Family keepsakes

These two keepsakes belonged to my grandfathers. The medal was given to my maternal grandfather for his special services regarding maritime meteorologics during his work as captain in the merchant navy. During WWII he was at sea and he did not return to the Netherlands until after the end of the war, instead helping out with the allied convoys departing  from the UK. 
The badge of the ‘Stadswacht Batavia’ belonged to my paternal grandfather, when it became clear that the Japanese army was coming for the then Dutch Indies the Stadswacht would have to defend Batavia. All Stadswacht members were detained and send to Sumatra to a POW labour camp where they would have to build a railway through the jungle. The ship they were transported on was bombed and shipwrecked by the Allied Forces ( who didn’t know about the POWs and the enforced Indonesian labourers on board and most of them were killed or drowned). My grandfather who amongst other injuries had a skull fracture as a result of the shipwreck was one of the few who did survive, only to be captured again and put in the POW camp without any medical help. Both of them survived the many hardships they endured during the war years, while not having any idea what was happening with their families.

For today’s MonoMonday theme of something we treasure, with thanks to pinkhairedlady for hosting.

Thanks very much for the kind comments and stars for yesterday’s Blip.