Hemert van, Willem.

Captain Willem van Hemert was born on 31 May 1889 in Dordrecht,  an old seafaring town to the East of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He joined Holland America on 05 August 1907 as cadet on the ss Noordam (I)

I do not have much information year about Captain van Hemert as I am still trying to trace his family.

IF ANY FAMILY FRIENDS ARE RELATIVES ARE READING THIS AND ARE WILLING TO HELP WITH COMPLETING THE BIOGRAPHY, PLEASE CONTACT ME ON CaptAlbert1@aol.com.

The few snippets unearthed so far.

After attending a Maritime School (Dordrecht, Rotterdam ???) he joined Holland America on 05 August 1907 and sailed on 25 May from Rotterdam to New York via  Boulogne Sur Mer. (Voyage 44, Captain Geert Stenger)

The ss Noordam (I) being his first ship entered service in 1902 as one of three new passengerships for Holland America.  This photo shows as Van Hemert would have seen her. Still with an open bridge so all watch keepers were exposed to the elements. The center of the bridge was covered over around 1910.

He was promoted to Captain in 1926 and joined his first command on 29 January 1926 the ss Breedijk. This was a cargo ship,; one of the series of the B class constructed in the Netherlands with steel and engines given to Holland America as compensation dfor the loss of the ss Statendam (II) in World War I.

The ss Breedyk seen here at sea somewhere near a port as the forward cargo derricks are still up and not yet secured for sea.

The ship sailed on 02 Febr. 1926 and returned the same day after a collision near rotterdam with the Danish ss Yrsa, which caused a hole under the water line near the bow and one above water.  Although the damage was not  severe the ship had to go to dry dock for repairs. the cargo was transferred to the ss Binnendijk a sistership. The ship returned to service on 15 Feb. 1926. It turned out that the ship collided in dense fog about 20 miles off the entrance of the New Waterway. While visibility had been good while leaving port, the ship suddenly ran into a fogbank. The captain once reduced speed and gave fog signals  in accordance with regulations. When fog signals from another ship were heard, full astern was given to stop the ship. The ss Breedijk was then hit on the sb. side by the Danish ss Yrsa. The subsequent investigation by the Dutch board of Inquiry established that the Danish ship was at fault and Captain van Hemert was without blame. Still not a nice way to start one’s command.

A peculiar situation which brought him into the newspapers and into magazines was the opening of a new Dutch Sailors Home in Genoa. this Italian port was before WWII an important stop for Dutch ships going and coming from the East. It was used as a bunker port, to land an load mail, but also embark and disembark passengers going to the Dutch East Indies. (By taking the train between the Netherlands and Genoa they avoided the bad weather of the north Sea and the North Atlantic and also shortened the journey with about a week)

Captain van Hemert was in Genoa with the ss Veendijk on the way from Hamburg to the Far East in charter for United Steam (VNS). This was 4 month voyage calling at  Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Genoa, Sueze,Colombo, Madra, Rangoon, Colombo, Madras, Colombo, Suez, Algiers, Antwerp, Rotteram, Hamburg.  (The ship made then one more, similar, voyage before it was scrapped in 1930) Van Hemert then transferred to the ss Binnendijk, afer a long leave as the company was reducing its fleet due to the depression.

While in Genoa, he was invited to attend the opening of the new Dutch sailors home in Genoa on 20 October 1929. This was the iniative of a Dutch Society (Charity) to sponsering a “homes from home” for officers and crew of Dutch ships in various ports around the world. Money from Shipping Company’s, private donations in the Netherlands and from the local Dutch community in Genoa made it possible.

The “sailors home” was located in an old “palace” of the “Doria” family and consisted out of  Reading Room / Library, a billiard room,   and a writing corner. A separate room for officerr to meet was available and two bedrooms.  As far as is known, the sailors home remained in operation until the onset of WWII.

In 1932 he was set back to Chief Officer due to the depression. Holland america was reducing and/or laying up large parts of its fleet and thus had too many officers and crew. The policy was that those who were single and the most junior were dismissed, those who were married with childeren were kept on in one rank or the other until better times. Captain Van Hemert was married with childeren and thus remained in employment but in a lower rank.  He would sail as Chief Officer or as Acting Captain for 6 years until promoted back to full captain in 1938.

He was awarded the Gold medal by the Ryal Netherlands Meteoroligical Institute for keeping weather observations on 15 June 1933.

Another peculiar thing was that he was assigned to take out the brand new ms Noordam (II) on 23 August 1938 for the overnight technical trials on the North Sea. Once the ship was finished a more Sr. Captain was given the regular command. Peculiar as normally the assigned maiden voyage captain would also be part of the trials but the chosen captain (Anthony Dekema) was with his ship on a west coast voyage and hence not available,

When the war came, Capt. van Hemert was in command of the passenger cargo ship ss Edam (IV) and engaged in convoy service between New York / Halifax and Liverpool. Here would have his one and only (TBC) brush with the war at sea. The ss Edam (IV) left New York on 04 March and joined convoy HX 177 at Halifax. From there it sailed accross the North Atlantic. While still far out, the ship was attacked by a German long range “Condor” bomber  which dropped 2 bombs close to the ship. Luckily there was not much damage and there were no injuries.

In July 1941 he transfered to the ss Sloterdyk (II) on which he stayed until December.  Then he was asked to go ashore as he was a Royal Netherlands Navy Reserve Officer. He worked in New York during the war as liasion officer and only returned to sea in 1948. (b)

This happened when the Captain arrived in  New York on  22 December 1941 with the ss Sloterdyk (II) .This caused Capt. Dobbenga (Sr) who was the Shore Superintendent for Holland America at the company piers in Hoboken having to return to sea to take command of the Sloterdyk.

When the Captain returned to sea in 1948, he was assigned to the ss Leerdam (II) a sistership to the Edam (IV). He remained on this ship for a year and then joined the ss Blydendyk (II) which was a ship that had been bought by Holland America in 1947.

This was one of the 2600 liberty ships buit during the 2nd World war and the Dutch Government had bought several of them for use in the war effort. Named ss Fort Orange she had been given in HAL management and the company bought her in 1947.

Captain van Hemert made one voyage (nbr 17) on the ship between 06 September and 21 October 1950. Sailing from Rotterdam to Antwerp and from there to New York, Norfolk and Albany. then returning to New York, Antwerp and Rotterdam. By now he had reached his 60^th. birth day and in accordance with the mandatory retirement age requirement of 60 he retired from the company.

Captain van Hemert passed away on 09 August 1966 at the age 77 years.

(a) Holland America Line archives as held at the Municiple Archives of the City of Rotterdam, “Stamboeken & Movementboeken”

(b) Mr. Dick Hoebee, nephew, twice removed, via his grand mother on fathers side. Capt. Van Hemert was also witness when Mr. Hoebee married with his wife Henny van de Rijn in Brooklyn, NY, on 12 November 1942.

(c) Dutch yearly magazine “Neerlandia” issued at Delft in 1929

Photos are from the collection of the Author.

Career Listing: (a)

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

05 Aug. 1907      Cadet                                  Noordam                            10,–

28 Nov. 1907      Cadet                                  Sloterdijk                            10,–

06 Mar. 1908      Cadet                                  Sloterdijk                            15,–

27 Aug. 1908      Temporary dismissed to go to school for 3^rd mates ticket. Passed on 16 Nov. 1908

28 Dec. 1908      4^th. officer                          Statendam                         30,–

13 Mar. 1909      4^th. officer                          Potsdam                             30,–

22 Nov. 1909      4^th. officer                          Statendam                         30,–

07 Mar. 1910      3^rd officer                           Maartensdijk                     50,–

01 Jan. 1911      3^rd. officer                           Maartensdijk                     75,–

26 Feb. 1911      Temporary dismissed to go to school for 2^nd mates ticket. Passed on 17 july. 1911

12 Oct. 1911       3^rd. officer                          Sloterdijk                            85,–

15 Feb.  1912      3^rd. officer                          Noordam                            90,–

22 Mar. 1912      2^nd officer                           Noordam                            100,–

08 Jul. 1912         2^nd officer                           Westerdijk                          110,–

08 Feb.  1912      Temporary dismissed due to illness and to go to school for for 1^st mates license

16 May. 1912     did not pass, turned down for 2 months

10 Nov. 1912      did not pass, turned down for 3 months

01 Aug. 1914      Due to the mobilization into National Service.

21 May.1918      Passed for 1^st mates ticket.

30 Jun. 1919      2^nd officer                           Rotterdam                         110,–

01 Jul.    1919      2^nd officer                           Rotterdam                         215,–

05 Dec. 1919      Temporary ashore

29 Dec. 1919      Act. Chief Officer              IJseldijk                               215,–

01 Jan. 1920       Act. Chief Officer              IJseldijk                               225,–

01 May.1920      Act. Chief Officer              IJseldijk                               310,–

01 Jan. 1920       Act. Chief Officer              IJseldijk                               330,–                   backdated.

15 Oct. 1920      Act. Chief Officer              IJseldijk                               350,–

09 Dec.  1920      Temporary ashore due to illness.

18 Apr. 1921      Chief Officer                      Poeldijk                               350,–

04 May. 1921     Chief Officer                      Eemdijk                               350,–

18 Feb. 1922       Chief Officer                      Kinderdijk                           318,–

12 Jul. 1922         Temporary ashore                                                         315,–

27 Jul.    1922      Chief Officer                      Maasdam                           315,–

21 Mar. 1924      Chief Officer                      Veendam                            315,-

01 Jul.    1925      Ashore                                                                             315,–

29 Jul.    1925      Chief Officer                Veendam                            315,–

29 Jan. 1926      Captain                               Breedijk                              560,–

29 Jan. 1928       Captain                               Breedijk                              580,–    wage increase

28 Mar. 1929      Captain                               Rijndam                              580,–                   at New York

15 Apr. 1929                                                   ashore                                 580,–

22 Jun.  1929      Captain                               Veendijk                              580,–

29 Jan.  1930      Captain                               Veendijk                              600,–    Wage increase

17 Sep. 1930       Captain                               Binnendijk                          600,–

21 Nov. 1930                                                   ashore                                 600,–

03 Jan. 1931      Away at the Navy Reserve to attend the higher war school until 31 Jan.

01 Feb.  1931      Captain                               Breedijk                              600,–

31 Dec. 1931      Wage decrease                                                               480,–

22 Mar. 1932      Captain                               Maasdam                           480,–

27 May.1932      Chief Officer                     Veendam                            262,50   due to the situation of the times

03 Dec. 1932      Temporary ashore                                                         262,50

04 Dec.  1932       Temporary shore                                            70%       262,50

02 Feb. 1933       Chief Officer                      Veendam                            262,50

07 Feb. 1933       Won the silver medal of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute.

28 Jun. 1933       Wage reduced with 5% in acc. with circulaire no 929 dated 27 june 1936

09 Jul.    1933      Temporary shore                                                           262,50   regular leave.

27 Jul.    1933      Temporary ashore                                          70%       262,50

05 Aug. 1933      Chief Officer                      Veendam                            262,50

19 Oct. 1933       Act. Captain                       Bilderdijk                            430,–

28 Dec. 1933 Wage reduced with 5% in acc. with circulaire no 929 dated 27 june 1936

10 Apr. 1934       Set back to chief officer and temporary ashore70%            236,50,–

30 Apr. 1934       Chief Officer                      Veendam                            236,25

08 Jul. 1934         Temporary ashore                                                         236,25

20 Jul. 1934         Act. Captain                       Boschdijk                            387,–

01 Oct. 1934      wage reduced to                                                           371.50

18 Oct. 1934      Chief Officer                      Volendam                           226,75

16 Nov. 1934      Act. Captain                       Beemsterdijk                     371,50

28 Aug. 1935      Temp ashore                                                                  371.50   regular leave

11 Sep.  1935      Act. Captain                       Beemsterdijk                     371.50

16 Sept. 1935     Temp ashore                                                                  371.50

21 Sep.  1935      Act. Captain                       Beemsterdijk                     371.50

12 Nov. 1935      Act. Captain                       Breedijk                              371.50

05 Aug. 1936      Act. Captain                       Rotterdam                         371.50 with the ss Batavier to London

10 Sep. 1936       Act. Captain                       Spaarndam                         371.50 at New York

25 Sep.  1936      Act. Captain                       Rotterdam                         371.50   at New York

04 Dec. 1936      Temporary ashore                                                         371.50   on regular leave

18 Jan. 1937      Act. Captain                       Spaarndam                         371.50 until 01 Jul. 1938

01 Oct. 1937      According to new regulation                                      430,–

23 Aug. 1938      Captain                               Noordam                            technical trials on North Sea for two days

15 Sep. 1938       Captain                               Breedyk                              until 23 Nov. 1938

GAP

05 Mar. 1939      Captain                               Zaandam                            until 27 Mar.

GAP

07 Feb. 1940       Captain                               Maasdam                           until 02 Nov. 1940 (L.pool)

GAP

22 Mar. 1941 Captain                                    Edam                                   joined in Halifax until 18 May at NY

28 Jul. 1941         Captain                               Sloterdyk                            until 22 Dec. 1941

Was assigned to New York office as Royal Netherlands Navy representative.

19 Feb. 1948       Captain                               Leerdam                             until 29 July 1949

GAP

05 Sep. 1950       Captain                               Blijdendyk                           until 21 Oct. 1950

Retired in 1950 after reaching his 60th. birthday,