[citation needed] In April 1914, Doorman served on the Noord-Brabant during its mission to the Principality of Albania to recover the body of Major Lodewijk Thomson of the International Gendarmerie.

[citation needed] From 1915 to 1918, Doorman was stationed at Soesterberg with the Aviation Service[2] under the command of Captain (later Major) of Engineers Henk Walaardt.

[citation needed] Budget cuts and an arm injury ended Doorman's active flying career but from November 1921 to November 1923, he attended the Higher Naval School in The Hague;[2] this training, which included coursework in aircraft and naval vessel communication, laid the groundwork for his later career.

In 1926, for the first time in eleven years, Doorman gained a longer appointment aboard the armored naval vessel De Zeven Provinciën.

In 1932, under his command, the mine-layer HNLMS Prins van Oranje sailed three times in the same year to the Dutch East Indies.

[citation needed] In January 1934, Doorman returned to the Netherlands with Evertsen and spent three years as Chief of Staff of the naval commander in Den Helder.

On February 3, Doorman led a group of ships that went to stop a Japanese invasion force that was heading towards Makassar.

While en route, his flotilla was observed by the Japanese and bombed, forcing it to turn back after several ships were damaged.

[citation needed] Doorman was killed in action when De Ruyter was hit by a Japanese Long Lance torpedo and sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea.

The medal was awarded to the rear admiral's eldest son on 23 May 1947 by Lieutenant-Admiral Conrad Helfrich on board HNLMS Karel Doorman.

[citation needed] Karel Doorman is often honoured because he signaled "Ik val aan, volg mij" ("I am attacking, follow me") during the Battle of the Java Sea, which some have considered gallant.

Confusion arose in the Allied squadron over the way forward, compounded because HMS Exeter could only sail at half power and wanted to return to port at Soerabaja (now Surabaya).

Following instructions issued by High Command, Doorman gave the order to attack at the approach of the Japanese fleet.