in Veenhuizen for eight days to have his wounds healed. Once recovered, Groenewout started training the Dutch resistance fighters in Swichum. He stayed successively in Bolsward, Finkum, Dokkum, Tijnje, Heerenveen, Dronrijp, Terzool and finally in Hempens. He taught them how to handle small arms, machine guns, grenades and explosives, in combination with basic tactics. In total, he would train some seven hundred members of the Dutch resistance. On 3 February 1945, a chief
of the local resistance was imprisoned while in possession of a photo and papers from Groenewout, with a document on which his later movements were marked. Groenewout cancelled his planned programme of instruction and stayed in
Hempens with a group of fifteen men, with the intention of starting the fight together, when the signal would be given by London. On 22 April, the Allies freed Friesland after heavy fighting. Groenewout immediately reported to the
intelligence officer of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and got assistance to move back to Belgium. He arrived in the Two Lions Barracks in Tervuren on 24 April 1945.





Rudolph Henri Alfred Groenewout.
Anna Cornelia Groenewout-Greenshields.

1. Adelia Henrietta Groenewout.
2. George Rudolphus Groenewout.
3. Margueritte Josephine Groenewout.







                                                                                      
w.mugge@home.nl
RUDOLPH HENRI ALFRED GROENEWOUT.