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Crien Bolhuis-Schilstra

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Crien Bolhuis-Schilstra
Born(1905-12-24)24 December 1905[1][2][3]
Harmelen, Netherlands[1][2][3]
Died18 November 1988(1988-11-18) (aged 82)[3]
The Hague, Netherlands[3]
NationalityDutch
Children3

Catharina Helena Bolhuis-Schilstra (24 December 1905 – 18 November 1988), also known as Crien, was a Dutch scout leader, district commissioner and co-leader of the scout group "De Stormvogels" in the Dutch East Indies who was imprisoned in Camp Kareës during World War II.[4]

Biography[edit]

Bolhuis-Schilstra was born on 24 December 1905 in Harmelen to parents Anna Van de Koppel (1879–1961) and notary Freerk Schilstra (1869–1913).[1][5] In 1930, she married Garbrand Gerhard Bolhuis in Wageningen.[6][7]

In 1937, Bolhuis-Schilstra was district commissioner of the Girls' Guild, the girls' branch of the Vereeniging Nederlandsch Indische Padvinders (NIPV) in Java. In January 1941, she had this position for the Buitenzorg district. She was Guido (head leader) of the boy scouts of the Outdoor Care department of the Girls' Guild of the NIPV.[2] Bolhuis-Schilstra was also an active Red Cross assistant in Java in 1942, where she was granted permission to dress the wounds of Australian prisoners of war.[8]

Bolhuis-Schilstra was severely beaten by the Japanese shortly afterwards and imprisoned in Camp Karees together with her two daughters for smuggling extra food, medicine and cigarettes to the captured soldiers. During her imprisonment, Bolhuis-Schilstra led boy scouts in Camp Karees; she led the secret group[A] "Stormvogels" ("stormbirds") who helped the sick and brought fun to the camp together with Cap van Oyen.[8] They held group discussions where they sat on sitting mats that they had embroidered themselves.[9] The motto of the Stormvogels was "Truth, Purity and Loyalty".[8] In November 1944, Bolhuis-Schilstra was transferred with her two daughters to Camp Tjideng, where she witnessed the atrocities inflicted on women by Kenitji Sonei, the commander of Camp Tjideng, who often abused and malnourished the prisoners.[10] She was finally released in November 1945.[8]

Bolhuis-Schilstra died in The Hague, Netherlands, on 18 November 1988.[3]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Because scouting was banned by the Japanese, scouting had to take place covertly under different names.[8]

Further reading[edit]

  • "Dagboek van Bolhuis-Schilstra, C.H." [POW Camp Journals of Catharina Helena Bolhuis-Schilstra]. indischekamparchieven.nl.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Genealogie, Coret. "Birth Catharina Helena Schilstra on December 24, 1905 in Harmelen (Netherlands)". Open Archives. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Scouts in Nederlands Oost Indië: Crien Bolhuis-Schilstra". Scouting Nederland (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Catharina Helena Schilstra". Geni.com. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  4. ^ Righini, A.A. Scova (2004). "Een leven in twee vaderlanden. Een biografie van Bep Vuijk" [A life in two homelands. A biography of Bep Vuijk] (PDF). Amsterdam: In Eigen Beheer (in Dutch): 139. doi:10.1163/9789004486782_020. hdl:11245/1.223240.
  5. ^ "Crien Bolhuis-Schilstra (Harmelen, 24 december 1905 – locatie onbekend, datum onbekend)" [Crien Bolhuis-Schilstra (Harmelen, 24 december 1905 – location unknown, date unknown)]. Netwerk Oorlogsbronnen (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  6. ^ Genealogie, Coret. "Marriage Garbrand Gerhard Bolhuis & Meindert Bolhuis & Riksta Eisina Cornelia Bosscher & Catharina Helena Schilstra & Freerk Schilstra & Anna van de Koppel on February 10, 1930 in Wageningen (Netherlands)". Open Archives. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. ^ BV, DE REE Archiefsystemen. "Huwelijk Garbrand Gerhard Bolhuis en Catharina Helena Schilstra, 10-02-1930" [Marriage Garbrand Gerhard Bolhuis and Catharina Helena Schilstra, 10-02-1930]. www.geldersarchief.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Scoutinggroepen ondergronds in Nederlands Indië: Afdeling Kareës, Bandung, NOI" [Scout groups underground in the Dutch East Indies: Kareës Department, Bandung, New East India"]. Scouting Nederland (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  9. ^ BV, DE REE Archiefsystemen. "133 Bolhuis-Schilstra, C.H. (NIOD Instituut voor Oorlogs-, Holocaust- en Genocidestudies) – NIOD". www.archieven.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Naamlijst" [Namelist]. Japanse Burgerkampen (in Dutch). 1 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.

External links[edit]

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