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SGT Petrus Maria “Peter” Vester

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SGT Petrus Maria “Peter” Vester

Birth
The Hague (Den Haag), Den Haag Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Death
10 May 1940 (aged 22)
Rijswijk Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Burial
The Hague (Den Haag), Den Haag Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Plot
1465C
Memorial ID
View Source
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Petrus Maria "Peter" Vester was born in a Catholic family. At a young age, somewhere around 1920, Peter was kidnapped from his garden. A little while later, he was seen by acquaintances and brought back home. It remained unknown who kidnapped him and why they did so. Peter wanted to become a teacher and was studying to become one when he was drafted into the military due to the threat of Nazi Germany invading the Netherlands. He became Sergeant of the 3rd Section 4th Companion 4th Depot Batallion, but would not survive the first day of the war. Vester was involved in a counter-attack on Airport Ypenburg, which had fallen in German hands. Two of the men who were firing the machine gun in the pastures near the airport had been shot dead and Peter took over. Unfortunately, he was shot in the head and died as well. His body was found on 12 May 1940, still behind the machine gun. He was originally buried at a cemetery in Rijswijk, but was reburied at the Sint Barabara Catholic Cemetery in The Hague. When the grave rights for this grave expire in 2038, his remains will be reburied at the Militair Ereveld Grebbeberg. In The Hague, a street has been named after him: the Vesterwater.
Petrus Maria "Peter" Vester was born in a Catholic family. At a young age, somewhere around 1920, Peter was kidnapped from his garden. A little while later, he was seen by acquaintances and brought back home. It remained unknown who kidnapped him and why they did so. Peter wanted to become a teacher and was studying to become one when he was drafted into the military due to the threat of Nazi Germany invading the Netherlands. He became Sergeant of the 3rd Section 4th Companion 4th Depot Batallion, but would not survive the first day of the war. Vester was involved in a counter-attack on Airport Ypenburg, which had fallen in German hands. Two of the men who were firing the machine gun in the pastures near the airport had been shot dead and Peter took over. Unfortunately, he was shot in the head and died as well. His body was found on 12 May 1940, still behind the machine gun. He was originally buried at a cemetery in Rijswijk, but was reburied at the Sint Barabara Catholic Cemetery in The Hague. When the grave rights for this grave expire in 2038, his remains will be reburied at the Militair Ereveld Grebbeberg. In The Hague, a street has been named after him: the Vesterwater.

Inscription

Hier rust
onze lieve eenigste
zoon en broeder
Petrus Maria Vester
Geb. 28 juni 1917 en gevallen voor
het Vaderland 10 mei 1940 te Rijswijk
Onze lieve man en vader
P. M. Vester
Geb. 27 jan. 1886 Overl. 20 nov. 1964
Tot weerziens in de Hemel
Onze lieve moeder en oma
Anna Maria Vester-Mori
Geb. 17 dec. 1882 Overl. 16 nov. 1970
Nu ook onze lieve zoon en broer
Peter Hoogstraaten
Geb. 4 mei 1945 Overl. 22 juni 1983
Heer geef zijn ziel de eeuwige rust

Translation:
Here rests
our dear only
son and brother
Petrus Maria Vester
Born 28 June 1917 and fallen for
the Fatherland 10 May 1940 in Rijswijk
Our dear husband and father
P. M. Vester
Born 27 Jan. 1886 Died 20 Nov. 1964
See you again in Heaven
Our dear mother and grandma
Anna Maria Vester-Mori
Born 17 Dec. 1882 Died 16 Nov. 1970
Now also our dear son and brother
Peter Hoogstraaten
Born 4 May 1945 Died 22 June 1983
Lord give his soul eternal rest

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  • Created by: Kevin2000vm
  • Added: Dec 21, 2021
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235083899/petrus_maria-vester: accessed ), memorial page for SGT Petrus Maria “Peter” Vester (28 Jun 1917–10 May 1940), Find a Grave Memorial ID 235083899, citing Begraafplaats Sint Barbara, The Hague (Den Haag), Den Haag Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; Maintained by Kevin2000vm (contributor 49717805).