De vergeten krijgers

94-year-old Daniël Cordus, born in the former Dutch East Indies, is the grandson of an African warrior who was recruited for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) in 1837. 'Belanda hitam', black Dutchmen, these African KNIL soldiers were called. Their loyalty to the Netherlands had its consequences: under the Japanese occupation, they were put to work as slave labourers. It took over seventy years before their sacrifices were recognised. Griselda Molemans previously wrote a book on the subject.