(Aalten, 1925)

DNB Staff

A statuesque lady with grit

Jo Kamphuis was born in Aalten on 7 April 1925. During the war, she became involved in the resistance and joined the LKP (Landelijke Knokploegen). She knew the men of the resistance group based at the ‘De Bark’ farm and met Rie Vermaas there. Following a raid on the ration office in Eibergen, Jo delivered sacks of ration cards to resistance leader ‘Ome Jan’ Wikkerink, who distributed them among those in hiding.

Following the formation of the Interior Forces (Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten) in September 1944, Jo managed the communications between resistance groups in Aalten, Varsseveld, and Zieuwent. She was a friend of Truida Prinzen from the ‘Somsenhuis’, located next to De Bark. From November 1944, seven Allied pilots were sheltered there: four Americans, one Englishman, one Canadian, and one Australian. Jo brought them supplies, spoke English with them, and maintained regular contact.

During the liberation of Aalten, her parental home was destroyed, and she lost her 14-year-old sister. She joined the Dutch National Battalion (DNB) together with Rie Vermaas. They worked at the staff office of Major Verhees in Roermond, always staying in separate quarters from their male colleagues, who consistently treated them with great respect. When she was required to transfer to the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (Vrouwelijk Hulpkorps), Jo resigned.

Jo married Johannes Albertus de Graaf and lived in Hoogvliet. She passed away on 10 September 1992.

Jo Kamphuis