Boshoff, Jan Pieter (Sr.)

Jan Pieter Boshoff was on born on 06 March 1895 in Vlissingen (Flushing) in the province of Zeeland in the south West Netherlands. He was the son of Leendert Boshoff (Shopkeeper *) and Maria Magdalena Vogel.

He married on 08 December 1912 at Amsterdam with Geertje de Vries (Born on 26 July 1895 at Kwadijk (North Holland) as daughter of Johannes de Vries (teacher) and Antje Smit.)  (a)

He lived at Groenesteinstraat 96 in The Hague at that time.

(*): according to the articles of joining, the Maritime Academy records say that his father was a supervisor for the Municipal Gas Works of the Hague.

He joined the Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart, Maritime Academy in Amsterdam on 01 September 1911 and was considered a very good pupil. On 28 Feb. 1913 he received at the end of the 2nd year an Attest for excellence in Nautical Science.  On 26 June 1913 he wins the second price in Practical Nautical Science and modern seamanship.

On 19 July he is placed as cadet on the ss Westerdijk (Capt. J.J. de Koning) of the Holland America Line at   fl. 15,– a month.  He returns to his school on 20 August 1914 with a very good attest and passed on 14 October his exam for 3rd mate. He is discharged on 23 October 1914 from the Academy with a very good attest for ability, very good behaviour, and a very good attest for his sea voyages. He was nbr. 6 on the list of 25 in ranking of the achievers of the year.

He then returns to Holland America and signs on, on 28 Oct. 1914 on the ss Rijndam (I) as 4th. officer.

As far as is known, there were 3 childeren:

Marie Anna (born 15 January 1925)

Johan Leendert (born 17 January 1927) He would later join Holland America and was promoted to Captain on the cargo side after the cargo division has been sold to Bostrom of Sweden on 01 Jan. 1975.

Gerda (born 20 July 1933)

NOTE: If there are any family members out there or other people who have information  (even if it is only a photo) please contact me on Captalbert1@aol.com. I would love to make his biography more complete.

During the war the family lived in Haarlem (Kamerling Omnesstaat 7) and received an allotment of fl 270,– a month with an extra fl 3,– day premium.

GAP.

On 16 Sept. 1941 the ss Maasdam (IV) is torpedoed. All are saved except two nurses who fell overboard and where not able to hold on to the ropes lowered over the side. Capt. Boshoff was the last to leave the ship.  after arrival in England he went with the ss Edam (IV) as passenger to New York. Here he was given an extended leave between  4 Oct. and 23 Dec. 1941 to recuperate from the ordeal.

GAP

On 04 September 1945 he brings the ss ‘Leerdam'(II) home after a absence of 5 years. On board 5000 tons of wheat for the Dutch population. Capt. Boshoff went on leave but the ship sailed again after 10 days with a cargo of tulip bulbs.

GAP

He retired on 19 March 1955 from the company after a last arrival of the ss Ryndam (II).

Sailing and career list; (b)

Date:               Function:                    Ship:                           Wages and/or remarks.

18 Jul. 1913    Cadet                        Westerdijk               20,–

26 Aug. 1914  Temporary dismissed to go to school for 3^rd mates license

14 Oct. 1914   Passed exam for 3^rd mate

28 Oct. 1914   Wage increase                                            30,–

28 Oct. 1914   4^th. Officer             Rijndam                    30,–

18 Feb. 1915   Temporary dismissed for military service

11 Aug. 1916  Wage increase                                            50,–

11 Aug. 1916  4^th. Officer            Rijndam                     50,–

10 Nov. 1916  Wage increase                                            60,–

10 Nov. 1916  3^rd officer              Zuiderdijk                 60,–

12 Apr.  1917  Wage increase                                             70,–

08 May. 1917  Made available to the military authorities

11 Jun.  1917  3^rd Officer            Oosterdijk                 70,–

01 Sep. 1917   Wage increase                                             80,–

01 Mar. 1918  Wage increase                                             90,–

Due to the confiscation of the ss Oosterdijk returned to Rotterdam with the

Ss Nieuw Amsterdam.

12 Apr. 1918   Temporary dismissed for military service

09 Jul. 1918    Non paid short leave period

30 Jul. 1918    3^rd Officer             Amsteldijk                 90,–

with the Nieuw Amsterdam to New York

10 Feb. 1919   Temporary dismissed to go to school for 2^nd mates ticket

On standby money. Obtained 2^nd mates ticket on 14 May 1919

15 May. 1919  3^rd. officer           Rotterdam                 90,–    admin. only

26 Jun. 1919   3^rd officer            Maartensdijk             90,–

01 Jul. 1919    Wage increase                                             135,-

01 Jan. 1920    Wage increase                                            145,–

19 Jun. 1920   2^nd Officer                                                     200,–

Wage increase                                                                             240,– per 1 Jan. 1920

01 Sep. 1921   Wage decrease                                           228,-

16 Oct. 1921   Wage decrease                                           216,–

08 Nov. 1921  Temporary ashore to go to school to obtain First Mates license

25 Apr. 1922   Passed test for First Mates License

27 Apr. 1922   2^nd officer            Ashore                         210,–

08 May. 1922  2^nd Officer         Warszawa                   210,–

02 Oct. 1922   2^nd Officer         Edam                               210,–

05 May. 1924  2^nd Officer         Nieuw Amsterdam 210,–

21 Aug. 1924  Temporary ashore

22 Sep. 1924   2^nd Officer         Nieuw Amsterdam  210,–

Has the Sperry Gyro Certificate

12 Dec. 1924   2^nd Officer         Rijndam                           210,–

29 Jan. 1925    2^nd Officer Jr.   Veendam                         210,–

07 Jan. 1926    Act. Ch. Off.      Maasdam                          285,–      cancelled

29 Jun. 1926   Act. Ch. Off.      Veendam                            285,–

22 Apr. 1927   Act. Ch. Off.      Boschdijk                           285,–

12 Oct. 1927   Act. Ch. Off.     Zijldijk                                   285,–

16 Feb. 1928   Act. Captain     Zijldijk                                   285,– +4 fl. premium a day

27 Feb. 1928   Act. Ch. Off.      Zijldijk                                   285,–  At Amsterdam

15 Oct. 1928   Act. Captain     Zijldijk                                   285,– + 4 fl. premium a day

29 Oct. 1928   Act. Ch. Off.      Zijldijk                                    285,–

22 Nov. 1928  Act. Ch. Off.       Burgerdijk                          285,–

01 Jan. 1929    Wage increase                                                  295,–

03 Apr. 1929   Temporary ashore                                           295,–

30 Apr. 1929   Chief Officer    Nieuw Amsterdam        295,–  as pax. to NY

11 May. 1929  Chief Officer   Boschdijk                              295,–

26 Feb. 1930   Chief Officer   Nieuw Amsterdam          295,–

Acting 2^nd officer with 4 fl. premium a day

12 Mar. 1930  Temporary ashore                                            295,– leave from Indies

10 Apr. 1930   Chief Officer   Statendam                            295,–

10 May. 1930  Temporary ashore                                           295,–

10 Jun. 1930   Chief Officer   Veendijk                                 295,–

29 Jun. 1930   Wage increase                                                    305,–

29 Jun. 1930    Chief Officer  Boschdijk                                305,–

04 Aug. 1930  Chief Officer   Moerdijk                                 305,–

20 Apr. 1931   2^nd Officer Sr. Rotterdam                             245,-    back to 2^nd officer

30 Nov. 1931  Wage decrease                                                     208,–

08 Dec. 1931   Temporary ashore                                             208,–

14 Dec. 1931   2^nd Officer       Rotterdam                              208,–

15 Dec. 1931   Temporary ashore                                             208,–

21 Dec. 1931   2^nd Officer       Rotterdam                              208,–

22 Dec. 1931   Temporary ashore at 70%                             208,–

28 Dec. 1931   2^nd Officer       Rotterdam                              208,–

29 Dec. 1931   Temporary ashore at 70%                             208,–

04 Jan. 1932    2^nd Officer          Rotterdam                            208,–  cancelled

05 Jan. 1932    Temporary ashore at 70%                              208,–  cancelled

11 Jan. 1932    2^nd Officer          Rotterdam                             208,–

12 Jan. 1932    Temporary ashore at 70%                               208,–

18 Jan. 1932    2^nd Officer          Rotterdam                              208,–

10 Apr. 1932   Temporary ashore at 70%                                208,-

29 Apr. 1932   2^nd Officer          Rotterdam at 70%              208,–

29/4, 4/5 and 7/5 full wages and on board money

09 May. 1932  2^nd Officer         Rotterdam                                208,–

15 Sep. 1932   2^nd Officer         Rotterdam         at 70%        208,–

01 Oct. 1932   Temporary ashore                           at 70%       208,–

14 Nov. 1932  2^nd Officer         Boschdijk                                   208,–

04 May. 1933  2^nd Officer        Breedijk                                       208,–

28 Jun. 1933   Wage decrease with 5% in accordance with circulaire No 929 dated 27-6-33

25 Aug. 1933  2^nd Officer        Binnendijk                                  208,–

29 Oct. 1933   2^nd Officer       Rotterdam                                  208,–

23 Dec. 1933   Wage decrease to                                                  187,50 see Circ No 929 dated 27-6-33

01 Oct. 1933   Wage decrease                                                          181,–

27 Oct. 1933   Temporary ashore                                                    181,– regular leave

10 Nov. 1934  Temporary ashore at 70%                                    181,–

10 Dec. 1934   2^nd Officer      Rotterdam                                     181,–

27 May. 1935  Temporary ashore                                                    181,– regular leave.

01 Jun. 1935   2^nd Officer       Rotterdam                                     181,–

25 Nov. 1935  Act. Ch. Off.      Edam                                                 219,25,–

5 years 3 months and 14 days in service as chief Officer

10 Aug. 1936  Act. Captain     Edam                                                  350,–

13 Aug. 1936  Act. Ch. Off.      Edam                                                   219,25,–

13 Aug. 1936  Wage increase                                                                223,–

13 Aug. 1937  Wage increase                                                                226,75

01 Oct. 1937   According to new regulation                                 255,25

01 Dec. 1937   Temporary ashore                                                       255,25 regular leave

Gap

here the records in the archives stop as the company went over to a new administration system. Further records are held by the HAL pension fund but these are not made available to the public.

16 Feb, 1940   Chief Officer   Noordam                                           268,30     Until  25 July.

08 Aug. 1940   Chief Officer  Noordam                                            268.30      Until 23 Dec.

13 Jan. 1941    Promotion to master.

21 Jan. 1941    Captain               Maasdam                                          390,– + 15%  Until 24 March.

02 Apr. 1941    Captain               Maasdam                                          390,– + 15%   Until 29 May

11 Jun. 1941    Captain               Maasdam                                          390,– +15 %   Until 27 Jun.

Torpedoed and on leave.  Ship sank near Iceland, and he was the last one to leave.

Arrived at NY on 04 Oct. 1941 with Edam

04 Oct. 1941 – 23 Dec. 1941 continued leave in New York.

Sailed 23 Dec. 1941 from New York per ss Edam to take command of Delftdijk in England

13 Jan. 1942    Captain               Delftdijk                                            514,–   Until 25 Jan.1943

25 Jan. 1943    Captain               On leave                                            462,–   Until 18 Mar. 1943

19 Mar.1943   Staff Captain    Nieuw Amsterdam                     462, —   At San Francisco

Arrived 15 Oct. 1943 at San Francisco scheduled leave per 01 Nov.

01 Nov. 1943   Staff Captain    Nieuw Amsterdam                    462, 50  at San Francisco

XX Dec.1943   Staff Captain   Nieuw Amsterdam                      Until 03 Apr. 1944

30 Apr. 1944   Captain                Philip Wouwerman                    Until 26 May 1945

18 Aug. 1945   Captain               Leerdam                                            Until 12 Sep. 1945

13 Sep. 1945   Captain               On leave                                            Until 10 Oct. 1945

TBA.

19 Oct. 1946    Captain              Travel with ms Weltevreden as passenger to New York

and then by train to San Francisco to collect ss Arkeldyk

07 Nov. 1946   Captain                      Arkeldyk                                   Until 01 Apr. 1948

06 May. 1948   Captain                    Sailed with ms Westerdam to New York and then by train to Mobile to collect ss Alblasserdyk

19 May.1948    Captain                       Alblasserdyk                        Until 24 Sep. 1950

26 Oct. 1950   Captain                         Blijdendyk (II)                     Until 16 Dec. 1950

10 Mar. 1951   Captain                        Westerdam                          Until 11 Feb. 1952

22 Feb. 1952   Captain                         Ryndam (II)                           Until 26 Nov. 1953

29 Jan. 1954    Captain                         Westerdam                          Until 12 July 1954

15 Jul. 1954     Captain                         Groote Beer                         Until 29 august 1954

29 Aug. 1954   Captain                         Ryndam (II)                           Until 19 march 1954

Retired on 19 March 1954 from ship and company after 42 years at sea.

Sources:

(a) Mr. H.B Kruidhof.

(b) Holland America Line archives as held by the Municipal archives of the city of Rotterdam.

Last updated:   04 Feb. 2025