CORNELIS VAN DER GROEF , May 2nd 1940 , Gouda , Holland

# Picture of my late uncle CORNELIS (COR) VAN DER GROEF , born in Middelharnis in the Netherlands on August 18th 1920 , son of LEENDERT VAN DER GROEF and PIETERNELLA VAN DEN TOL , twinbrother of my late father WILLEM (WIM) VAN DER GROEF , at the age of 19 , here portrayed in Gouda as a young recruit of the Dutch Army , in , as isn't too bold to state , very tense days in a very dangerous period of time in the history of the country , just eight days ahead of the outbreak of the second world war for the country of the Netherlands , when thousands of mainly young men from the eastern neighbouring country started to cross the border and enter the country without ever having been asked and invited to do so ........, bút - most fortunately for my uncle Cor (!) - since he had just recently been called up , he himself dídn't have to serve during those up coming five days , from May 10th until May 14th , of very severe battle that costed the lives of so many , mainly young men , and that would follow so shortly after this picture of my uncle had been taken near the barracks of Gouda , when everything in the country still was quiet , harmless and oh so peaceful yet .........