Personal Identity Card belonging to Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal

Images(3)

Personal Identity Card belonging to Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal

Date1940-1945

Object number00055175

NameIdentity card

MediumPaper, Ink on paper, photograph

DimensionsOverall: 104 × 235 × 1 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Marianne Alcock

Terms

DescriptionPersonal identity card belonging to Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal. This persoonsbewijs (identity card) belonging to Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal (nee Zegveld) was issued by the Department Van Binnenlandsche Zaken (the Dutch Ministry responsible for Domestic policy etc) and carried during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands between 14 May 1940 and 5 May 1945. The issue number of the identity card is E 14, No. 079527 and features a photograph and ink fingerprints of Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal. HistoryAldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal (nee Zegveld; 1915-1980) arrived in Fremantle on SS SIBAJAK on 7 June 1951. She arrived with her husband Wim van Gaal, four sons, one daughter and two foster daughters. Wim disembarked in Melbourne, where he joined his brother-in-law for work. Aldegonda and the children continued to Sydney. Wim van Gaal was interned in a concentration camp during World War II and testified at the Nuremberg trials against the camp commandant. SignificanceAlthough a humble utilitarian item, this personal ID card is one of the few objects to survive Aldegonda Hendrica E van Gaal's migration journey to Australia. The story of how the document was recovered is particularly poignant. It was found in a coat pocket after being taken to a charity shop, indicating that the owner had not worn the coat since the Nazi occupation of her homeland during World War II.