In The Hague Felix Jans, the last survivor from the battle in the java sea (1942), died today.
Jans joined the navy in 1941 as an 18 year old with a passion for the sea and the navy.
During the battle for the Java sea Jans was a sailor 3rd class responsible for maintanance on the canons of the ship, the HMS Kortenaer.
During the battle lead by admiral Doorman the fleet tried to stop the Japanese invasion fleet heading towards java.
His ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo broke in two pieces and sank, Jans survived in a lifeboat together with Giovanni Hakkenberg (awarded with military Willemsorde).In the night several ships past them by but they were on the run for the Japanes. Finally he was rescued that night by the British royal navy's HMS Encounter and brought to Surabaya.
Of the entire crew of his ship (151) 50 drowned. Total losses for the Dutch navy were 900 men.
During the cause of the war Jans finally had to surrender to the Japanese and was sent to a prisoncamp.
He had to work on the Birma railway but survived that ordeal.
After the liberation he went back to the Netherlands and started a carreer with the army.
He attended the 75th aniversary of the battle,
He died at the age of 93.
Thank you for your service
may he rest in piece.
