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{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
'''William AS Ouderland''' (6 December 1917 – 18 May 2001) was a Dutch Australian commando officer. He actively took part in the World War II and the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]. Later, he was awarded the fourth highest gallantry award, the [[Bir Protik]], by the government of Bangladesh. He is the only foreigner to receive this honorary award.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=208288 |title=Commonwealth summit opens in Perth today |date=28 October 2011 |publisher=The Daily Star |location=Bangladesh |accessdate=1 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Jonojuddho">{{cite book
| honorific_prefix =
| last =Bhuiyan | first =Kamrul Hasan | title =জনযুদ্ধের গণযোদ্ধা (Jonojuddher Gonojoddha) | publisher =Ramon Publishers | date =February 1999 | location =Dhaka
| name = William Abraham Simon Ouderland
| pages =60–63 | isbn =984-8161-75-7 }}</ref>
| honorific_suffix = [[Bir Protik]]
| image = A. S. Ouderland.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = William Abraham Simon Ouderland
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1917|12|06|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|05|18|1917|12|06|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Perth, Western Australia]]
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| allegiance =
| branch =
| serviceyears =
| rank =
| servicenumber = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records -->
| unit =
| commands =
| battles = {{unbulleted list| [[World War II]] | [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]}}
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:Bir Protik ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Bir Protik]]
| memorials =
| spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced -->
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| signature_size =
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}}

'''William Abraham Simon Ouderland''' (6 December, 1917 – 18 May, 2001) was a Dutch-Australian commando officer. He actively took part in [[World War II]] and the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]. Later, he was awarded the fourth highest gallantry award, the [[Bir Protik]], by the [[Government of Bangladesh]]. He is the only foreigner to receive this gallantry award.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=208288 |title=Commonwealth summit opens in Perth today |date=28 October 2011 |work=The Daily Star|location=Bangladesh |accessdate=1 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Jonojuddho">{{cite book
| last =Bhuiyan | first =Kamrul Hasan | title =জনযুদ্ধের গণযোদ্ধা (Jonojuddher Gonojoddha) | publisher =Ramon Publishers | date =February 1999 | location =Dhaka | pages =60–63 }}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
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==Bangladesh Liberation War==
==Bangladesh Liberation War==
Ouderland came to [[Dhaka]] in 1970 as the Production Manager of the Bata Shoe Company. During the earlier half of 1971, Ouderland was appointed as the Executive Director of the company in [[Tongi]], Dhaka. On 25 March 1971, rising political discontent and [[Nationalism#Cultural nationalism|cultural nationalism]] in East Pakistan was met by suppressive force from the ruling elite of the West Pakistan establishment<ref name= rule>[http://countrystudies.us/bangladesh/21.htm Emerging Discontent, 1966–70. Country Studies Bangladesh]</ref> in what came to be termed [[Operation Searchlight]].<ref>[http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2005&leaf=10&filename=9223&filetype=html Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971: Military Action: Operation Searchlight Bose S Economic and Political Weekly Special Articles, 8 October 2005]</ref> He was moved by the killings of the Pakistan Army on 25 March and took photos which he sent to the international media.<ref name="Jonojuddho"/> A war between the West Pakistan Army and guerrilla force, the [[Mukti Bahini]], started immediately.<ref>Pakistan Defence Journal, 1977, Vol 2, p2-3</ref>
Ouderland came to [[Dhaka]] in 1970 as the Production Manager of the Bata Shoe Company. During the earlier half of 1971, Ouderland was appointed as the executive director of the company in [[Tongi]], Dhaka. On 25 March 1971, rising political discontent and [[Nationalism#Cultural nationalism|cultural nationalism]] in [[East Pakistan]] was met by suppressive force from the ruling elite of the West Pakistan establishment<ref name= rule>[http://countrystudies.us/bangladesh/21.htm Emerging Discontent, 1966–70. Country Studies Bangladesh]</ref> in what came to be termed [[Operation Searchlight]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bose |first=Sarmila |date=8 October 2005 |title=Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971 |url=http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2005&leaf=10&filename=9223&filetype=html |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301084941/http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2005&leaf=10&filename=9223&filetype=html |archive-date=1 March 2007}}''</ref> He was moved by the killings of the [[Pakistan Army]] on [[Operation Searchlight|25 March]] and took photos which he sent to the international media.<ref name="Jonojuddho"/> A war between the West Pakistan Army and guerrilla force, the [[Mukti Bahini]], started immediately.<ref>Pakistan Defence Journal, 1977, Vol 2, p2-3</ref>


Guerilla operations, which slacked during the training phase, picked up after August. Economic and military targets in Dhaka were attacked. Ouderland organised the guerrilla warfare in Dhaka. He built a friendly relationship with 22nd [[Baluch Regiment]] captain Sultan Newaz and penetrated into Dhaka cantonment. Subsequently he created close relation with Governor General [[Tikka Khan]] and Adviser Civil Affairs Major General Rao Forman Ali. He became a "Distinguished Friend" of [[A. A. K. Niazi]] at the headquarters of Eastern Command and managed a security pass to contact with them frequently. Besides Ouderland continued gathering information for the Mukti Bahini and sent it to Major ATM Haider of [[List of Sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War|Sector-2]].<ref name="Jonojuddho"/>
Guerilla operations, which slacked during the training phase, picked up after August. Economic and military targets in Dhaka were attacked. Ouderland organised the guerrilla warfare in [[Dhaka]]. He built a friendly relationship with 22nd [[Baloch Regiment]] captain Sultan Newaz and penetrated into Dhaka cantonment. Subsequently, he created close relation with [[Governor-general|Governor General]] [[Tikka Khan]] and Adviser Civil Affairs Major General [[Rao Farman Ali|Rao Forman Ali]]. He became a "Distinguished Friend" of [[A. A. K. Niazi]] at the headquarters of Eastern Command and managed a security pass to contact with them frequently. Besides Ouderland continued gathering information for the Mukti Bahini and sent it to Major [[ATM Haider]] of [[List of Sectors in Bangladesh Liberation War|Sector-2]].<ref name="Jonojuddho"/>


From his office at the Bata Shoe Company, Ouderland organised and trained the guerrilla fighters of Mukti Bahini. He planned and directed a number of guerrilla operations in Dhaka and nearby areas. He provided the fighters with food and medicine and often gave them shelter.<ref name="Jonojuddho"/>
From his office at the Bata Shoe Company, Ouderland organised and trained the guerrilla fighters of Mukti Bahini. He planned and directed a number of guerrilla operations in Dhaka and nearby areas. He provided the fighters with food and medicine and often gave them shelter.<ref name="Jonojuddho"/>
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{1971 Indo-Pak War}}
{{1971 Indo-Pak War}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Ouderland, William AS
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Dutch-Australian commando officer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 6 December 1917
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 18 May 2001
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouderland, William AS}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouderland, William AS}}
[[Category:People of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Dutch Resistance members]]
[[Category:Resistance members from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:People from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:People of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Protik]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Protik]]
[[Category:Mukti Bahini personnel]]

Latest revision as of 02:32, 16 November 2024

William Abraham Simon Ouderland

Birth nameWilliam Abraham Simon Ouderland
Born(1917-12-06)6 December 1917
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died18 May 2001(2001-05-18) (aged 83)
Perth, Western Australia
Battles / wars
Awards Bir Protik

William Abraham Simon Ouderland (6 December, 1917 – 18 May, 2001) was a Dutch-Australian commando officer. He actively took part in World War II and the Bangladesh Liberation War. Later, he was awarded the fourth highest gallantry award, the Bir Protik, by the Government of Bangladesh. He is the only foreigner to receive this gallantry award.[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

Ouderland was born in Amsterdam on 6 December 1917. He left his studies when he was 17 to work as a shoe-shiner and later joined Bata Shoe Company. In 1936, Ouderland enlisted in the Dutch National Service before the Nazi invasion in Netherlands. Later, he became a sergeant of the Royal Signal Corps and his team had 36 members. Following the invasion of Germany in Netherlands, France and Belgium, Ouderland was arrested. He escaped from prison and trained soldiers who came back from Germany in 1941. Ouderland was fluent in German and Dutch and started working as a spy for the Dutch Underground Resistance Movement.[2]

Bangladesh Liberation War

[edit]

Ouderland came to Dhaka in 1970 as the Production Manager of the Bata Shoe Company. During the earlier half of 1971, Ouderland was appointed as the executive director of the company in Tongi, Dhaka. On 25 March 1971, rising political discontent and cultural nationalism in East Pakistan was met by suppressive force from the ruling elite of the West Pakistan establishment[3] in what came to be termed Operation Searchlight.[4] He was moved by the killings of the Pakistan Army on 25 March and took photos which he sent to the international media.[2] A war between the West Pakistan Army and guerrilla force, the Mukti Bahini, started immediately.[5]

Guerilla operations, which slacked during the training phase, picked up after August. Economic and military targets in Dhaka were attacked. Ouderland organised the guerrilla warfare in Dhaka. He built a friendly relationship with 22nd Baloch Regiment captain Sultan Newaz and penetrated into Dhaka cantonment. Subsequently, he created close relation with Governor General Tikka Khan and Adviser Civil Affairs Major General Rao Forman Ali. He became a "Distinguished Friend" of A. A. K. Niazi at the headquarters of Eastern Command and managed a security pass to contact with them frequently. Besides Ouderland continued gathering information for the Mukti Bahini and sent it to Major ATM Haider of Sector-2.[2]

From his office at the Bata Shoe Company, Ouderland organised and trained the guerrilla fighters of Mukti Bahini. He planned and directed a number of guerrilla operations in Dhaka and nearby areas. He provided the fighters with food and medicine and often gave them shelter.[2]

Awards

[edit]

Ouderland was awarded the Bir Protik, the fourth highest gallantry award of Bangladesh. In 1998, he was invited by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, to receive the award and certificate but was unable to attend due to illness.[2]

Later career

[edit]

Ouderland retired from Bata Shoe Company in 1978 and returned to Australia.[2] On 18 May 2001, he died there at a hospital in Perth.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Commonwealth summit opens in Perth today". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bhuiyan, Kamrul Hasan (February 1999). জনযুদ্ধের গণযোদ্ধা (Jonojuddher Gonojoddha). Dhaka: Ramon Publishers. pp. 60–63.
  3. ^ Emerging Discontent, 1966–70. Country Studies Bangladesh
  4. ^ Bose, Sarmila (8 October 2005). "Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971". Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007.
  5. ^ Pakistan Defence Journal, 1977, Vol 2, p2-3
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