The fallen resistance people in Limburg

Franciscus Hubertus Antonius Henderson (Frans)

Maastrichtse Gevelstenen

Frans Henderson’s father was a NCO in the 2nd Infantry Regiment in Maastricht. [1#1]
Frans married Maria Francisca Geertsen on August 17, 1907 in Nijmegen [2]. The family moved to Meerssen on 1 October 1926 [1#2] where his wife died on 7 September 1939. [1#1]
He was a factory supervisor [8] and/or plant manager [1#3] at the paper mill in Meerssen-Weert and lived across the street from his work. [4]
He was a member of the resistance [8] and was arrested by two men of the Sipo/SD. [1#3][3]
Frans is betrayed by a colleague. As a result of this betrayal, the Maastricht police raid Henderson’s house. He is arrested along with his brother Johan, who also lives in the hamlet of Weert, but his brother is released. The police find anti-German writing in his house, including an illegal leaflet in the pocket of an old coat and 27 gold ten-guilder coins. From there, Henderson is taken to Camp Amersfoort.
In Amersfoort he falls seriously ill, but can be treated by surgery. For this Henderson has to be taken to Vught. This happens on November 19, 1943. Henderson dies during the operation in Vught. [4.1]
On the Camp Amersfoort website, its In Memoriam page (sorted by date of death) gives the cause of his death as intestinal perforation. However, it also states that this could be a fictitious cause of death. [5]
His next of kin were notified. According to the polizei of that time on the Wilhelminasingel Maastricht at the time, we could buy an urn with ashes, which we did not. [1#3]
Frans Henderson was buried at the cemetery in Rothem, municipality of Meerssen. There is a stumbling stone in front of his house, Weert 47, Meerssen. [4].
According to the Oorlogsgravenstichting (War Graves Foundation) [8], he was a member of the Resistance, but this does not appear from the records. Considering his father’s profession, he could have been a member of the Ordedienst, so we entered this with some reservation. Because the O.D. in Maastricht was not a model of good organization, especially not towards the end of the war. [7]
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This person is listed in the “Erelijst 1940-1945” (Honor Roll of the Dutch Parliament). [6]

Footnotes

1. Oorlogsgravenstichting, Dossier F.H.A. Henderson • #1 • #2 • #3
2. genealogieonline.nl
3. SiPo Maastricht
4. Weert 47 - Franciscus Henderson
   Open Street Map
5. kampamersfoort.nl/geschiedenis-en-onderzoek/in-memoriam/
6. Erelijst 1940-1945
7. Cammaert, Alfred Paul Marie, Het Verborgen Front - Geschiedenis van de georganiseerde illegaliteit in de provincie Limburg tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, Doctorale scriptie Groningen 1994, Hoofdstuk 8 De Ordedienst, IV.4.6. District VI: Maastricht
8. Oorlogsgravenstichting.nl
9. http://www.maastrichtsegevelstenen.nl/0.OORLOG/oorlog2c-verzet.htm