Henri Charles Besançon, RNN

Born  28 Sep 1906Den Helder, Netherlands
Died  21 Dec 1941(35)HrMs K XVII


If you can help with photo or any information on this Officer please
use our comment form
.

Ranks

18 Aug 1928 luitenant ter zee 3e klasse (S.Lt.)
18 Aug 1930 luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.)
1 Feb 1940 luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.)

Decorations

Warship Commands listed for Henri Charles Besançon, RNN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HNMS K XI (N 53)luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.)Submarine6 Mar 19399 Sep 1940
HNMS K XIIIluitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.)Submarine9 Sep 194020 Sep 1941
HNMS K XVIIluitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.)Submarine20 Sep 194121 Dec 1941 (+) (1)

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Submarine HNMS K XVII ()


28 Nov 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) departed Surabaya together with HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) (this is the 1st Dutch submarine division) with the orders to proceed to North-West Borneo.

1 Dec 1941
The Dutch 1st submarine division (made up of HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) and HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN)) is put under the operation command of the British Commander-in-Chief China Station. The division is ordered to proceed to Singapore.

6 Dec 1941
The Dutch 1st submarine division (made up of HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) and HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN)) departed Singapore to patrol off the Gulf of Siam near position 07.30N, 103.00E.

10 Dec 1941
While still en-route to their patrol area HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN), HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN), HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) are ordered to proceed towards the East coast of Malaya after they had reached their patrol position.

As K XVII did not return from patrol it is not known when she reached her patrol position.

13 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN), HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) are ordered to form a patrol line to the North-West of Mankai Island (Anambas Islands).

K XVII was ordered to take up a patrol position 310°, Mankai Island light, 80 nautical miles.

14 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) that is en-route to Singapore (Having missed a signal to form the patrol line to the North-East of Mankai Island), meets HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) shortly after noon. K XVII informed them about a signal K XII had missed and that she had to take up a patrol position 310°, Pulau Mankai, 20 nautical miles. The position of the encounter was near to the position K XVII had to take up in the patrol line.

The crew of K XII were the last to see K XVII as she failed to arrive at Singapore on 21 December.

15 Dec 1941
The patrol line was ordered to proceed towards the coast of Malaya on a course of 270 degrees.

16 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to patrol off the mouth of the Pahang river.

17 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to patrol off the mouth of the Endau river.

19 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to return to Singapore.


You can help improve officers Henri Charles Besançon's page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this officer.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve his page.

Allied Commanders main page